Which Superstars Stood Above Their Competition at Backlash 2026?
The superstars of Raw and SmackDown settled their differences and closed out long-standing feuds at Backlash 2026. As rivalries finally came to a head, every competitor had one goal: to get the win and put down their opponent for good. On a night where two championship titles were on the line, did Backlash crown any new champions? When the scores were settled, and the final bell rang, who put an end to their story and had their hand raised in victory?
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
This is Seth Rollins’ second match in seven months since coming back from a shoulder injury, but you wouldn’t know that based on his recent performances. After delivering a barn burner against Gunther at Night One of WrestleMania 42, Rollins once again tore the house down against Bron Breakker in a fantastic show opener. ‘The Visionary’ was prepared for every trick in The Vision’s book, even attacking Logan Paul and Austin Theory with a chair. However, no matter how many times Rollins countered Breakker’s move set, ‘The Badass’ just kept coming back for more. After Rollins attempted to put away with a Super Curb Stomp from the second rope, Breakker countered with a Spear from midair, putting Rollins down for the three count in a very entertaining encounter.
Result: Breakker Wins
Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn for the United States Championship
After finally putting an end to the Gingerbread Man story by hosting his funeral on SmackDown, Trick Williams and Sami Zayn were able to deliver a much better showdown than their previous encounter at Night Two of WrestleMania 42. Both men committed heel-ish acts, but even though Zayn was the one affected by it in the first place, the fans continued to boo him relentlessly. Zayn’s downfall came when he chose to focus on Lil Yachty, who was at ringside for Williams during the match, instead of closing in on the United States Champion. Williams took advantage of the distraction and avoided a Helluva Kick, delivering a Trick Shot to Zayn to pick up the win.
Result: Williams Retains
The Miz and Kit Wilson vs. Danhausen and a Mystery Partner
While many speculated on who Danhausen’s tag team partner could be for this match, the last person anyone could have expected was Minihausen. The reveal was lackluster and left many fans questioning whether Minihausen was really Danhausen’s partner or if there was a surprise later on. Ultimately, there was no other surprise partner, and all four superstars clashed in a match full of comedic moments. One of the biggest moments of the match came when Kit Wilson threw Minihausen into the clone machine and closed it, only for multiple Minihausens to appear from the box and chase Wilson away. Danhausen finished the match and pinned The Miz for the win. Although the match had its funny moments, the fans felt deflated due to a somewhat disappointing reveal.
Result: Danhausen and Minihausen Win
Asuka vs. Iyo Sky
Rollins versus Breakker would have been the match of the night had it not been for the amazing performance between Asuka and Iyo Sky. Both women delivered a back-and-forth, hard-hitting encounter, with very few instances of them slowing down. Asuka attempted to put away Sky with multiple submission maneuvers, but it was Sky who got the last laugh as she would pick up the win over Asuka. As both women faced each other following the match, Asuka and Sky embraced in a hug, putting an end to their feud and showing respect towards one another.
Result: Sky Wins
John Cena’s Historic Announcement
There was speculation that John Cena’s announcement had something to do with Club WWE, but instead, it was a tournament envisioned by Cena himself. ‘The Greatest of All Time’ announced the John Cena Classic, an event where the superstars of WWE and NXT will compete to earn the respect of the fans and challenge for a brand new championship. Cena also stated that even if someone lost their match, the WWE Universe could still vote for them as the new champion. While the rules of the John Cena Classic do sound a bit confusing at first, it gives multiple superstars a spotlight to demonstrate their talents in front of the fans.
Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship
Although the championship title around his waist has changed, Roman Reigns’ methods of winning matches and retaining the championship have not. It was very clear that this match would not have a clean finish, and Reigns took full advantage of that by holding on to the referee as Jacob Fatu had the Tongan Death Grip locked in. As the referee was distracted, Reigns removed the top turnbuckle and slammed Fatu’s head into the exposed steel, followed by a spear to retain the title. This feud is far from over, as Fatu attacked Reigns after the match and continued choking the life out of Reigns. While it’s great that ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ will continue to have a main event spotlight for the foreseeable future, the same repetitive tactics that Reigns used to win the match are stale and unoriginal. The Usos not playing a role in this match was also a welcoming surprise, but the next encounter between the two men needs to end with a clear and decisive winner.
Result: Reigns Retains
