WWE Backlash 2026 – Best and Worst – New Title Announced, 4-Time World Champion Retires After Losing?

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Still, this was very good and might be among WWE’s top premium live events since the start of last year. With that in mind, here is the best and worst of Backlash 2026. It must be said, the good outweighs the bad.

#3. Worst: Losers Can’t Win Gold

John Cena had a “historic” announcement at Backlash 2026. On the surface, it seems like a fantastic idea. A special annual event dedicated to main roster stars facing NXT’s top talents is great. But what is the purpose of the John Cena Classic Championship?

The WWE legend claimed the fans will be able to vote for who should win the title, and anybody can become champion, even if they lose their match. That doesn’t make any sense and defeats the purpose of suspending our disbelief, so wins and losses matter.

What’s the point of rooting for our favorite wrestlers to win matches if losing is rewarded with a championship? As of what we heard at Backlash 2026, the fan vote for the John Cena Classic might just be an elaborate plea for people to subscribe to Club WWE.

#3. Best: Bron Breaks Seth

Backlash 2026 kicked off with the typical Seth Rollins non-title banger. He has had several great matches at this premium live event over the years, with previous bouts against The Miz and Cody Rhodes standing out. Bron Breakker can be added to the list after he and Rollins showed out in Tampa.

They told a simple story of the battle between experience and youthful energy. The Visionary was able to hang with his former teammate as the two traded some amazing counters. Seth Rollins’ signature Spear-to-Pedigree spot is always a thing of beauty.

However, in the end, it was Bron Breakker who got the victory at Backlash 2026. He hit a Spear in mid-air and has gained a lot of momentum as a result of this win. Please, WWE. Do not stall his push again.

#2. Worst: Minihausen?!

Imagine you are watching the first hour of Backlash 2026 on ESPN 2. You enjoyed Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker and Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn, which convinces you to spend $30 to watch the rest of the show on the ESPN App. The first thing you see after that is Danhausen teaming with a midget against The Miz and Kit Wilson.

The tag team match was one of the better bits of comedy WWE has produced in a while. I did enjoy Minihausen’s Lucha skills quite a bit. It’s just a shame it was one of only five matches on a premium live event. It had zero right to be on Backlash 2026, given the self-imposed five-match cap. The spotlight would’ve been better off elsewhere.

Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan are yet to defend the World Championships they won at WrestleMania 42. Meanwhile, the likes of Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight, and others don’t have any direction. Had any of them replaced Danhausen’s tag team match, Backlash 2026 could’ve been WWE’s best premium live event in the past six months.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad the match happened, but I would have liked it even better had it taken place on SmackDown instead. Or, maybe, WWE can bring back Kickoff Show matches exclusively for Danhausen.

#2. Best: Backlash 2026 Ends on a High

Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu delivered a top-quality main event at Backlash 2026. While not as great as The OTC’s win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42, it was still worthy of the World Heavyweight Championship. The Samoan Werewolf had a career-defining showing here, as he took everything Reigns threw at him.

Fatu kicked out of multiple Spears and almost won with the Tongan Death Grip, but ultimately fell short after the champion used an exposed turnbuckle to tilt the match in his favor. However, that wasn’t it for Backlash 2026. An incensed Jacob Fatu attacked Roman Reigns after the bell and left him lying.

This is the most unhinged The Samoan Werewolf has looked across his two years in WWE. He locked in the Tongan Death Grip on The OTC until he was foaming at the mouth, while taking breaks to destroy all the producers who came out to stop him. Fatu might get suspended for his actions, but what a stellar night this was for him. More please!

#1. Best/Worst: A Bittersweet Moment

It all felt a little incomplete, didn’t it?

Backlash 2026 may have been Asuka’s final WWE match. Based on her emotional reaction after IYO SKY defeated her, it really looks like The Empress of Tomorrow might be retiring. Their post-match hug was as real as it gets. In that case, this should have been much more than it already was.

Despite the build to this match being sabotaged by Kairi Sane’s baffling release from WWE, Asuka and IYO SKY put on a minor classic. It was competitive and nail-biting towards the very end, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the two Joshi legends could have taken it to the next level.

Also, considering how emotional the post-match scenes were, it would have been lovely to see Kairi Sane return for one night only. WWE missed out on the final bow to this story, as she could have shared a moment with her mentor and her best friend. This was all The Pirate Princess ever wanted, for all of them to be family again.