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WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT: THE BACKLASH 2026 TIP SHEET

WWE will present Backlash this Saturday on ESPN Unlimited and Netflix from Tampa, Florida with a 6:00 PM Eastern start time for the show (with the first hour also airing on ESPN2).  Here is what we think will happen on Saturday.

Men's World Championship Match:  Roman Reigns vs Jacob Fatu

Dave: This is all so sudden and random.  After Creative forgot how great Jacob is for a while, he's suddenly thrust into the Title picture?  He deserves to be there for sure, but this is just thrown at the wall.  I don't see him winning, since Roman needs to retain, so that makes this whole thing so much more puzzling.  I expect a strong match but I don't see a Title change happening.

Mike: Where the hell did CM Punk go?  I know we won't get that answer, but hey, we may as well.  I think the world of Jacob Fatu, but this is a weird one.  If you have Roman drop the belt right away, it killed the momentum he has coming out of Mania.  If Jacob loses, all the work he and Drew McIntyre put in to get him ascended to this level goes away.  I almost wonder if they were going to have a heel (Drew?) get involved so Roman and Jacob end up back on the same side, but after the most recent angle, that would be extremely lame.  I'm going to go with Roman just barely eeking out a win with a series of spears.

Richard: Last year, I thought this would be one of the main events at Wrestlemania.  We are three weeks off.  Fatu is a future Wrestlemania main eventer, but we are 11 months away from the next one.  The important thing with Fatu is to keep him strong and not to fall into the Groundhog Day that was Roman title matches during his 1300 plus day title reign.  Roman is an enigma because the crowd won't boo him even though nothing he is saying should make you want to cheer him.  The focus of this match will be the Tongan Death Grip.  Roman is winning, but will it include 'THE FORMULA' that we saw so many times?  I hope not, but what do you do with the Usos?

Men's United States Championship Match:  Trick Williams vs Sami Zayn

Dave: The fans love Trick, for sure  And, they should.  I just hope Creative doesn't blow it.  They love him because he's cool.  Having a funeral for a dummy is Vince-level stupid.  I hope WWE keeps Trick as he is (or was) and lets the fans cheer what they like about him.  He should go over here and retain.  Sami is on a different journey now since he has been booked so poorly the last few months.  The fans have turned on him.  Maybe that was Creative's intent but it's a bad way to turn someone in my view.

Mike: Trick retains, but Sami snaps and attacks him after, since the audience is pushing for Williams to be a big babyface, so let's give them what they want.  My dream is that the Ginger Bread Man returns from the dead like the Undertaker but before he can make it to the ring, The Gobbley Gooker, The Bunny, Stomper the Kangaroo from TNA and the Gorilla from Mid-South Wrestling all attack him and drag him backstage, never to be seen again.

Richard: I am writing this before the 'funeral' on Friday and I am praying that Jacksonville does not let me down.  Take away the ick from this feud and you have a tale of two directions.  Trick Williams is one of the biggest faces in the company despite cutting heel promos because of his music and catchphrases.  Sami Zayn is becoming one of the biggest heels, primarily because he is feuding with Trick (and people might want a change in Sami's character).  I wasn't a huge fan of their match at Mania, but I think this one will be better.  Trick is retaining because WWE isn't that insane.

Seth Rollins vs Bron Breakker

Dave: Breakker is the future and should go over here.  They have Seth going in banged up, so a couple of spears will be a believable way for Bron to go over.

Mike: The match that should have been at Wrestlemania finally gets to take place and to me, it should be about Rollins making Breakker by having a hell of a match with him before getting absolutely killed and pinned with a spear, nothing more.

Richard:  Will this be a one off or will it lead to a series of matches with these two men in varieties of matches (stipulation and multi-man matches)?  If both of these men were healthy recently, this might have been a rematch of a Wrestlemania match, but we didn't have that luxury.  Bron is a future champion and it would be nice if the torch is slowly passed to him by Seth.  I hope we don't get any interference, but I can see the tease for a future tag title match with Logan, Austin, and the Street Profits.  I think Bron should win this one and Seth will demand a rematch and tell Bron 'this isn't over until I say it is over'.

Iyo Sky vs Asuka

Dave: This should be awesome as both of them are fantastic.  It's a shame that they had to rush the story after releasing Kairi Sane, but that's life.  Iyo has to go over here. 

Mike: This is the match I am looking forward to the most on the show.  To me, this has to be a big win for IYO SKY.  I like Asuka a ton, but when you think about which of them has a stronger upside with the audience right now, I lean towards SKY.  

Richard: I thought they did a very good job on Monday to show how important this match is to Iyo, but Asuka is still playing games with her, including the mist in the face.  I think this will be the match of the night, but the thing I am worried about is what is the next step for either of these women?  Does the winner move into the main title picture, and if so, Iyo versus Rhea.  Could this be a step for the long term where the winner faces Rhea down the road and then Iyo turns on Rhea to rejoin Asuka (I hope not, but it is possible).  I think Iyo needs this win more than Asuka so Iyo gets the victory.

Kit Wilson and Miz vs Danhausen and Mystery Partner

Dave: I did a Q and A a while back where someone asked if I wanted to see Danhausen work with Mr. Iguana.  I do!  I hope it happens here. The faces go over. 

Mike: It would be pretty funny if it was Elton Prince.  No matter what, it's going to be Danhausen winning.  I love Rich's idea of it being Mr. Iguana.

Richard: Before I discuss options for Danhausen's partner, let's get one thing out of the way.  THERE IS NO WAY DANHAUSEN IS LOSING.  Do they go with a 'legend', someone on the active roster, or a debut?  It would be funny if it is John Cenahausen (as Mike said on NNS, JOHN CENA is retired, but not Cenahausen) or AJ Styles, but that would bastardize the idea of legitimate retirements in wrestling.  Could it be CM Punk or Cody Rhodes since they don't have announced matches [at this time].  Could they go a more comedic route and use Mr. Iguana or R Truth?  Could we see Obahausen (I almost want this just to see him in the face paint).  The biggest longshot would be El Generico. I think it will be Cody or Punk.

John Cena's Major Announcement

Dave: I have no idea but it it's the rumor of a WrestleMania, it better be for Tampa or the crowd won't be happy.  And keep in mind, it doesn't have to actually be something big.  If it is something that involves revenue, that IS big to TKO.  They are all about the Benjamins.

Mike: No matter what this is, the Internet will complain.  Hell, if he announces a future Wrestlemania, unless it's for Tampa, the crowd will boo.  My guess it's some Club WWE thing related to Cena, but I don't know for sure, so if I'm wrong, Internet, don't complain to me!

Richard: There are many things that could be the big announcement, but will it 'shock' the world or will it 'shock the master'?  I hope it is a big deal because they will probably give this segment 15 to 20 minutes.  Will it be Club WWE related?  Will it be a future 'Big 4 PPV' announcement (European city)?  Will it be the purchase of a wrestling company?  Cena made a 'big announcement' at a WWE PPV in Tampa in May before, but I don't think it will the same type of announcement.  My top two choices are Wrestlemania 2028 in London or the return of VINE.

 

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