The road to next year’s WrestleMania starts now. WWE Backlash streams live on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN Unlimited in the United States. Fans can also stream the event through Disney+ with the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle. Subscriptions for ESPN Unlimited start at $29.99/month, providing access through the ESPN app.
Backlash arrives just weeks after WrestleMania 42 and serves as WWE’s first Premium Live Event following the biggest weekend of the year. With championships on the line, rivalries escalating, and several stars looking for revenge, the Tampa event looks poised to continue the fallout from WrestleMania in a major way.
Event Schedule
WWE Backlash begins at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The event takes place from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. WWE’s Countdown coverage is expected to begin earlier in the day across WWE and ESPN digital platforms.
WWE Backlash Tampa Matches
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu – World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu in a family battle fueled by resentment and unfinished business. Reigns reclaimed championship gold at WrestleMania 42, but Fatu wasted little time confronting The OTC and demanding his own opportunity. With tension between the two continuing to build, this could become one of the most emotional and physical matches of the night. With the Tongan Death Grip at the center of the story, Meng would be proud. Yaddddda mean?
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker collide after months of betrayal, attacks, and mounting frustration. Once aligned together, Breakker turned on Rollins and has repeatedly targeted his former mentor since WrestleMania. Rollins now gets the chance to settle things one-on-one against one of WWE’s fastest-rising powerhouses. Will this be the battle we are all anticipating or does the Visionary have a vision to sew division in the Vision?
Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn – United States Championship
Trick Williams defends the United States Championship against Sami Zayn in a rematch that has quickly become one of WWE’s strangest rivalries. Between Gingerbread Men, Candy Cane attacks, and escalating tension, the feud has taken on a bizarre life of its own. Still, beneath the comedy is a very serious title match between a rising champion and a veteran determined to reclaim his championship. Sound silly? It is. A little. The good news it that, bell-to-bell, these two know how to put on a showcase.
Danhausen & Mystery Partner vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
Cena? Boogeyman? Naked Midion? Danhausen heads into Backlash searching for a mystery partner after weeks of manipulation from The Miz. What initially appeared to be a mentorship quickly turned into an ambush involving Kit Wilson, leading SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis to officially make the tag team match. The biggest question now centers on who Danhausen will bring to Tampa as backup.
IYO SKY vs. Asuka
IYO SKY and Asuka finally meet one-on-one after months of growing hostility between the former allies. Asuka’s betrayal last fall created tension that has only intensified in recent weeks following repeated attacks on SKY. Both women have built decorated careers inside WWE, making this one of the most technically anticipated matches on the card. Would it be better if Kairi was here? Yes. Yes, it would.
How To Watch WWE Backlash Tampa
In the United States, WWE Backlash streams exclusively through the ESPN App with an active ESPN Unlimited subscription. Fans can also access the event through Disney+ with the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle.
The ESPN App is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, and gaming consoles.
Internationally, WWE Backlash will stream live on Netflix in most regions, depending on local broadcast agreements.