The WWE Backlash Premium Live event will be held live from the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. In the aftermath of WrestleMania 42, WWE has put together a stacked lineup featuring championship matches, heated rivalries, and a huge grudge match.
Roman Reigns will defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu in what is expected to be a brutal showdown. Fatu has made it clear he is determined to dethrone the tribe leader and has already used the dangerous Tonga Death Grip in preparation for the match.
The WWE United States Championship is also on the line as Trick Williams defends against Sami Zayn. After losing the title at WrestleMania 42, Zayn is focused on regaining champion gold, while Williams aims to continue gaining momentum as champion.
Seth Rollins and Bron Breaker will finally clash, as Rollins lost his big chance to face Gunther due to Breaker’s shocking return at WrestleMania 42. This singles match could be one of the most physical of the night as there is a lot of bad blood between the two.
Elsewhere on the card, IYO SKY takes on Asuka after months of tension between the two stars. Danhausen will also team up with a mystery partner to face The Miz and Kit Wilson in tag action.
The show will begin at 6pm ET on the ESPN app, and will be available for international fans to watch on streaming platforms such as Netflix. Ringside News provides live match-by-match updates and highlights throughout the night. Please keep checking this page. Refresh to see the latest results as the action unfoldsjoin the conversation in the comments section below!
Matches and key moments scheduled for WWE Backlash on May 9, 2026
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
- National Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn
- Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breaker
- YOU SKY vs. Asuka
- Danhausen & Mystery Partner vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
WWE Backlash Results (5/9/26): Live Match Updates and Highlights
The pre-show panel will feature Michael Cole, Big E, Corey Graves and Peter Rosenberg.
Kathy Kelly, Byron Saxton and Jackie Redmond serve as traveling reporters. Kelly talked about Jacob Fatu’s introduction of the Tongan Death Grip. Saxton pointed out that Fatu is desperate to win his first championship opportunity and his first PLE match. Redmond said Seth Rollins is trying to prove that he’s still at the top level even though he’s 39 years old and coming back from injury. Big E said Bron Breaker also wants to return from injury and prove himself.
He then aired a pre-recorded interview with Seth Rollins. He admitted that getting back into the ring was a challenge and said he would never be the same again. Rollins said he was happy with how he got through the match, but felt like he was taking a step back.
Rollins was also asked about forming The Vision last year. He admitted that there may have been some trepidation, adding that there were different ideas about what WWE should be and where the company was heading. Mr. Rollins said he wants to establish himself as a leader in the company while also contributing to the development of the next generation. He revealed that he went to Shawn Michaels for advice and was told that Bron Breaker was the best candidate. Rollins said he believes that if he can coach Bron for a year or two, he can help bring Bron to WWE for a big buck.
After Mr. Rollins was injured and betrayed by Mr. Bron, he admitted to feeling guilt and sadness, saying he believed he had let his company down. Rollins said she understands why Bron did what she did, but she still can’t shake the intense anger at everything that was taken from her.
They also examined Jacob Fatu’s career timeline, including footage and highlights from his time in independent wrestling. Although the commission stated that Fatu had not yet arrived at the arena, WWE soon aired a backstage video of Fatu walking through the building while promising he would win the title. Big E said Fatu wants money and a career like the one Roman Reigns had in WWE. Corey Graves dismissed the idea that Fatu was desperate, saying he was making a calculated move. Graves added that Fatu understands that tonight’s win could completely change both his career and his family’s future.
WWE aired footage from last night’s Gingerbread Man funeral segment.
Later, Kathy Kelly interviewed Sami Zayn backstage. Despite being attacked the night before, Zayn was all smiles during the interview. He said Trick Williams had created an environment where people believed it was okay to disrespect him. The panel shifted its focus to the National Championship game later in the evening.
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso participated in a pre-show panel discussion. Corey Graves then spoke about Tampa’s deep history in professional wrestling before moving on to a video package focused on FCW and its legacy.
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso participated in a pre-show panel discussion to discuss their time in FCW and Tom Pritchard’s training system.
Corey Graves explained the differences between FCW and modern NXT, saying that FCW often feels unorganized, with talented players randomly disappearing from the main roster without much explanation. He added that NXT currently has much stronger synergy and structure between its developmental roster and WWE’s main roster.
Jey and Jimmy also revealed that they have a match coming up later tonight between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu.
WWE aired a video package promoting the IYO SKY vs. Asuka match before the panel broke up the match and explained what was at stake.
The Miz and Kit Wilson were then interviewed backstage. The Miz showed up wearing a T-shirt that read “I’m not cursed.”
Byron Saxton interviewed Danhausen backstage and tried to get him to reveal the mystery partner for the match. Danhausen refused to give his name and warned Saxton that he would be cursed if he asked again.
The second hour began with an ESPN simulcast showing Triple H arriving at the arena once again.
WWE is back to interviewing Michael Cole and Seth Rollins. Rollins said defeating Bron Breaker tonight will help him regain his confidence. He admitted that when you start resting on your laurels, you become the worst version of yourself. Rollins also said he would be completely devastated mentally if he lost tonight.
WWE then aired a video feature about Charlotte Flair’s relationship with Scarlett, a girl who was diagnosed with a brain mass at just five years old.
The panel then looked back at some of the biggest matches and moments that defined Roman Reigns’ career ahead of tonight’s main event appearance.
Joe Tessitore then interviewed Trick Williams ahead of the National Championship game later that night.
WWE aired the final video package previewing Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu ahead of the main event.
Military veteran Sonya Bryson-Kirksey then sang the national anthem. WWE said she has also previously sung with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett will be commentating tonight’s show.
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breaker
Seth Rollins started the match aggressively, landing a kick that sent the Bron Breaker to the floor. Rollins followed up with a suicide dive to the outside. Rollins continued to apply pressure with punches before tossing Bron back into the ring. He then clotheslines the breaker over the top rope and quickly connects with another suicide dive. Bron Breaker countered with a knee kick that launched Seth Rollins over the ringside fence and into the crowd area.
Rollins responded with a clothesline and pushed Bron back to ringside as they both returned to the ring. Seth went to the top rope, but Bron caught Seth off the turnbuckle and performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, knocking Rollins to the floor.
Bron continued his attack outside the ring, kicking Seth and hitting him with a knee before slamming him into the apron. Rollins tried to fight back with a chop, but Bron fought back with a double leg takedown and a series of punches. Back in the ring, Bron hits Rollins with a shoulder strike in the corner followed by a punch to the midsection. He then hit a suplex for a near fall. Seth created some distance with punches, but Bron quickly shut him down with a German suplex.
The Bron Breaker slowed the pace down with a reverse chin lock and continued to wear down Seth Rollins. Rollins traded jawbreakers and followed up with a few chops to try to gain some momentum. Bron immediately slices him open with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, sending him into a near fall. Bron then grabbed Seth by the hair and continued aiming for his neck.
Bron Breaker maintained control with a rear chin lock before transitioning to a reverse chin lock. Finally, Seth Rollins created an opening with a belly-to-back suplex, sending both men to the mat. Rollins started fighting back with punches, but Bron responded with a hard clothesline for a near fall. Bron takes control with a series of German suplexes, lands three hits in a row, and then covers Seth for another near fall.
Rollins slapped Bron in the face, which only aroused Bron. Bron fights back with punches, forcing Seth into the corner and driving him into the shoulder. Bron puts Seth on the turnbuckle and goes for the Frankensteiner, but Rollins shoves him away. Bron quickly recovers, climbs back, and nails Frankensteiner anyway, sending him into another near fall.
The Bron Breaker continued to target Seth Rollins with knees to the midsection before sending him to the floor. Bron charged out of bounds for a flying shoulder tackle, but Rollins blocked him with a superkick. Both men barely made it back to the ring before the count started.
Rollins started to gain momentum with a forearm in the corner, followed by a series of short-arm clotheslines, but Bron refused to go down. Seth continued to attack with forearms and punches, eventually forcing Bron to his knees. Rollins then connected to a running clothesline and prepared for a near fall. He followed up with a Stomp, but it didn’t quite connect, allowing Bron to survive the pin attempt. Seth Rollins follows up with a boot to the head of Bron Breaker and goes for another Stomp, but Bron avoids it and grabs Seth’s leg.
Bron then powered Rollins over his head and hit him with a double knee gutbuster. He then charged with a spear, but Seth countered with a kick. Bron responded by surprising everyone with a moonsault for a near fall. He goes up to the turnbuckle again and punches Seth, but Rollins fights back and grabs Bron and connects with a buckle bomb. Bron immediately counters with a clothesline, dropping them both into the ring.
Seth Rollins rolled out to the floor and was seen holding his wrist after the previous exchange. The Bron Breaker continued his attack, sending Rollins into the announce table before climbing onto the apron. Bron then launched himself with a flying clothesline and crashed into Seth as the two went over the announce table.
