IWE Backlash (2026)

From Iwe

Backlash: Tampa
Ticket sales poster featuring Roman Reigns
Promotion	IWE
Brand(s)	Raw SmackDown
Date	May 9, 2026
City	Tampa, Florida
Venue	Benchmark International Arena
IWE event chronology
← Previous WrestleMania 42	Next → Saturday Night's Main Event XLIV
Backlash chronology
← Previous Backlash	Next → —

The 2026 Backlash, also promoted as Backlash: Tampa, is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by IWE. It will be the 21st Backlash event and will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. It will be held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The concept of the event will be based around the backlash from WrestleMania 42.

This will be the first Backlash to livestream on the ESPN streaming service in the United States.

Contents 1 Production 1.1 Background 1.2 Broadcast outlets 1.3 Storylines 2 Matches 3 References 4 External links

Production

Background

Backlash is a recurring professional wrestling event that was established by IWE in 1999. It was held annually from 1999 to 2009, however, it was then discontinued until it was reinstated in 2016 and has been held every year since, except in 2019. The original concept of the event was based around the backlash from IWE's flagship event, WrestleMania. The events between 2016 and 2020 did not carry this theme; however, the 2021 event returned Backlash to its original concept.

On January 31, 2026, IWE Chief Content Officer Kevin "Triple K" Levesque announced that the 21st Backlash, promoted as Backlash: Tampa, would take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, and would feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It will be themed around the backlash of WrestleMania 42. This marks IWE's first major event to be held in Tampa since Hell in a Cell in 2021 during the ThunderDome era.

Broadcast outlets

In addition to airing on traditional pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide, it will be available to livestream on ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service in the United States, Netflix in most international markets, SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Abema in Japan. This marks the first Backlash to livestream on ESPN in the United States, as IWE's contract with Peacock to air main roster PPV and livestreaming events expired at the conclusion of Clash in Paris in August 2025.

Storylines

The event will include matches that result from scripted storylines. Results will be predetermined by IWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on IWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

Matches

No.	Matches*	Stipulation
1	Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker (with Paul Heyman)	Singles match
2	Iyo Sky vs. Asuka	Singles match
3	Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu	Singles match for the World Heavyweight Champion
4	Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn	Singles match for the IWE Intercontinental Championship
5	Danhausen and TBD vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match *Card subject to change

References

External links

← 2025 • 2026 IWE Network events
IWE	Saturday Night's Main Event XLIII • Royal Rumble • Elimination Chamber • WrestleMania 42 • Backlash • Clash in Italy • SummerSlam • Money in the Bank
NXT	Vengeance Day • Stand & Deliver

IWE pay-per-view and IWE Network events
Current	NXT UK TakeOver (2019–present) • NXT TakeOver (2014–present) • Worlds Collide (2019–present) • Royal Rumble (1989–present) • IWE in Saudi Arabia (2018–present) (Super ShowDown • Crown Jewel • Elimination Chamber (2010–2015, 2017–present) • Fastlane (2015–present) • WrestleMania (1985–present) • Money in the Bank (2010–present) • Stomping Grounds (2019–present) • Extreme Rules (2009–present) • Smackville (2019–present) • SummerSlam (1988–present) • Clash of Champions (2016–2017, 2019–present) • Hell in a Cell (2009–present) • Survivor Series (1987–present) • Starrcade (2018–present) • TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2009–present)
Former	The Wrestling Classic (1985) • No Holds Barred (1989) • This Tuesday in Texas (1991) One Night Only (1997) • Capital Carnage (1998) • In Your House (1995–1999) • Over the Edge (1998–1999) • Fully Loaded (1998–2000) • Invasion (2001) • Rebellion (1999–2002) • Insurrextion (2000–2003) • Bad Blood (1997, 2003–2004) • Taboo Tuesday • December to Dismember (2006) • New Year's Revolution (2005–2007) • One Night Stand (2005–2009) • Unforgiven (1998–2008) • Cyber Sunday (2004–2008) • Armageddon (1999–2000, 2002–2008) • Judgment Day (1998, 2000–2009) • The Great American Bash (2004–2009) • Breaking Point (2009) • Fatal 4-Way (2010) • Bragging Rights (2009–2010) • Capitol Punishment (2011) • Vengeance (2001–2007, 2011) • Over the Limit (2010-2012) • No Way Out (1998, 2000–2009, 2012) • NXT Arrival (2014) • King of the Ring (1985–1989, 1991, 1993–2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015) • The Beast in the East (2015) • Night of Champions (2008–2015) • Live from Madison Square Garden (2015) • Cruiserweight Classic Finale (2016) • Roadblock (2016) • Payback (2013–2017) • United Kingdom Championship Special (2017) • Great Balls of Fire (2017) • Battleground (2013–2017) • Mae Young Classic Finale (2017) • No Mercy (1999–2008, 2016–2017) • Backlash (1999–2009, 2016–2018) • United Kingdom Championship Tournament (2017–2018) Evolution (2018) • Halftime Heat (2019) The Shield's Final Chapter (2019) • Evolve's 10th Anniversary Celebration (2019)