8 New Directions For WWE After Backlash 2026
John Cena's new WWE Title is incoming after Backlash. Also, where does Triple H's booking go next?
Older fans will appreciate this line: Backlash 2026 was akin to an In Your House pay-per-view from the 90s. WWE didn't go into the show promising anything more than 5 matches of varying quality and a John Cena announcement. Being fair, they did promote the latter as "history-making", and it was arguably never going to match that hype.
Even so, people tuning in got a decent enough opener between Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, an improvement on Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams from WrestleMania, what could be Asuka's swan-song as a WWE talent, more Danhausen merriment that hit a sweet spot, and a solid main event pitting Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu.
Most know what they're getting from these 'B' tier PLEs at this point. Sure, the sheer number of ads thrown your way is grating, but there was just enough action at Backlash to justify checking it out. What's more, it set the table for further bouts to come - certainly for the likes of Rollins vs. Breakker and Reigns vs. Fatu.
It'll be Cena's new title announcement that makes most of the headlines though. Going in, John/WWE/TKO didn't bother to fully flesh the concept out before revealing it to the world. So, exactly what the 'John Cena Classic' is will raise more questions than answers coming out of Tampa on Saturday night.
Here's where WWE surely goes next. Is a future Hall Of Famer finished? Who challenges Trick Willy next? Can the JC Classic actually deliver and become something special?
Let's dig in.
8. Trick Willy Moving On
This feud with Sami Zayn, warts and all, has been beneficial to Trick Williams, but it’s time to move on to something else after Backlash. Put it this way: There'd be no need to book a third bout between the duo at Saturday Night's Main Event or Clash In Italy. All WWE creative need to do is sit down and think about things rather than hitting repeat for the sake of it.
A rivalry with Carmelo Hayes would be fun, but would mean Hayes going heel as babyface vs. babyface might lack intensity and Trick just turned. Less of the comedy for Williams as well, please. WWE barely got away with all of that Gingerbread Man stuff, and they're actually real lucky that he's so organically popular or it might've tanked his baby turn completely.
The funeral stuff from SmackDown was horrible and made Trick seem like a joke rather than a serious champion who could threaten the main event scene. Injecting some personality to various acts is important, but that shouldn't be done through crummy raps/tributes to a bloody mascot nobody cares about in the first place.
Williams did tease a match with Carmelo during the Backlash post-show, at least, so it looks likely that's where the booking goes next. Good. Hayes had fallen off the face of the earth since dropping the United States Title, and he badly needs something to sink his teeth into. Warring with his old NXT heavy is the right way to go.
Maybe downplay the Lil Yachty involvement too, because that could threaten Trick's babyface status if he needs the musician to keep interfering on his behalf to win matches.