8 New Directions For WWE After Backlash 2026

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.