Following WrestleMania 42, an event panned despite a few bright spots, cynicism was high entering Saturday night’s Backlash. John Cena was coming to make an announcement many assumed would be a sales pitch for the company’s latest initiative, Club WWE. Online, fans also mocked the idea of WWE trying to fit wrestling in between all the ads.
Surprise!
WWE delivered the goods with a tight five-match card that included a comedy match that was as good as it was ridiculous. And Cena? It turns out he wasn’t
asking fans for more money — at least not yet.
Instead, Cena unveiled the John Cena Classic. Inspired by December’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he wrestled his final match, the concept pits rising NXT stars against established WWE talent, with fans voting to crown the inaugural John Cena Classic Champion based on performance, regardless of match result.
Fans inside Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena responded positively to the announcement, though reaction online was mixed. If executed well, the Cena Classic could help launch a future star or revive a fading career, giving WWE a rare new idea worth watching.
Backlash still featured ads, but nowhere near the onslaught seen at WrestleMania 42, which repeatedly pushed Hulk Hogan’s Netflix documentary. Instead of Hogan hype, fans got the return of pre-match vignettes that recapped the feuds heading into Backlash.
In the ring, the action ranged from outrageous to “This is awesome,” beginning with a physical encounter between Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins that went down to the wire before Breakker prevailed.
The U.S. Championship match between champion Trick Williams and Sami Zayn centered on a deeply personal feud fueled by the death of the Gingerbread Man. Despite the absurd setup, the match delivered once the bell rang. From a stiff cane shot to a DDT on the steps, Zayn did everything possible to keep the outcome in doubt. In the end, Williams triumphed with help from his hypeman Lil Yachty, leaving Zayn to stew in defeat.
The comedy continued as Danhausen and his mini doppelgänger faced The Miz and Kit Wilson in a match that strained disbelief even by WWE standards. Still, all four leaned into the chaos, with mini Danhausen delivering a surprisingly sharp lucha-inspired performance.
Credit to The Miz for taking the pin instead of Wilson. The former WWE Champion protected his younger partner from a loss that might have stained his career. That act reinforced the selfless reliability that has defined Miz’s long career.
Still, the match drained the energy from the room, leaving fans subdued at the start of the next bout. Once the bell rang, though, fans voiced their displeasure over WWE’s decision to release Kairi Sane, who was a central part of the storyline between Asuka and Iyo Sky.
Amid “We want Kairi” chants, the two delivered an emotional showcase that earned a “This is awesome” reaction after Sky got out of Asuka’s submission attempts. The finish saw the student surpass the teacher, with Sky earning Asuka’s respect in a Match of the Night–worthy performance.
In the main event, Jacob Fatu rose to the occasion against Roman Reigns, whose selling made Fatu look like a monster. During a post-match assault, Reigns coughed, flailed, and drooled across the mat, while Fatu followed with an unhinged promo, cementing the “Samoan Werewolf” as a force to be reckoned with.
Though Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship, both men looked strong. The OTC relied on his grit and wit rather than his Bloodline, while Fatu absorbed Reigns’ best offense before being driven into an exposed buckle and speared for the finish.
If Fatu had to lose, this was the right way to do it, with the post-match beatdown keeping his momentum intact.
All told, Backlash came through amid fan unrest over ads, celebrity involvement, and roster releases. Unlike WrestleMania 42, the focus stayed where it belonged: in the ring, with WWE’s stars shining when it mattered most.
