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There was a lot on the line coming into WWE’s Backlash premium live event. Jacob Fatu was looking to make a statement against Roman Reigns, Trick Williams hoped to prove he wasn’t a fluke and The Miz and Kit Wilson tried to escape a “curse.”
For the most part, Backlash went as planned. Reigns defeated Fatu to retain the World Heavyweight Championship but received a vicious beatdown after the match was over. Williams defended the United States Championship against Sami Zayn as the challenger was distracted by Lil Yachty during the match.
Jacob Fatu wrestles Roman Reigns during WWE Backlash at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla., on May 9, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)
The WWE Universe was abuzz with who Danhausen’s mystery partner was going to be. Wilson and The Miz saw as Mini-hausen emerged from a “cloning machine” to provide backup to the “Very Nice, Very Evil” superstar. Danhausen received a whole bunch of help from a few Mini-hausens through the match. In the end, it was Danhausen who scored a pin on The Miz.
Meanwhile, Bron Breakker picked up one of the biggest victories of his career when he defeated Seth Rollins. Breakker nailed Rollins with a torpedo spear at the end of a hard-fought match.
Then, there was the Iyo Sky-Asuka match
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A new chapter
IYO SKY and Asuka embrace during WWE Backlash at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla., on May 9, 2026. (Michael Owens/WWE via Getty Images)
Iyo Sky and Asuka put on arguably the match of the night during Backlash. The bad blood that had festered between the two competitors came to a boiling point. Asuka had painted Sky with her poison mist in a confrontation before the match.
But it was Sky who would get the better of Asuka. Two Bullet Train Attacks from Sky and the Over the Moonsault is what helped Sky to the victory. Asuka tried to blind Sky with poison mist, but Sky put up Wade Barrett’s notebook to block the blue.
Sky hit the Over the Moonsault perfectly and got the three count. But what happened next may have signaled a new road for Asuka.
Asuka was seen in tears as she and Sky embraced in the middle of the ring. Before the match, Asuka posted a cryptic photo of herself looking out the window. Then, Sky posted a message about her match for Asuka on X.
“Our story comes to its final chapter with today’s match,” she wrote. “The moment the match ended, my heart was filled with all sorts of emotions.
“Meeting ASUKA-san, Spending the same time together, Being able to learn so much up close — These are irreplaceable treasures to me. Thank you so much ASUKA-San. We love you ASUKA-San.”
This didn’t appear to be the end for Asuka but it definitely felt like a “see you later” moment.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN REFLECTS ON FIRST MONTHS WITH COMPANY, GIVES UPDATE ON DANHAUSENETTES
“Fairway to Hell” scores a hole-in-one
It was only a one-hour event, but All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) “Fairway to Hell” special received high praise on Saturday night. The matches were held at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which is an indoor golf center that holds The Golf League events.
The greenery and the sand traps stayed in place as the ring was set up in the middle of it all.
Darby Allin defended the AEW World Championship against Pac, Mark Davis became the new AEW national champion with a victory over Jack Perry, The Divine Dominion of Megan Bayne and Lena Kross made easy work of Rachel Ley and Ruthie Slay and “Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Kiran Grey.
Aside from the wrestling, the stunning visuals of Allin throwing Pac into a bunker and Pac tossing Allin off the second deck left fans delighted.
It was definitely a risk to use the venue for pro wrestling, but it paid off in AEW’s favor. There will certainly have to be another taping or two from the facility in the future.
All eyes on Leon Slater
Leon Slater enters the arena during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 6, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) has a major star in Leon Slater and if fate has it, he will set a record should he defeat Cedric Alexander for the title later this week.
Slater and Alexander will battle it out on Thursday night on “Impact.” If Slater wins, he will be the longest reigning X Division champion surpassing Austin Aries.
Aries held the TNA X Division Championship for 298 days after winning it at No Surrender 2011. He later vacated the championship in exchange for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Slater won the title in July 2025 at Slammiversary.
Aries reacted to Slater approaching his record at the end of April.
“Big fan of @LEONSLATER_ and I have no doubt he will surpass my record, but he will also do it having never stepped in the ring with me. Number of days is great, but quantity ≠ quality,” he wrote on X.
Mason Rook arrives at NXT
Mason Rook has only been with WWE NXT for two weeks and he has already made it clear that he has his sights set on the NXT Championship.
NXT champion Tony D’Angelo went one-on-one with Tavion Heights in a non-title match on Tuesday night. Kam Hendrix interfered in the match, but NXT North American champion Myles Borne came in and chased him off.
D’Angelo hit Heights with Dead to Rights and won the match. As D’Angelo was paying his respect to Heights, Rook attacked him from behind. Rook picked up D’Angelo over his shoulders and drove him into Heights, who was seated in the corner.
Rook was the one standing tall.
“My name is Mason Rook and I’ve arrived in NXT,” he said to the camera.
Rook, formerly known as Will Kroos, made a name for himself in Progress Wrestling where he was the Progress atlas champion. He also spent time on the independent circuit in Britain as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan.
“Like I said, Mason Rook has arrived in NXT,” he said as he walked to the back. “And if you didn’t know, now you know.”
John Cena also showed support for Rook.
AEW Double or Nothing card comes together
Darby Allin and Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) have to hash out the final details but it looks like they are trending toward a hair vs. title match at Double or Nothing for the AEW World Championship. Allin still has to defend his title on “Dynamite,” but MJF will be expected to show up and sign the match contract if he wants to keep contending for the title.
On its face, the card is pretty stacked. Double or Nothing will take place on May 24 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.
- Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship.
- Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler (c) vs. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage in an I Quit match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.
- Chris Jericho, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Perry, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson vs. Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona, Mark Davis and three Don Callis Family members in a stadium stampede match.
- Thekla (c) vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
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Triplemania 34 getting two nights
While John Cena’s earth-shattering news was announced at Backlash, another significant reveal was made that would affect the pro wrestling world.
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) will host its premiere event, TripleMania, over the course of two nights in September. The first night will be Sept. 11 at a location still to be announced. The second night will occur on Sept. 13 at the Mexico City Arena.
It’s the first time that Triplemania will be held over two nights. It will be the 34th Triplemania in the company’s history.
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Other notes from a week in pro wrestling
Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton makes her entrance during SmackDown at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 8, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
- John Cena announced the formation of the John Cena Classic at Backlash.
- Trick Williams retained the United States Championship in a win over Sami Zayn at Backlash
- Tiffany Stratton retained the Women’s United States Championship in a victory over Kiana James on “Friday Night SmackDown.”
- Darby Allin defended the AEW World Championship against Kevin Knight and Pac during the week.
- Kazuchika Okada defeated Bryan Keith to retain the AEW International Championship.
- Mark Davis won the AEW National Championship in a win over Jack Perry at “Fairway to Hell.”
- AEW announced the return of the Owen Hart Tournament.
- Bear Bronson and Brian Myers retained the TNA World Tag Team Championship over K.C. Navarro and Nic Nemeth.
- Lei Ying Lee captured the TNA Knockouts Championship in a win over Arianna Grace.
- Wendy Choo retained the Evolve Women’s Championship as her match with Laynie Luck went to a no contest.
- La Catalina had her first match in AAA, defeating Jessy Jackson. After the match, Flammer, La Hiedra, and Lady Maravilla came out to attack her. Lola Vice and Bayley made the save.
- The South Korean boy band known as BTS took in a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) show over the weekend. The guys were seated ringside. Místico and Titan defeated Angel de Oro and Barbaro Cavernario in a two-out-of-three falls match in the main event.
- Brick Savage signed with Major League Wrestling, according to Fightful.