WWE Backlash Tampa: Date, Start Time & How To Watch

Here are all the details for WWE’s next Premium Live Event after WrestleMania 42

WrestleMania might be the biggest event of the year, but Backlash is where the dust settles and new stories are born. Backlash is set for Saturday, May 9, in Tampa as the first Premium Live Event after WrestleMania 42. This is the night when new champions try to keep their momentum going, old rivals come looking for revenge, and the road out of WrestleMania starts to take shape. Expect a Backlash for the history books that will deliver plenty of drama. Here’s what’s locked in right now.

WWE Backlash Tampa: Everything You Need To Know

When is WWE Backlash Tampa?

WWE Backlash is set for Saturday, May 9, 2026.

What time does WWE Backlash start?

The event is expected to start at 6pm ET / 3pm PT.

Where can you watch WWE Backlash Tampa?

You can stream Backlash on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription, or with ESPN on Disney+ with the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle.*

Will WWE Backlash Tampa be available on streaming after the live event?

Yes. WWE Premium Live Events on ESPN are available on demand shortly after the live show ends, so you can watch the replay on the ESPN App or Disney+.*

Where is WWE Backlash Tampa being held?

The Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida will host this year’s event.

WWE Backlash Explained

What is WWE Backlash?

Backlash is WWE’s post-WrestleMania pressure cooker. It’s the event where unfinished business spills over immediately, and new champions find out fast that winning the title is only step one. The idea is simple: WrestleMania ends, and the backlash begins.

How does WWE Backlash relate to WrestleMania?

Backlash is the first Premium Live Event (PLE) after WrestleMania 42, which means it picks up right where the biggest stories left off. All the moments that shocked the crowd in Las Vegas carry over into this card.

Is WWE Backlash held every year?

It’s a recurring WWE event, although it hasn’t always been a fixture on the calendar. Backlash returned in 2016 after a 7-year hiatus and has since become a regular follow-up to WrestleMania, only missing one year (2019).

When did WWE Backlash begin?

Backlash dates back to 1999, when the first event centered around a WrestleMania rematch between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. From the start, Backlash has been the place to catch the fallout from the biggest event of the year.

*Requires a plan that includes ESPN Unlimited. Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle: U.S. residents, 18+ only. Location data may be required to watch certain content. Use of the services is subject to the Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu Subscriber Agreement. For more information, including detailed information on billing and cancellation, please visit the Disney+ Help Centre. Hulu: Access content from each service separately. Select Hulu content available via Disney+ with valid Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions; additional content only available via Hulu app. Hulu content can be streamed via Disney+ on up to 2 devices simultaneously. Additional app features and device restrictions apply.