Although there are many exceptions to the rule, it is worth stating that WWE 2K Video games are only as good as the WWE product. It all starts and ends with Raw, SmackDown and the various premium live events (PLEs). WWE 2K20 and the disaster it was is notable because it was released in 2019, a not-so-good year for creativity in WWE, and this happened before Roman Reigns' return as Chieftain in 2020. A leap year and an improved WWE product later, and WWE 2K Video games were good again.
Well, that was before the downturn was experienced WWE 2K26. It's not a complete decline either WWE 2K20but it is the worst game released in recent years. And maybe not so coincidentally, WWE is like the worst creative it's been in years. There was hope, however small, after Jelly Roll and Pat McAfee pulled out of the WrestleMania Main Event Storyline, that the storytelling could get back on track. Honestly, it's been off longer than WrestleMania 42, but the truth is simple: WWE Backlash's card doesn't seem to be shaping up the way WWE creatively needs it to. And it will damage all associated products, like next WWE 2K video game.
Every WWE 2K26 Unlockable (Superstars, Championships and Arenas)
A complete guide to unlocking all 177 Superstars, 40 Arenas and 51 Championships in WWE 2K26.
Roman Reigns (C) vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship
Now, to be clear, Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu an absolute money match that deserves to headline WrestleMania one day. I absolutely acknowledge our Chieftain and actually hope his full-time return helps restore prestige within WWE storytelling. If Jacob Fatu has no fans, then I'm dead. Arguably it should even be on one of the big four, not Backlash. SummerSlam, Survivor Series or Royal Rumble are stages they deserve, and the transition from Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns vs. is a bit rough – but the possible storytelling makes it worth it.
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And while the promotions are definitely headed in the right direction and this is the best match on the card yet, thanks Bloodline, why are we running back another Mystery Caller storyline after what just happened with Pat McAfee and Randy Orton at WrestleMania? Why is the Main Event, with its simple yet effective Bloodline storyline, once again tainted as WrestleMania Night One? I have no doubt that Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu will tear the roof off the ring, but the story is more intense than it needs to be. And most of the card doesn't live up to this match.
Seth Rollins vs. Bridge Breaker (with Paul Heyman)
The Vision's storyline was unfortunately undermined by injuries to both Seth Rollins and Bron Breaker, and hopefully this new direction for The Vision works. It has the talent, it has the storytelling potential and it has Paul Heyman involved. Hopefully this is something that has been raised and the developers further during the year. But if Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu are the top of the card, this feels like a more open and solid “second position”, but the rest of the card doesn't hold up.
Trick Williams (C) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE United States Championship
I'm all for some silliness and frivolity, especially for more family-oriented stories and those that focus on children, but why are we getting a story about a gingerbread man suit? I can't imagine anyone thought that was a good idea. Especially in a midcard title picture, where those titles feel less and less prestigious by the day. It's not Sami and Trick's fault – they're talent with a capital T – but this feels creatively dull. Why is this the pick instead of Cody Rhodes vs Gunther, even though Gunther's offense feels a little out of left field? Maybe it was added at the last minute so we have more championship matches, maybe WWE breaks from their usual 5 match card, but I doubt it.
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka is a good match-up and I believe they will both deliver in the ring. They are great wrestlers. But creatively, it was always a filler story that got the heart of it – Kairi Sane – ripped out of recent WWE releases. Good creative and good storytelling can create stakes that elevate a good in-ring story, and this feels like an undeserved end to a story that didn't really get a chance. I honestly doubt we'll get any development for these wrestlers after Backlash, and that's the biggest concern.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Danhausen & Mystery Wrestler vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson in a Tag Match
I love Danhausen. I hate how much of this feels like I need to make it clear that it's not aimed at the talent involved; Danhausen, his mystery partner, The Miz, Kit Wilson – it's been a fun storyline. But it doesn't feel like a PLE match; it feels like a weekly rivalry to be settled on SmackDown. Worse than that, it feels like this is an arbitrary tag team stand-in for the reported Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll vs. Randy Orton and Pat McAfee match, which was ultimately abandoned. Worse than that are even recent WWE releases that absolutely slaughter the Tag Team Division.
WWE parting ways with The New Day, members of the MFTs, Wyatt Sicks, the Motor City Machine Guns, and then having the guts to move forward with a tag team program? It's almost like the company is proud of its current tag team division.
WWE 2K27 Vs. Backlash
All of this is to say that I choose to see hope in stories like Roman vs. Jacob, Bridge vs. Seth, but that each story should be built to a similar prestige level. Instead, we get matches that have been undermined by creatives instead of elevated, and it really feels like that's the era of WWE we're in. And what's good for the goose is good for the goose, but what's bad for the WWE product is bad for the WWE spinoffs. I hope I'm wrong, but afterwards WWE 2K26 reviews, WWE 2K27 feels certain to end up as 3/5 of the Backlash card.
- Released
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March 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen/Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), User Interaction
