Felix Upton on January 31, 2026
Triple H has officially shut down speculation—Backlash 2026 is coming to Tampa, Florida, not Puerto Rico.
In a video posted to Twitter on January 31, just hours before Royal Rumble 2026 kicked off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the WWE Chief Content Officer delivered the news himself, confirming the May 9 Premium Live Event location.
“We are moments away from the Royal Rumble here in Saudi Arabia. An epic night. The road to WrestleMania begins. But when WrestleMania finishes, there's a big event called Backlash. And here tonight, I'm going to let you know that on May 9, Saturday, May 9, the Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida, Backlash returns. It's going to be big. So, Tampa, Florida, I just got one question. Are you ready?”
The announcement puts to rest earlier reports that WWE had penciled in San Juan, Puerto Rico for Backlash 2026—a return to the site of its massively successful 2023 event. While internal calendars reportedly indicated San Juan was under consideration, WWE has now made its plans crystal clear.
Backlash 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 9 at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, just three weeks after WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
With the location now confirmed, all eyes will turn toward the card—and whether major stars like Bad Bunny (rumored for a return) will still play a role in the post-WrestleMania fallout.
Are you excited about Tampa hosting WWE Backlash 2026? Or were you hoping for another round in Puerto Rico? Let us know in the comments.
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