WWE Backlash preview: Tongan Death Grips and the Gingerbread Man

As a service to wrestling fans who have a general interest in WWE but may not have watched a match in several months, we are pleased to provide this FAQ as a guide to WWE Backlash Tampa on Saturday (ESPN Unlimited, 6 p.m. ET).

Is Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn the first wrestling grudge sparked by a violent attack on the Gingerbread Man?

Since to our knowledge no wrestler has adopted a lord farquaad Given the “Shrek” gimmick, we’ll assume it’s accurate.

Gingerbread Man, probably the greatest food-related one In-ring performers since Luigi PrimoMade his debut on “SmackDown” before WrestleMania 42. Williams was ready to challenge Zayn at Mania for the US Championship and invited him to the ring for a discussion. Instead, out came someone dressed like the Gingerbread Man… because, you see, Zayn is a redhead. Even though it was because of this cruel trolling that Williams won the title.

.@SamiZayn Ginger-snapped! pic.twitter.com/BHWCqt5SAn

– WWE (@WWE) 2 May 2026

Williams and his partner Lil Yachty celebrated the victory on the next “SmackDown” with the Gingerbread Man, who came dancing and holding candy canes. But oh no! It was actually Zayn in the gingerbread suit, and he then attacked Williams and Yachty. A week later, Zayn brought a mannequin to the ring dressed in a gingerbread suit and jumped on the defenseless figure, tearing his delicious arm while tearing the suit into pieces.

Williams is scheduled to hold a funeral in honor of “Cookie Boy” on Friday night before he wrestles at Backlash.

But who was originally in the gingerbread suit? Maybe “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville, Zane’s old rival? we can only dream of being Sports-entertainment same again.

Could there be anything worse than an onslaught of sheer ridiculousness on a gingerbread man?

We have one word for you: Denhausen.

For the uninitiated: Danhausen is a goofy vampire with a painted face, a voice inspired by Conan O’Brien, and the supernatural ability to “curse” his opponents, after which some disaster befalls them.

Please note that his abilities extend well beyond the squared off circle, removing the curse placed on the New York Knicks prior to their history-making 140-89 upset of the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs.

Denhausen worked with a street-offhausen @nyknicks Last night! check it out @stephensmith @ESPN @WWE @FirstTech pic.twitter.com/cBJbXvbDnJ

– Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) 1 May 2026

He emerged from a giant coffin at Elimination Chamber in February to a lukewarm response from fans, but later captured the hearts and minds of the WWE universe through his charisma, comedy, and significant merchandise sales.

Danhausen “cursed” The Miz and his tag team partner Kit Wilson after The Miz ignored him backstage. At WrestleMania 42, Danhausen led a group called the Littlehausens. Small men dressed like them came to the ring to confront The Miz and Wilson, ultimately performing a Five Knuckle Shuffle-esque move on The Miz, much to the delight of WrestleMania host John Cena.

Afterwards, The Miz attacked Danhausen before confiding in him that he was a mentor, leading to Danhausen asking “SmackDown” General Manager Nick Aldis for a match against The Miz and Wilson at Backlash. That request was granted… as long as Danhausen found a partner.

Mystery partners are always a fun match gimmick. Danhausen’s true genius is that his partner can Any And it would still make for an entertaining story.

cm Punk? They knew each other from that other wrestling federation (All Elite Wrestling). chest? he will be in backlash “Break some history-making news.” Joe Hendry? Indie comedy wrestlers, unite. Oba Femi? He has nothing else to do at Backlash, so why not upset two despicable opponents while tagging along with the other hottest talent in the company?

the possibilities are endless.

These are fun setups, but are there matches at Backlash that are born out of true animosity?

game

Paul Heyman: Braun Breaker is the future of WWE

Paul Heyman joins “Get Up” to hype Braun Breaker and preview the biggest storylines ahead of WWE Backlash.

Of course, and as one might assume, Paul Heyman is swimming in bile.

Please remember that Heyman and Seth Rollins formed The Vision with Braun Breaker and Bronson Reed after Rollins shocked the wrestling world by betraying both CM Punk and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41. Months later, Breaker and Reed attacked and injured Rollins – an injury that Rollins later said cost him a spot in the main event at WrestleMania 42.

Rollins was expelled and The Vision added Logan Paul and Austin Theory, who were later revealed to be masked assailants targeting the group’s rivals. But at the Royal Rumble, another masked attacker attacked Breaker to quickly eliminate him and then did the same to Paul in the Elimination Chamber. And before anyone could say, “Hey, that masked guy really likes to use The Stomp on his opponents,” the attacker was revealed to be the returning Rollins.

But two guys can play the “return from injury to attack your opponent in a high-profile match” game, like when Breaker ran in and speared Rollins to set up Gunther for the WrestleMania 42 victory. Frankly, Braun’s biggest crime was ruining a good match with the run-in.

Oh no! 😱@bronbreakkerwwe Seth Rollins is ambushed from behind! pic.twitter.com/PIl4lDAF6W

– WWE (@WWE) 5 May 2026

Breaker was tired of fighting while Rollins was running his mouth as the leader of The Vision and playing the role of a tormented former mentor. Rollins also called Breaker a “little Steiner” and said that he was not even the second best wrestler in his family. Holla, if you’ll listen to me.

So, Breaker will enter Backlash with Heyman in his corner. And if Heyman is involved in a match, we’re watching that match. This is the rule.

But there’s another showdown between a student and a teacher – one that promises to be an even more poisonous haze than this one.

Are we finally facing Asuka vs. Iyo Sky at Backlash?

After inexplicably not making it to either night of WrestleMania 42, this feud match between the two former tag team partners is finally taking place at Backlash, eight months after their feud.

You Know the Drill: Skye claims Asuka has changed; Asuka claims that Sky is her biggest disappointment and she plans to cut her out of her life at Backlash. All this is clearly stated in this interview conducted between the two on “Raw”…

no fog @WWEAsuka To take out @Iyo_SkyWWE before their match #WWEBacklash! pic.twitter.com/XByT499qap

– WWE (@WWE) 5 May 2026

…It ended with Asuka filling Akasha’s face with poisonous mist and whispering to her before making a screeching sound like the Joker.

This match may steal the show, but one question remains: will Kairi Sane be there to finish her story? The former Kabuki warrior was caught between these former allies… and then he was suddenly released from WWE on April 23, which confused everyone. It’s still tough not to have Sane playing a role in this long-awaited showdown.

Finally, is there a world title at stake at Backlash?

Yes, and it’s Roman Reigns.

Please remember that Reigns won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Spectacular no-frills WrestleMania 42 fight Against CM Punk. This is OTC’s first title shot in two years, and he wanted to celebrate the victory with Jey and Jimmy Uso the next day on “Raw”. But while they were putting their “own” on the air, Jacob Fatu interrupted.

Roman Reigns: “There can only be a few reasons you would come here. I have to assume it’s to acknowledge me.”

Jacob Fatu: “Nahhhh, it’s not like that.”

Fatu explained that although he doesn’t want to be Tribal Chief – thus sparing us another “Tribal Combat” match, thankfully – he wants all the things Tribal Chief has, from the Rolex to the private jet to the big house to the shiny championship belt.

Things got really spicy when Fatu used the Tongan Death Grip on Reigns, a move popularized by the great King Haku.

The following week, Reigns and Fatu met in the ring for an official contract signing, which, again, never went over well in WWE.

Roman Reigns: “When you’re in a bar at 3 in the morning, and you’re surrounded by 8-1-1, that’s when you pull out the Tongan Death Grip. That’s when you slit somebody’s throat. You don’t do that with family. You don’t do that with your family. You don’t do that with your tribal chief.”

Jacob Fatu: “Dude, wait what?”

Sure, Fatu put Reigns in the dreaded Tongan Death Grip again and threw him into a table that unfortunately didn’t break, but, hey, it’s the thought that counts.

Both of them will be exposed #WWEBacklash! 🤯@jacobfatu_wwe | @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/5DH59DVcDk

– WWE (@WWE) 5 May 2026

This is Roman Reigns’ match against a blood relative, so naturally it will be epic. Jacob Fatu has been crushing it lately. And if we don’t get to see the Tongan Death Grip, let’s just say there’s going to be a reaction at Backlash.