WWE Backlash 2026 Moves to Tampa, Florida: Triple H Announces New Location for Premium Live Event
WWE Backlash 2026 Moves to Tampa: Triple H Unveils New Location
In a surprising turn of events, WWE’s highly anticipated Backlash 2026 will not be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as previously reported. Instead, Triple H announced today that the event will take place in Tampa, Florida, at the Benchmark International Arena on Saturday, May 9.
Triple H Makes The Announcement
The announcement came during the Royal Rumble event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Triple H set the stage for the upcoming wrestling calendar. “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,” he declared. “Here tonight I’m going to let you know that on Saturday, May 9, at Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida — Backlash returns. It’s going to be big. So Tampa, Florida, I’ve just got one question: are you ready?”
Change In Location Plans
The Benchmark International Arena, home to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, will host the event, marking a shift from WWE’s recent trend of international venues. Last year’s Backlash took place in St. Louis, Missouri, and featured a headline match between wrestling legends John Cena and Randy Orton. The event has previously graced cities like Lyon, France, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, showcasing WWE’s commitment to diverse locations.
Updated WWE Premium Live Event Schedule
With the confirmation of Backlash, WWE’s schedule for the first half of 2026 is now clearer. Following the Royal Rumble, fans can look forward to a series of major events leading up to and following WrestleMania 42, which is set for April 18-19 in Las Vegas.
The updated schedule includes:
- Saturday, January 31: Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Saturday, February 28: Elimination Chamber at United Center in Chicago, Illinois
- Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19: WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Saturday, May 9: Backlash at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida
- Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2: SummerSlam at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Sunday, September 6: Money in the Bank at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
As excitement builds for Backlash, wrestling fans are eager to see what surprises WWE has in store for them in Tampa. Stay tuned for more updates as the road to WrestleMania continues!
For more details, check out Triple H’s announcement on Twitter here.