The aftershocks of a chaotic weekend

WrestleMania 42 ended with the Bella Twins somehow walking out as WWE Women’s World Tag Team Champions. The optics of the finish remain bizarre, especially considering reports of Nikki Bella borrowing Chelsea Green’s walking boot just to make her entrance. Relying on makeshift gear and veteran nostalgia is a shortcut that exposes the thin depth of the current women’s division.

We are just 15 days out from Backlash 2026, and the creative trajectory for these titles feels stalled. Booking decisions prioritizing spectacle over in-ring logic have left the tag division in a state of purgatory. The focus has shifted toward who is available to stand on the ramp rather than who can deliver a compelling sequence of technical transitions.

The urgency of the mid-spring reset

Backlash serves as the traditional venue for settling scores, but the current momentum is flat. The division lacks tactical variety, leaning heavily on signature maneuvers rather than chain wrestling or tactical pacing. Finding a believable challenger for the Bellas is a struggle because the booking has protected few high-level teams.

Technical execution has suffered during this transition period. Watching veterans attempt to bridge the gap while younger talent waits in the wings creates a tension that is not benefiting the broadcast. Unless the matchmaking team shifts focus toward high-workrate affairs at the May 9 event, the division will continue to bleed interest.

What to watch for in the ring

The pacing of matches since WrestleMania 42 suggests a reliance on high-impact spots to hide a lack of coherent storytelling. Expect the upcoming television tapings to reveal if the company plans to integrate faster-paced, submission-heavy technicians into the Backlash card. If the matches continue to hover under the 10-minute mark without establishing a clear rhythm, the crowd heat will inevitably drop.

We need to see a shift toward longer, methodical bouts that test the conditioning of the champions. If the Bellas appear in further guest-heavy spots rather than proving their worth against technically sound opponents, the division’s credibility will erode further. Wrestling is built on consistent, repeatable performance, not just the ability to borrow equipment from the catering table.

The verdict

My prediction for Backlash is that the division fails to reach a 3.75-star average match rating if the current reliance on smoke and mirrors persists. The promotion needs to pivot toward genuine competition to survive the post-Mania slump. Ignoring these structural flaws at the May event will ensure that the summer months become a tedious slog rather than a period of rejuvenation.