WWE Backlash 2026: Jacob Fatu Chokes Out Roman Reigns After Failing to Capture the World Title

Jacob Fatu launched an unhinged assault on Roman Reigns after losing the world title match at Backlash.

WWE Backlash 2026: Jacob Fatu Chokes Out Roman Reigns After Failing to Capture the World Title

Jacob Fatu choked Roman Reigns out with the Tongan Death Grip at Backlash [via- WWE]

WWE Backlash was Jacob Fatu‘s litmus test for his fancied main event status in the company. Despite having come up short in his effort to upstage Roman Reigns by taking the World Heavyweight title off him, the ‘Samoan Werewolf’ showed the world that he’s here to stay.

The entire story of the match revolved around Reigns trying to survive Fatu instead of dominate him. The latter used the Tongan Death Grip to great effect during various parts of the match. He even powerbombed Reigns through the commentary desk. Back in the ring, ‘The OTC’ responded with a spear but got dropped with a Samoan Drop while going for the second one.

Fatu immediately went for the mighty moonsault and thought that would be it. But to his surprise, Reigns kicked out. Fatu later had the Tongan Death Grip locked in on Reigns, who seemed to fade but timely got back on his feet and rammed Fatu in the corner, squeezing the match referee Shawn Bennett in the process.

‘The Tribal Chief’ landed two Superman punches on Fatu but got shut down with a superkick. The challenger went for a pop-up Samoan drop, which the champ countered mid-air to rock Jacob with another Superman punch. Reigns hit a spear off the ropes as the follow-up, but Fatu kicked out. ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ once again put the ‘Head of the Table’ into the Tongan Death Grip.

Reigns pulled the referee in and grabbed his collar out of desperation and even pulled the turnbuckle pad away to expose it. Reigns slammed Fatu’s face into it and finally finished him off with a spear to remain the world heavyweight champion. The post-match shenanigans saw Jacob Fatu snap and apply the Tongan Death Grip on Roman Reigns to a point where the latter was foaming at his mouth.

Fatu had already taken out the referee, and several WWE officials, including the Raw GM Adam Pearce, also bore the brunt of an unhinged ‘Samoan Werewolf’. After the show ended, Reigns was asked to give his thoughts on Fatu. ‘The OTC’, all banged up, told Cathy Kelly that the insanity displayed by Fatu at Backlash was exactly why they shouldn’t have let him into WWE.

The former Bloodline boss affirmed that there’s no order with men like the ‘Samoan Werewolf’. Before going, the ‘Tribal Chief’ declared that Backlash was Fatu’s final night in this company. It’s obvious that their feud isn’t over just yet, and they could run it back for the world title at Clash in Italy.

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Asuka gets emotional after losing to Iyo Sky at Backlash

In the only women’s match at this year’s Backlash, Iyo Sky ousted Asuka in a barnburner. Their match was almost 8 months in the making and was originally planned for WrestleMania. However, it got rescheduled for Backlash, which many fans didn’t like at all. Regardless of that, what those women were able to achieve in that ring on Saturday at Backlash was nothing short of remarkable.

Iyo Sky and Asuka at Backlash
Iyo Sky and Asuka at Backlash [via- WWE]

Asuka was the master that Sky had to conquer, and she did. The former women’s world champion had done her homework. She critically avoided the poison mist from Asuka by using Wade Barrett‘s notepad as her shield. It made all the difference as ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ saw her best shot backfire on her.

Even though Asuka had the Asuka lock on Sky for a good amount of time, the erstwhile Io Shirai hung on to dear life and got out of it. Sky hit Asuka with the Bullet Train Attack in the corner and followed it up with Over the Moonsault to get the pinfall win.

The longest-reigining NXT Women’s Champion got emotional afterwards, and she pulled Sky in for a passionate hug. It truly seemed that the senpai was proud of her kōhai over what she has accomplished in this business thus far. Notably, Kairi Sane didn’t return at Backlash, contrary to some rumors.

She was released by WWE in its recent wave of budget cuts. Sane’s part in the story was pivotal, but it got diluted the moment she was let go. Speaking of Asuka, her emotional demeanor after losing to Sky made it seem as if she were done with WWE or wrestling in general.

Even Big E thought so during his analysis of the situation during the Backlash post-show event. He said that if it was indeed a goodbye from Asuka, she’d be dearly missed. The former WWE Champion stressed that she had accomplished enough in her career to be hailed as an all-time great.

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