While there are many exceptions to the rule, it is worth positing that WWE 2K Video games are only as good as a WWE product. It all starts and ends with Raw, SmackDown, and various Premium Live Events (PLEs). WWE 2K20 And this disaster is notable because it was released in 2019, not a great year for creative in WWE, and it happened before the return of Roman Reigns as Tribal Chief in 2020. After a skip year and an improved WWE product, and WWE 2K Video games were cool again.
Well, that was before the recession hit WWE 2K26. It's not like a complete decline WWE 2K20But this is the worst game released in the last few years. And not so coincidentally, WWE is the worst creatively it has been for years. With Jelly Roll and Pat McPhee exiting the WrestleMania main event storyline, there was hope that that storytelling could get back on track, but only slightly. Honestly, it's been off for longer than WrestleMania 42, but the truth is simple: WWE Backlash's card doesn't seem to be shaping up the way WWE creatively needs it to. And it will harm all related products like the next one WWE 2K Video game.
Every WWE 2K26 Unlockable (Superstars, Championships and Arenas)
The Complete Guide to Unlocking All 177 Superstars, 40 Arenas, and 51 Championships in WWE 2K26.
Roman Reigns (C) vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship
Now, to be clear, Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu is an absolute money match that deserves to headline WrestleMania someday. I fully accept our Tribal Chief and, in fact, hope that his full-time return helps restore prestige to WWE storytelling. If Yakub Fatu has no fans, I am dead. It should, arguably, be one of the Big Four, not Backlash. SummerSlam, Survivor Series, or Royal Rumble are their qualifying stages, and Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns vs. The transition from is a bit crude — but the potential storytelling makes it worthwhile.
Click or tap on the games that match the category
get started
And while the promos are certainly in the right direction and this is the best match on the card so far, thanks to Bloodline, why are we bringing back yet another mystery collar storyline after what happened with Pat McAfee and Randy Orton at WrestleMania? Why is a main event set up with simple but effective bloodline storytelling being polluted like WrestleMania Night One again? I have no doubt that Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu are going to destroy the roof in the ring, but the story is more topsy-turvy than it needs to be. And most cards don't stay in this game.
Seth Rollins vs. Braun Breaker (Paul Heyman)
The Vision's storyline was unfortunately undermined by injuries to both Seth Rollins and Braun Breaker, and hopefully, this new direction for The Vision works. It's got talent, it's got storytelling, and it's got Paul Heyman involved. Hopefully, it's the talk of upstarts and developers throughout the year. But if Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu are at the top of the card, it feels like an opener and a solid “second position,” but the rest of the card doesn't hold up.
Trick Williams (C) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE United States Championship
I'm all for a little silliness and nostalgia, especially for more family-oriented storylines and ones centered around kids, but why are we getting a storyline about the Gingerbread Man's costume? I can't imagine anyone thought this was a good idea. Especially in the midcard title picture, where these titles feel less and less prestigious by the day. That's not Sami and Trick's fault—they're geniuses with a capital T—but it feels weak creatively. Why is this the pick instead of Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther, even though Gunther's offense is a bit out of left field? Maybe that's added last minute so we have more championship matches, maybe WWE breaks from its standard 5-match card, but I doubt it.
Io Skye vs. Asuka
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka is a great match, and I have faith in both of them to deliver in the ring. They are excellent wrestlers. But, creatively, it's always been a rich story whose heart — Kairi Sane — has been eclipsed by recent WWE releases. Good creative and good storytelling can create stakes that elevate a good in-ring story, and it feels like an undeserved ending to a story that wasn't really given a chance. I honestly doubt we'll get any development for these wrestlers after Backlash, and that's a huge concern.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
get started
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Permadeath (2.5 seconds)
Denhausen and Mystery Wrestler vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson in a tag match
I love Danhausen. As much as I hate this I need to make it clear that this is not aimed at the talent involved; Danhausen, his mystery partner, Miz, Kit Wilson – it's been a fun story. But it doesn't feel like a PLE match; This sounds like a weekly rivalry to settle on SmackDown. Worse than that, it appears to be a voluntary tag team stand-in for the reported Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll vs. Randy Orton and Pat McAfee match, which was ultimately abandoned. Worse than that, recent WWE releases are absolutely killing the tag team division.
Does WWE have the gall to move forward with The New Day, members of the MFTs, Wyatt Sicks, the Motor City Machine Guns, and then a tag team program? It's almost like the company is proud of its current tag team division.
WWE 2K27 vs Backlash
All of this to say that I'm choosing to see hope in stories like Rom vs. Jacob, Bron vs. Seth, but each story should be built on the same level of dignity. Instead, we're getting matches undercut by highly speculative creative, and it certainly feels like this is the era of WWE we're currently in. And what's good for the swan is good for the gander, but what's bad for the WWE product is bad for the WWE byproducts. I hope I'm wrong, but later WWE 2K26 review, WWE 2K27 Backlash feels destined to end like 3/5 of the card.
- issued
-
March 12, 2026
- ESRB
-
Juvenile / Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), User Interaction
