WWE is reportedly heading back to the “Island of Enchantment” for a major Premium Live Event in 2026. According to a report from Post Wrestling, WWE Backlash 2026 is tentatively scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While WWE has not yet made an official announcement regarding the location, sources with access to the company’s internal calendar have indicated that the event is listed for Saturday, May 9, 2026.
“The promotion is set to stage Backlash in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to multiple sources who informed John Pollock and Brandon Thurston,” the report stated. “While we have not confirmed the exact date, a source with access to an internal calendar indicates Backlash is listed for Saturday, May 9.”
A return to Puerto Rico would mark WWE’s first major event in the territory since the highly successful Backlash 2023. That event was universally praised for its raucous crowd atmosphere and was headlined by a San Juan Street Fight featuring global music sensation Bad Bunny defeating Damian Priest. The Grammy Award winner, who is a native of Puerto Rico, was instrumental in the success of the 2023 show and remains a close collaborator with WWE.
Bad Bunny’s potential involvement is a major talking point regarding this return. The megastar is currently scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026, keeping his profile higher than ever. He has maintained contact with WWE and has publicly stated his desire to wrestle again. Recently, he was even spotted in the crowd at a CMLL event in Mexico wearing a mask, further fueling speculation about his passion for the industry.
If the schedule holds, Backlash would take place just weeks after WrestleMania 42, which is set for April 18 and 19 in Las Vegas. WWE has increasingly utilized Backlash as an international destination event, having held the show in France in 2024 and Puerto Rico in 2023. This strategy aligns with the company’s broader initiative to host more PLEs in international markets to capitalize on enthusiastic global fanbases.
Historically, Puerto Rico has been a stronghold for professional wrestling. Prior to the 2023 return, the last major WWE pay-per-view held on the island was New Year’s Revolution in January 2005. With the massive success of the previous Backlash, a return to San Juan seemed inevitable. As WWE prepares for the road to WrestleMania, confirmation of the post-Mania schedule is expected in the coming months.
