WWE Clash in Italy Match Card Predictions After Backlash 2026 Results
WWE Backlash 2026 succeeded in settling several scores from WrestleMania 42 and planting the seeds for what else is to come.
Although Roman Reigns emerged victorious in his World Heavyweight Championship clash with Jacob Fatu, Fatu was the last man standing following an all-out assault on Reigns and officials to close the show. It was heavily implied that their heated rivalry is far from over.
Bron Breakker bested Seth Rollins in the night's opener to pick up one of the biggest wins of his career to date. Rollins is bound to be out for revenge eventually, but it's unknown if WWE intends to resume their rivalry going into Clash in Italy or put it on hold for the time being.
IYO SKY's decisive victory over Asuka led to the two having an emotional embrace afterward, indicating that their bad blood is behind them and that they'll be moving in different directions going forward.
In the wake of Backlash 2026, this is what the match card for Clash in Italy on May 31 should look like.
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther (Undisputed WWE Championship)
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If it wasn't already evident after his attack on Cody Rhodes on the May 1 edition of SmackDown, Gunther is gunning for the Undisputed WWE Championship and will get his shot at Clash in Italy, per Paul Heyman.
The Vision's oracle announced on Friday night that his favor to Gunther was securing him a match with Rhodes with the gold up for grabs at the event. Rhodes beat Gunther the only other time they met one-on-one at Crown Jewel in 2024.
Gunther has been undefeated since returning from his hiatus back in November. He's also laid claim to "retiring" the illustrious likes of Goldberg, AJ Styles and John Cena, so putting him back in the chase for a championship only made sense.
Rhodes is still reeling from his WrestleMania war with Randy Orton, so in addition to this being a fresh feud, it could be Gunther's chance to continue his current momentum and become a three-time world champ at the expense of The American Nightmare.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia vs. Chelsea Green for the Women's United States Championship
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Giulia's main roster run has hardly been ideal so far. Even with two reigns as Women's United States champion to her credit, her abysmal booking has left her feeling incredibly cold and directionless.
She recently lost the title to Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown and has yet to receive a rematch. Her business associate Kiana James vied for the gold on the May 8 episode and fell short.
If Giulia is going to get her rematch anywhere in the world, it may as well be in her home country of Italy where the fans should be behind her.
Another one-on-one outing between the two would be fine, but adding Chelsea Green to the mix would make matters more interesting. She declared that she's been cleared to compete as of last week's SmackDown and has had a looming presence in the title picture for months.
A strong showing for Giulia on her home turf, regardless of whether she wins or loses, could go a long way in getting her back on track.
Penta vs. Rusev vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Ethan Page for the Intercontinental Championship
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The Intercontinental Championship has been quite the coveted prize on Raw since WrestleMania 42 with a slew of Superstars setting their sights on it.
Penta retained his title in an electric six-man Ladder match at 'Mania but has had no time to rest since then. Rusev, Je'Von Evans and Ethan Page have all stepped up for an opportunity with Page even pinning Penta in tag team action on last Monday's Raw.
Penta vs. Page should ultimately be where WWE is headed, but going with a Fatal 4-Way at Clash in Italy would stretch out the feud and get everyone on the card. The masked marvel would once again have to overcome the odds against elite competition.
Penta has been exceptionally over with the audience since arriving in WWE but particularly overseas, so anything involving him at the event is guaranteed to be great.
With the United States Championship getting the PLE spotlight at Backlash, Clash in Italy should be where the Intercontinental Championship takes center stage to have its prestige upheld.
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women's Championship
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Rhea Ripley has had her hands full with Fatal Influence since emerging from WrestleMania 42 the new WWE Women's champion. Now, she'll have to shift her focus back to Jade Cargill coming off her return on Friday's SmackDown.
Ripley vs. Jacy Jane feels like a feud WWE will want to save for the summer, but until then, it's logical to revisit Ripley vs. Cargill with Ripley in chase mode. Their 'Mania match exceeded expectations and ended up being one of the best bouts of the entire weekend.
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka was the only women's match to take place at Backlash and it was a non-title affair, so it's imperative that there's more female representation with higher stakes come Clash in Italy.
Cargill could easily regain the gold to extend their story, but if Ripley retains and scores a second straight win over her archrival, she'll have no shortage of challengers waiting in the wings for their shot.
Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship
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In just under three weeks, Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu have built up a must-see rivalry over the World Heavyweight Championship. Thankfully, the finish to Backlash all but confirmed that it isn't over yet, either.
The two put together a strong, hard-hitting main event that culminated with Reigns barely beating Fatu to retain the title. Fatu proceeded to snap and lay out Reigns in brutal fashion, ensuring that he stays put in the world title hunt for a little while longer.
Fatu has proven time and time again this year that he belongs at the top of the card and Backlash was no exception. Even in defeat, he was established as a force to be reckoned with and one of the biggest threats Reigns has faced in years.
A rematch should absolutely be in order for Clash in Italy, especially with Reigns advertised for every episode of Raw in the month of May as of now. They have the opportunity to take their feud to the next level and have an even better bout in Italy, possibly with some sort of a stipulation attached.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
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