Roman Reigns to Respond to Jacob Fatu’s Backlash Challenge on Monday’s WWE Raw

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce has announced the full lineup for Monday’s WWE Raw from the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas — and the card is headlined by Roman Reigns officially responding to Jacob Fatu’s challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash. Pearce confirmed the news on Sunday, adding two additional matches to a show that was already shaping up to be one of the more significant post-WrestleMania episodes of the season.

“I can confirm the OTC Roman Reigns will make his decision about Jacob Fatu’s challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash,” Pearce said. The announcement puts a formal framework around what has been building since WrestleMania 42 Night Two, when Fatu called out the newly crowned champion at the post-show and Reigns told him to prove himself over the summer before stepping to the Greatest of All Time. Reigns subsequently promised on the post-show to appear all summer and declared his full-time return — making his Backlash decision one of the most anticipated moments on Monday’s show.

Seth Rollins will kick off the broadcast — his first Raw appearance since suffering a black eye from Bron Breakker’s WrestleMania 42 spear — setting the stage for what is expected to be a continuation of his program with Breakker. Joe Hendry holds his official Raw roster celebration concert following his call-up confirmation on last week’s post-WrestleMania Raw. Becky Lynch also makes an appearance as the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion following her WrestleMania 42 victory over AJ Lee.

WWE Raw Monday Features Penta vs. Rusev and a Six-Woman Tag Involving Judgment Day Members

Two matches have been added to the card. Penta faces Rusev in a rematch from the WrestleMania 42 Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match, where both men were among the six competitors vying for the title won by Je’Von Evans. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria face Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez — with WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan accompanying the Judgment Day side — in a tag team match that continues the post-WrestleMania women’s division reshuffling on the red brand. WWE Raw airs Monday April 28 live on Netflix from Laredo, Texas.