WWE Bad Blood 2026: Biggest Returns and Match Ratings

A Historic Night for Professional Wrestling

WWE Bad Blood 2026 delivered an unforgettable night of professional wrestling. The highly anticipated Premium Live Event exceeded expectations across the board. Fans in attendance witnessed brutal grudge matches, shocking championship changes, and monumental surprises.

The Bad Blood moniker has always been associated with violence and deeply personal rivalries. This year’s iteration honored that legacy perfectly. Every single match on the card felt significant, with high stakes and incredible crowd heat.

Dave Meltzer’s star ratings are already generating massive buzz online. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter head honcho handed out some of his highest praise of the year. Let’s dive deep into the chaotic results, the biggest returns, and the match ratings that have the WWE Universe talking non-stop.

Hell in a Cell: CM Punk vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Dave Meltzer Rating: 5.0 Stars

The bitter rivalry between CM Punk and Seth Rollins finally culminated inside the unforgiving Hell in a Cell structure. This was a masterpiece of modern storytelling and old-school violence. Both men bled profusely as they utilized steel chairs, kendo sticks, and the steel cage itself to inflict maximum damage.

Rollins targeted Punk’s surgically repaired triceps, methodically tearing down the veteran. Punk responded with vicious strikes and a desperate resilience that the crowd rallied behind. The closing stretch saw a sequence of reversed finishers that had fans jumping out of their seats.

Punk ultimately secured the victory after a devastating avalanche Go To Sleep from the middle rope. Meltzer awarded this brutal classic a perfect five stars. It easily ranks as a legitimate Match of the Year candidate for WWE and cemented Punk’s legacy in Hell in a Cell history.

• Match Time: 34:12
• Key Spot: Rollins delivering a Curb Stomp to Punk through the Announce Table.
• Winner: CM Punk via pinfall.

Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley

Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Rhea Ripley officially reclaimed her spot at the top of the women’s division. The Eradicator dismantled Liv Morgan in a highly physical and emotional bout. Morgan showed incredible heart, surviving two massive Riptides before finally succumbing to a super-Riptide.

Ripley’s sheer power proved to be too much for the underdog champion. The real story, however, happened immediately after the bell rang. As Ripley celebrated her championship victory, a familiar and iconic entrance theme shocked the arena.

Becky Lynch made her long-awaited WWE return! “The Man” marched down to the ring, sporting a brand-new look and an intense demeanor. She engaged in a prolonged staredown with the new champion as the crowd erupted, setting the stage for a colossal main event at WrestleMania 43.

• Surprise Return: Becky Lynch!
• Match Time: 18:45
• Winner: Rhea Ripley via pinfall (New Champion).

World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther vs. Bron Breakker

Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars

This match was an absolute car crash in the best way possible. Gunther and Bron Breakker beat the living daylights out of each other for over twenty minutes. The sheer velocity of Breakker’s spears colliding with Gunther’s blistering chops echoed throughout the massive stadium.

Breakker showcased freakish athleticism, hitting a top-rope Frankensteiner on the Ring General. The crowd gasped as Gunther was launched across the ring like a cruiserweight. However, Gunther’s tactical brilliance ultimately secured his title retention.

After dodging a third spear, Gunther locked in a brutal Gojota Clutch. Breakker refused to tap out, eventually passing out from the pain to protect his dominant aura. Meltzer rated this hard-hitting heavyweight war an impressive 4.75 stars, praising the unmatched intensity.

• Match Time: 22:30
• Key Spot: Breakker kicking out of three consecutive powerbombs.
• Winner: Gunther via referee stoppage.

Grudge Match: Uncle Howdy vs. Finn Bálor

Dave Meltzer Rating: 3.75 Stars

The eerie presence of the Wyatt Sicks continued to haunt the WWE roster. Uncle Howdy made his in-ring debut against the treacherous Finn Bálor. The match itself was more of a cinematic spectacle than a technical wrestling masterpiece.

Fog filled the ringside area as Bálor desperately tried to fight off the psychological warfare. Creepy visuals flashed on the titantron, distracting the former Universal Champion. The match concluded when the arena lights went pitch black.

When the lights returned, another major surprise shocked the WWE Universe. Alexa Bliss stood in the center of the ring, fully embracing her dark persona once again. She delivered a vicious Sister Abigail to Bálor, allowing Howdy to pick up the decisive victory.

• Surprise Return: Alexa Bliss!
• Match Time: 12:10
• Winner: Uncle Howdy via pinfall.

The Bloodline Civil War: Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu

Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars

The main event of WWE Bad Blood 2026 was a generational Samoan clash. The Original Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, went to war with the unstoppable “Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu. This was a chaotic, interference-heavy spectacle that the live crowd absolutely loved.

Solo Sikoa’s rogue Bloodline faction attempted to cost Reigns the match multiple times. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa brutally attacked Reigns on the outside while the referee was incapacitated. Just when it looked like Fatu was going to hit his signature moonsault for the win, the unthinkable happened.

The arena erupted as Sami Zayn’s music hit! Zayn sprinted to the ring with a steel chair, clearing out Sikoa and the rest of the rogue Bloodline. The distraction allowed Reigns to hit a colossal Spear on Fatu for the victory.

The emotional embrace between Reigns and his former “Honorary Uce” closed the show. Meltzer praised the elite-level sports entertainment booking, awarding the dramatic main event 4.75 stars.

• Surprise Return: Sami Zayn!
• Match Time: 28:55
• Winner: Roman Reigns via pinfall.

Final Thoughts on a Legendary WWE Event

Bad Blood 2026 will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest WWE premium live events of the decade. The pacing was flawless, the surprise returns were genuinely shocking, and the in-ring action was top-tier. Paul “Triple H” Levesque continues to prove why he is the absolute master of long-term storytelling.

With Survivor Series right around the corner, the landscape of WWE has drastically shifted. The heartwarming reunion of Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn sets up massive WarGames implications against Solo Sikoa’s squad. Meanwhile, Becky Lynch is back to reclaim her spot at the very top of the mountain.

Dave Meltzer’s incredibly high match ratings are completely justified given the quality of the card. WWE is currently operating on an unprecedented creative hot streak that shows no signs of slowing down. If this event is any indication, the upcoming road to WrestleMania 43 is going to be legendary.