By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,415)
Denver, Colorado, at Ball Arena
Simulcast live on October 2, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
Footage of last week’s main event between Gunther, CM Punk, and Finn Balor was shown. It focused on Finn Balor’s disappointment after CM Punk stole the pin. The participants on tonight’s final Money in the Bank qualifiers were shown walking into the building. In the arena, Tiffany Stratton made her ring entrance for the first match. She was followed by Candice LeRae and Tatum Paxley.
1. Tatum Paxley vs. Candice LeRae vs. Tiffany Stratton in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: LeRae took Paxley to the floor early and tossed her into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Stratton landed a spinebuster on LeRae. Tatum Paxley returned and all three women traded rapid fire pinfalls, but they were always broken up by the third member. Paxley delivered a cross body in the corner, followed by a facebuster. She then splashed both women on the floor with a moonsault from the apron…[c]
Tatux landed a combo arm twist and kick combo to both LeRae and Stratton. She then delivered a release German Suplex to LeRae. Stratton re-entered the match and landed a springboard stunner on both opponents that didn’t quite connect properly. She followed up with an Alabama Slam and Swanton to LeRae, but Paxley quickly delivered a kick and covered her with a two count. Candice landed a unique looking codebreaker combo on both opponents. Paxley managed to land Cemetary Drive on Stratton, but LeRae tossed her outside immediately after.
LeRae made a cover but Paxley rushed back in to break it up. Stratton landed a forward roll slam on LeRae, and Paxton quickly delivered a 450. Stratton landed a Prettiest Moonsault Ever on both women and got the win.
Tiffany Stratton qualified for Money in the Bank at 9:48
After the match, Chelsea Green was asked about the Money in the Bank briefcase backstage. She said all of the women were qualified, and would be a threat, but she was banking on Tiffany winning. Nikki Bella walked up and told her that she didn’t have to worry about Money in the Bank because she would take her title first. Paige walked up and said she’s not special anymore and didn’t get title shots just because she shows up. She told Nikki she’d give her two weeks to prepare for their rematch, and slapped her in the face. Green quipped that the slap was for her too before walking away.
In the arena, Rey Fenix made his entrance for the next match…[c]
My Take: A very entertaining opening match. All three women looked good, but Paxley continues to shine the brightest and look sharpest in her Smackdown TV matches.
Fraxiom was in the ring with Rey Fenix. The War Raiders completed their entrance as the show returned. They were joined by Ricky Saints. Video as shown of Ricky Saints instigating this match.
2. Erik, Ivar, and Ricky Saints vs. Nathan Frazer, Axiom, and Rey Fenix: Frazer started the match for his team and got pummeled immediately in the heel corner. He was isolated and beaten down for a moment until breaking free form Erik and making a tag to Axiom. They quickly dumped Erik and Ivar to the floor and dove on them repeatedly until they were both staggered at ringside. Saints tried to get involved, but Fenix was tagged in. He attempted a springboard, but slipped on the ropes and fell hard onto the ring apron. Ivar then tossed him into the ring barricade. It appeared Ricky Saints may have taken a kick to the face inadvertently in the process…[c]
Erik created a distraction so Ricky Saints could take down Axiom. He then tried to pull off his mask, but hit him with a forearm strike when he failed. Erik from the War Raiders tagged in and delivered some punches, and then made a cover for a two count. Axiom landed a kick to Erik and both men crawled for their corners. After a struggle, Fenix tagged in and landed a flurry of offense on all three heels. He sent Erik and Saints to the floor before landing a superkick to Ivar. He followed up with a Frog Splash, but Erik broke up the fall.
Everyone ended up in the ring and rapid fire offense left Ivar and Fenix the last men in the ring. Fenix landed a Shotei uppercut on Ivar in the corner. He didn’t notice Saints make a blind tag, and took Ivar off the top rope with a hurracarrana. Saint then grabbed Fenix and delivered a Roshambo and got the win.
Ricky Saints and The War Raiders defeated Rey Fenix and Fraxiom at 10:24
After the match, Cody Rhodes was interviewed backstage about his Money in the Bank match. He said he wouldn’t underestimate Gargano and he and Owens had history. He said he would win in the main event and punch his ticket to become Mr. Money in the Bank. Trick Williams walked up and wished him luck, but said his American Nightmare was over because Trick Wiliams was going to climb that ladder and beat the frosting off the gingerbread man to win the WWE Championship. Trick said let’s talk about it, and Cody said it sounds like we just did, and wished him luck…[c]
My Take: A much needed win for Saints. The finish was clever. The botch earlier in the match was unfortunate but didn’t ruin anything. They pulled it together after the break and still delivered a solid match down the stretch.
A Damien Priest vignette aired where that was filmed in New York City. He declared he would never put someone else’s needs in front of his own every again, and promised R. Truth he would enjoy putting him down. He said he had to return to New York to remind himself that he’s a bad, violent man, and that’s the only thing he would be going forward.
Elsewhere, Lexi and Charlotte told Tatum that they spoke to Nick Aldis, and Charlotte and Tatum have a Tag Team Championship match against Fatal Influence next week. Charlotte gave Tatum her hat, and gave Lexi a hug, but refused to give Tatum a hug. In the arena, Sami Zayn made his ring entrance. Sami told the crowd he had a question, and asked the crowd how many of them came to ride or die with the last real good guy? A mixed reaction erupted and it was more boos than cheers.
Zayn called the reaction disappointing, and said no other WWE Champion in history has had the journey he had to get there. He said people were clamoring for years for him to be Champion, and now they boo when it’s arrived. Zayn said he thought justice had finally come, but he’s still being plagued by inequality, and lamented the lack of respect he was shown as WWE Champion. Zayn said he heard Cody Rhodes say he knew he could beat him, and the vultures circling around Money in the Bank saying it was a foregone conclusion that they would defeat him.
Sami held up the WWE Championship and called it proof he was a survivor and that he would continue to find a way. He told the crowd to ask CM Punk and Cody Rhodes about it, and asked for the respect he was owed. Je’Von Evans’s music hit and he made his way to the ring. Evans fired up the crowd and then turned his attention to Zayn. Sami was insulted by the interruption, and Je’Von said he was turning red like an Angry Bird. Zayn told him he liked him, but he’s been in his shoes before.
Evans asked Zayn what it would mean if it didn’t take him 20 years to become a WWE Champion. He told Sami he was coming for his title. Evan then said if he won the briefcase, he would show up on Smackdown and cash in on him, and then when Sami woke up he would have to listen to Michael Cole declaring him the new WWE Champion. Penta made his ring entrance soon after, and told Evans his dream was not going to happen.
Penta then told Zayn that he didn’t care if it was him or Roman Reigns, he would cash in and become a World Champion. Trick Williams then made his entrance. He said he couldn’t help but hear all the talk about respect, and told Je’Von and Penta he respected what they’ve done on Monday Nights. Trick said they all share a problem that it’s Friday and he’s the one who holds it down on Smackdown. He then called Zayn Gingerbread, and said he breath stunk like 10lbs of bounce that ass. He accused Zayn of not respecting anyone else either.
Trick said he’s the only one who looks, smells, and talks like Money in the Bank, and nobody knows that better than Money in the Bank. He said he’s beaten Zayn twice before and he would do it a third time to take the World Title. Zayn reminded them that’s not that easy. There were three of them in the ring and he was looking at two losers at the least. He asked them what happened when the years and losses pile up, and asked them if they could overcome what he has overcome.
Zayn told all of them that none of them can do what he has done or overcome what he has, and until they overcome something, as far as he’s concerned none of them deserve to stand in the ring with the WWE Champion. He left the ring, and Finn Balor’s music played as got to the stage. Zayn told Finn on the stage that he wasn’t special, and if he wanted a title shot he would have to earn it. Gunther attacked both Zayn and Balor from behind, and threw them into the ladders that surrounded the stage.
Backstage, Tiffany Stratton was asked about Money in the Bank. She said ladder matches are her thing, and she would do it again to become 2x Women’s Money in the Bank. Chelsea showed up and then celebrated briefly before Lash Legend crashed the party. She told both women that she would grab the briefcase and take the title to crush both of their dreams. Guilia then made her ring entrance in the arena…[c]
My Take: A fun promo segment from Sami and the Money in the Bank competitors. Sami is doing a great job of being a heel that has some legitimate grievances.
Gunther was interviewed backstage, but was immediately interrupted by Danhausen. Gunther roughed him up and tossed him off some equipment crates. Blake Monroe then made her entrance in the arena.
3. Guilia vs. Blake Monroe: Guilia landed a headlock takeover early on and some strikes. Monroe fired back with some strikes of her own and pulled Guilia off the top turnbuckle with a head scissors. The action spilled outside, and Monroe drive Guilia into the apron. She followed up with a knee strike…[c]
Guilia delivered a body block and a running forearm in the corner. She then delivered a shotgun dropkick and covered for a two count. She went for a running knee strike, but Monroe rolled her up for a two count. She then followed up with a slingblade and a Saito Suplex for a near fall. Monroe went for a Neutralizer, but Guilia countered into a back drop. She then followed up with a knee strike and a curbstomp for a close near fall.
Monroe crawled to the apron, but Guilia grabbed her and dragged her towards the corner. Guilia climbed the turnbuckle, but Monroe tripped her and she fell and hit the turnbuckle post. Monroe quickly climbed in the ring to cover and go the three count as Gulia was motionless.
Blake Monroe defeated Guilia at 9:03
Monroe celebrated and couldn’t believe her luck after the match.
My Take: A solid match, but never really hit high gear. The idea behind the finish is that Guilia was knocked out and an exhausted Monroe lucked her way into a win. I guess we’ll see how they follow up. The crowd was polite but not yet invested in either of these women.
Video footage of 946 creating chaos on Monday’s Raw was shown, including Jaida Parker making her grand entrance. Backstage, Johnny Gargano spoke to Candace and said tonight wasn’t lost, and he could still be Johnny in the Bank. Sami Zayn walked up and fired him up, but said Aldis had told him there would be big consequences if he interfered. In the arena, Kevin Owens made his ring entrance…[c]
Johnny Gargano made his ring entrance after the show returned. He was followed by Cody Rhodes.
4. Johnny Gargano vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes in a Money in the Bank Qualifier: Owens and Rhodes traded strikes to start. Gargano was a punching bag for both guys in the early going as they tossed him aside to continue fighting each other. Gargano delivered a kick to Owens and a slingshot spear to Rhodes. He then performed a dive to onto Owens on the floor…[c]
Owens pulled a table from under the ring as Gargano and Rhodes were down on the floor. He tossed Gargano into the ring steps, and then picked him up. Candice LeRae showed up to create a distraction, and Gargano slipped out of Owens grip and shoved him into the ringsteps. Cody delivered a disaster kick to Gargano and then started throwing punches and elbows at Owens. Gargano applied a Gargano Escape to Rhodes, but Owens broke it up and delivered a Neville/Pac style German Suplex off the ropes.
Gargano replied with a kick, but Rhodes quickly picked him up and slammed him down on Rhodes. Candice grabbed Rhodes from behind, and a series of events unfolded that resulted in both Candice and Johnny going through the table at ringside. Owens and Rhodes then collided with a double clothesline…[c]
Kevin Owens landed a Fisherman’s Buster out of the corner on Gargano for a close near fall. Cody then met him on the top rope a moment later, and Gargano joined them a few seconds later. Gargano pulled Cody down with a powerbomb. Owens then landed a Swanton on Rhodes, and Gargano landed a superkick to Owens. Gargano covered Rhodes and got a close near fall.
Rhodes landed a Cody Cutter on Gargano, but Owens shoved him out of the ring. Owens then hit a stunner on Gargano, but Rhodes prevented the referee from making the count. Rhodes and Owens then traded strikes, and that devolved into a hockey fight. Owens went for a Stunner, but Rhodes turned it into CrossRhodes. Randy Orton pulled the official out of the ring to prevent the victory. Orton and Rhodes brawled on the outside of the ring.
Cody sent Orton into the ring apron and the post. He then saw an opportunity to punt Randy, but Gargano flew in to take out Rhodes with a splash. He then landed One Final Beat on Owens, but only got a close near fall. Owens rebounded and landed a pop up Powerbomb on Gargano. Rhodes tried to break up the fall, but Orton grabbed his legs and cost him the match. Owens pinned Gargano and got the victory.
Kevin Owens qualified for Money in the Bank at 17:33
After the match, Orton ran up the stairs out into the crowd to avoid Rhodes while Owens celebrated his victory.
My Take: The main event was well paced and executed. I think the interference was pretty easily predicted. Sami had already indicated he wasn’t going to intervene on Gargano’s behalf. That might have been a red herring on other occasions, but Randy Orton had been suspiciously absent all show and so his appearance got the expected loud crowd reaction. Rhodes seems to be inching closer to breaking bad, or whatever his next chapter is by his continued failure to get the results he wants.
