By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
WWE SmackDown (Episode 1,416)
Lafayette, Louisiana, at the Cajundome
Simulcast live on October 9, 2026, on USA Network and streamed internationally on Netflix
All six men and women from tomorrow’s Money in the Bank matches were shown walking into the building. Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were shown backstage speaking to one another. They argued about brand supremacy until Trick Williams walked up. Bron Breakker quickly interrupted and thanked Nick Aldis for bringing him to the building and wasting his time. Trick and Yachty told Bron that he was kidding himself if he didn’t think Trick was grabbing the briefcase tomorrow. Aldis and Pearce decided this would make for a good main event and Aldis made it official in a mocking tone.
In the arena, CM Punk made his ring entrance. He asked if it was a great time to be alive on a Friday in Lafayette Louisiana, and then drew attention to the ladders and briefcases in and above the ring. He addressed why he was in a ladder match at this stage of his career, and recalled winning the briefcase twice before, and he had a chance to break history by being the only three time Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner. Punk said people tell him that he’s crazy and it can’t be done, but he tells his haters to just watch him.
Punk said there are some dangerous competitors in this match, and all of them are tougher than the current champion. He called attention to his competition, and complimented everyone but Kevin Owens, who he said he didn’t sweat at all. Owens quickly made his entrance, and Punk talked over his entrance music about how he beat him in Toronto in front of his Mom. Owens said winning the contract was his top priority, but just as important to him is making sure Punk doesn’t get the contract, because nobody needs to see him as WWE Champion ever again.
The crowd booed, and Owens said as long as Punk loses he would consider it a victory. Punk said that was always his excuse, he’s always settling for some consolation prize. Punk said he believes in himself, and that’s the difference between them because Owens would always be in the dirt looking up at him. Owens said he’s never looked up to Punk, and they were both on top of ladders at this point. Owens said when he looks into Punk’s eyes he sees someone who won’t walk out with the contract tomorrow, and then he would cash in on that bitch Sami Zayn and take the WWE Championship.
Sami Zayn’s music played while Owens and Punk continued to bicker. Owens pretended he couldn’t hear Punk while Sami finished his entrance. Sami climbed the shortest ladder in the ring and Owens immediately mocked him for it. Zayn soaked in crowd chants and boos and told Punk and Owens that all of this is very disappointing. He complained about the WWE Champion being on the shortest ladder, and Punk told him it’s not the size of the ladder it’s what you do with it. He told Owens he would wrap a ladder around his fat head tomorrow and then he would take back his title.
Zayn told both of them they should know better about assuming they would cash in successfully. Punk and Owens mocked Zayn for winning and retaining the title with their help. Zayn yelled at both of them that they think all of this is an accident, but it’s because he’s smarter than both of them that he’s still the Champion. He told both men they can’t even see how similar they are, but gave Owens credit for admitting wanting Punk to lose, and then told Punk that he’s in denial about how much all of this bothers him. Zayn continued and said neither of them would win the briefcase because they aren’t in the right headspace, and he would go on being the WWE Champion…[c]
My Take: The segment got considerably better once Zayn got there to poke holes in Punk and Owens certainty about their own victory. A triple threat between these three has to be on the horizon.
