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.
Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton, and Jacy Jayne were in the ring. Roxanne Perez, Sol Ruca, and Lola Vice followed. It’s a Raw vs. Smackdown triple threat match.
1. Roxanne Perez, Lola Vice, and Sol Ruca. vs. Lash Legend, Jacy Jayne, and Tiffany Stratton: Jacy Jayne and Sol Ruca started the match. Perez quickly made a blind tag and made a surprise cover on Jayne for a two count. The action spilled to the floor, where Vice and Perez ended up taking out the heels with dives and aerial attacks…[c]
Jacy Jayne pummeled Sol Ruca in the corner and then delivered a Superkick to Lola Vice as she stood on the apron. Ruca scrambled free and tried to tag out to Roxanne Perez, but she dropped off the apron instead. Jacy Jayne capitalized with some strikes on Ruca, but she quickly broke free again and tagged out to Vice. Lash Legend also tagged in and immediately ate a series of kicks. Vice then delivered hip attacks to both Jayne and Legend. Vice and Perez then had a falling out, and Vice left her isolated in the ring.
Tiffany Stratton landed a forward roll slam on Perez, but Lash Legend tagged herself in to try and steal the glory. Perez broke free of her and tagged Ruca, and things started to break down. All six women were soon in the ring and going for Haymakers. Ruca accidently delivered a Sol Snatcher to Vice, and Legend took advantage with a Lash Extension and got the win.
Lash Legend, Tiffany Stratton, and Jacy Jayne defeated Lola Vice, Sol Ruca, and Roxanne Perez at 11:29
After the match, Lash smashed her teammates heads together and landed a Lash Extension on Tiffany Stratton. After the match, Chelsea Green was asked about Money in the Bank, and said she was keeping it positive and manifesting a Tiffany win so they can go celebrate on Bourbon Street. Nikki Bella walked up and said it was cute she was worried about a cash in when she would be worried about her. Chelsea called her jealous and said she peaked 10 years ago. Nikki said her title reign was a failure like her reality show dreams, and she was an inferior version of her. She said the title deserved an upgrade to the real thing, and maybe her husband too.
Around the corner, Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab attacked Charlotte Flair and left her in considerable pain. The announce team questioned whether she could compete in her tag title match…[c]
My Take: Another “can they co-exist” match that was entertaining, but did the usual confirmation that they cannot in fact co-exist.
Charlotte insisted that she could compete, but Nick Aldis said she was not cleared to compete. Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley were distraught, but Charlotte told Alexa to take her place, and she reluctantly agreed. She told them to not let Jade ruin anything else, and win the tag titles. In the arena, MFT made their entrance for the next match. They were followed by the War Raiders.
2. Erik and Ivar “War Raiders vs. Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga “MFT”: A fairly slow start to the match saw some back and forth striking before the action moved to the floor where the War Raiders took control…[c]
MFT was able to regain control during the break. Erik and Tama Tonga traded strikes, and Erik got the better of it. Ivar tagged in and landed a spin kick. With help of a Talla Tonga distraction, Tama landed a neckbreaker from the corner turnbuckle and covered for a two count. Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki appeared and distracted MFT. Tama was able to focus temporarily, but another distraction led to a Viking Experience to Tama Tonga. Haku got involved at this point and hit Erik with his cane. The MFT then landed Brother’s Keeper on Erik and got the win.
MFT defeated War Raiders at 8:05
After the match, Baksai cleared MFT from the ring. War Raiders thought Baksai had cost them the match, and attacked them as well, but Nakamura shut it down quickly. Backstage, Finn Balor demanded a match with Gunther from Nick Aldis while Danhausen walked around scanning people for evil with some kind of wand. Balor scanned as evil, which intrigued Danhausen. Aldis said Gunther has wanted a match, but with Danhaused instead. He was furious at first, but Aldis said it was justified and he relented. Balor was left frustrated again…[c]
My Take: A forgettable match in a division that is struggling for traction. The first step is getting one of these teams over, but they aren’t there yet.
