WWE SmackDown Live Updates, Results and Highlights Before Money in the Bank 2026

The United States Champion mounted a comeback as the show returned from the timeout, catching Breakker with a Booker T-esque axe kick and even teasing an ode to Norman Smiley.

He set Breakker up in a fireman's carry, but the heel escaped. Williams rocked him with a big boot, then set up for the Trick Shot. Breakker countered that with a fireman's carry into a gut buster for two.

As Breakker set up for the spear, Williams avoided it and rocked his opponent with a Trick Shot. Austin Theory hit the ring to break things up and draw the disqualification.

WINNER: TRICK WILLIAMS via DQ

Je'Von Evans made the save from there, followed by Penta, who wiped out the heels on the floor.

Bronson Reed leveled Penta on the arena floor and joined Theory in a brutal attack on Williams that ended with a Tsunami. The Vision stood tall to close out a show that was a much more effective go-home broadcast for Money in the Bank and featured some intriguing storyline developments worth watching in the weeks and months to come.

Before the night's main event took to the ring, Graves and Cole ran down the lineup for next week's show, including:

Back in the arena, "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" Lil Yachty accompanied Trick Williams to the ring for his main event against Bron Breakker, their first match in nearly four years.

The Badass seized control, entering the final break of the night, working Williams over in the corner and exerting physical dominance.

Commercial break.

The champions dominated the competition during the break, isolating Paxley.

Later, though, a misstep by Reid saw her interfere in front of the official, only to be planted face-first into the arena floor by Bliss with Sister Abigail.

With her partner out of the equation, Henley turned right into Cemetery Drive. Three seconds later, Paxley earned her first main roster championship victory.

WINNERS: TATUM PAXLEY AND ALEXA BLISS (NEW CHAMPS!)

After the match, Paxley and Bliss stood tall amid a large pyrotechnics display, celebrating a victory that was improbably as late as an hour earlier.

Alexa Bliss outwrestled Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid early before tagging Tatum Paxley into the match.

The NXT export teed off on her opponents until Henley caught her right leg and sent her to the floor heading into the timeout.

Commercial break.

Backstage, Zayn expressed to Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae his frustration over CM Punk and Kevin Owens' involvement in Money in the Bank.

His rant was interrupted by World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker, who stared at the WWE Championship.

"You know why I'm here," he said. "I'll see you soon," he warned.

What a great little tease, given the history between the two. Zayn was the Superstar whom Breakker defeated to win his first main roster title back at the 2024 SummerSlam event.

Could he win his first world title by downing his familiar foe?

After weeks of backstage confrontations, Danhausen finally found himself sharing the ring with the ruthless, unforgiving, punishing Gunther.

Unimpressed with the very nice, very evil Superstar's latest attempt to curse him, The Ring General rocked him with a dropkick and unloaded with chops all over his opponent's upper body before the bell could ring.

As Gunther bullied the underdog, Finn Balor's music hit the ring, and the Prince fought him off, sending Gunther scurrying to the crowd for safety.

That is, until the Career Killer re-emerged from the audience and sent Balor into the guardrail. Balor fought back, but Gunther sent him shoulder-first into the ring post, then drove him onto the commentary table before leaving to a chorus of boos.

NO CONTEST

Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight will kick off Saturday's premium live event, as revealed by Michael Cole and Corey Graves on Friday night.

The Archer of Infamy expressed his frustration over missing Money in the Bank when he previously won the match, cashed in at WrestleMania 40, and became el campeon.

He was too busy teaming with R-Truth, which he is not now.

Priest overheard Fraxiom talking about it and, after the babyfaces stood up for Truth, beat them down.

Truth arrived on the scene and fought Priest off.

Earlier, Nick Aldis reprimanded Randy Orton for his actions last week. The Viper acknowledged it, offering to fly home, but not before reiterating his stance that Cody Rhodes will inevitably hesitate to punt him in the head when the time comes.

Back in the arena, The Miz and Kit Wilson entered through the crowd, protesting the SmackDown general manager's decision not to throw the former a birthday party.

Rhodes interrupted, flattened Wilson with Cross Rhodes, and grabbed a mic. Before he could say much, Aldis appeared and said his job is to make sure matches get into the ring, and with most of his top guys in tomorrow's Money in the Bank Match, he cannot allow Rhodes and Orton to take each other out.

The American Nightmare said the image of his face bloodied and his swollen shut at WrestleMania scared his daughter. He is going to take that fear to every SmackDown, every live event, and every PLE until he gets Orton one-on-one.

He equated Orton's slow, stalking walk to Michael Myers and even referred to him as a "tramp stamp" before calling him a "b***h" to close things out.

After the break, Erik created enough separation to make tag to Ivar, who exploded into the match and took the opposition down. He flattened Tama with a cross-body block, then added a spin kick.

Tama Tonga momentarily wrestled control back for him and his brother, but Bakusai's Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki appeared, providing a momentary distraction that allowed the War Raiders to get back into the match.

Tama knocked Kyoki off the ring apron, but that distraction allowed Haku to interfere, use his walking stick, and set up Brother's Keeper for the MFT victory.

WINNERS: THE MFTs

After the match, the frustrated War Raiders attacked Bakusai and left them lying.

Backstage, Nick Aldis informed Finn Balor that Gunther has requested a match for tonight's show...but not against him. Instead, he wants Danhausen. The match was made official and Adam Pearce, also in the room, needs a drink.

The WWE Tag Team Champions Tama and Talla Tonga, accompanied by Haku, made their way to the ring for a showdown with former AAA Tag Team Champions Ivar and Erik.

The War Raiders surprisingly weathered the early storm and had the upper hand as the timeout approached.

Commercial break.

Nick Aldis caught up with Charlotte Flair and the medical team backstage.

The SmackDown general manager revealed that The Queen could not compete tonight, despite her insistence.

Flair asked Alexa Bliss to take her spot, teaming with Tatum Paxley to challenge Fatal Influence's Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley. After some reluctance, she did, and Aldis revealed that everyone not involved in the match would be barred from ringside.

Throughout the break, SmackDown's Legend, Stratton, and Jayne gained the upper hand in the Money in the Bank preview, with Legend showcasing her size and strength advantage by downing Ruca and keeping her isolated from her corner.

Jayne continued the mid-match dominance, applying a rear chinlock. Ruca fought out, but as she inched toward her corner, Perez dropped off the apron and refused to tag herself in, a nod to an exchange earlier in the contest.

Ruca eventually created more separation and tagged Vice into the match.

The former NXT women's champion exploded into the match, taking all of her opponents down and punishing Legend and Jayne with running hip attacks. Continued dissension within the Raw brand allowed Stratton to show off, dropping the Prodigy with a stunner.

Action broke down from there, with all six women showcasing their signature maneuvers, including an inadvertent Sol Snatcher to Vice, allowing Legend to deliver the Lash Extension and score the win for her team.

WINNERS: LASH LEGEND, TIFFANY STRATTON, AND JACY JAYNE

After the match, Legend laid out Stratton and Jayne to send a message of independence entering Money in the Bank.

Backstage, Nikki Bella interrupted Chelsea Green's interview with Cathy Kelley, said it is only a matter of time before she wins the WWE Women's Championship, and claimed that even Green's husband wants an upgrade to the real thing.

A brawl broke out, shifting the attention of the camera crew to Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin's brutal attack on Charlotte Flair, who was scheduled for a tag team title match tonight.

Corey Graves and Michael Cole talked about the importance of coexistence as Stratton, Jayne, and Legend bickered in the middle of the ring ahead of Team SmackDown's battle against Raw's Perez, Ruca, and Vice.

The action was fast and furious early, with the Raw women frustrating the blue brand competition.

Ruca, in particular, flew through the air on more than one occasion, wrapping up her aerial assault with a moonsault that downed all three opponents and left her, The Prodigy, and the former MMA fighter standing tall entering the timeout.

Commercial break.

The WWE Champion joined his peers on a ladder and claimed he was exceptionally smart, something Punk and Owens are supposed to be.

He passionately claimed that the disdain between his top competitors would ensure they left empty-handed.

Zayn left the ring with the top prize in the company overhead while Punk and Owens stood atop their ladders, the briefcases in the background, staring each other down to close out the segment.

A solid start to the show that put some heat on the men's ladder match and laid the groundwork for Punk and Owens to cost each other the briefcase, as well as a potential cameo from Zayn.

One night before he chases history and a third Money in the Bank victory, CM Punk hit the ring to address the fans in Lafayette.

"Why am I doing this? Because I have the chance to make history, and ladies and gentlemen, that is what CM Punk does. Tomorrow night, I have the chance to be the first three-time Money in the Bank winner. They say I'm crazy, and it can't be done. I say, "Watch me."

Punk put over Je'Von Evans and Penta, then Trick Williams, before bringing up Kevin Owens, whom he referred to as the "one guy I don't sweat." He added, "I beat him in Toronto instead of his mom. That was pretty cool."

Owens said Punk would not be able to downplay him tomorrow night. "Just as important to me, tomorrow night is about making sure you don't get that contract because no one needs to see you as the WWE Champion again."

Punk claimed Owens would stay down, looking up at him. "Oh, you delusional prick, I don't look up to you now, and I won't start tomorrow night," The Prizefighter responded.

Backstage, the Raw and SmackDown general managers met up, with the former taking exception to the latter booking a six-woman tag team match featuring talent from the red brand.

United States Champion Trick Williams interrupted and expressed his desire for a match with Sami Zayn ahead of Money in the Bank. Bron Breakker joined the fray and said he had a strict training schedule, so since he was not scheduled, he would...

Williams jumped in, a verbal exchange was had, and Pearce goaded Aldis into making the match official for the night's main event.

Money in the Bank competitor brawl incoming in T-minus two hours.