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

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.