WWE Money in the Bank 2026 - Five key takeaways from New Orleans
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Top-end entertainer saw some unexpected winners
The premium live event held at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, WWE Money in the Bank 2026 featured championship changes and career-defining victories in the ladder matches for both women and men.
In the first match of the night, Roman Reigns defended the World Heavyweight Championship title against LA Knight while Tiffany Stratton and Penta won the respective women’s and men’s Money in the Bank ladder matches.
Oba Femi defeated Bronson Reed in another heavyweight clash, and Liv Morgan reclaimed the Women’s World Championship title. Here are the five takeaways from the premium live event.
1. Roman Reigns survives LA Knight to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns kicked off the event defending his World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight. The challenger put the champion into serious trouble by hitting him with the Burning Hammer and BFT, yet none of those moves brought him victory.
One of the most exciting moments of this match happened when LA Knight hit Reigns through the barricade, followed by powerbombing him through the announce table. LA Knight managed to survive Spear from Reigns, giving hope to the New Orleans crowd that there might be an upset.
But soon after, Reigns reversed the situation, getting multiple Superman Punches and finally finishing his opponent with Spear.
The post-match segment provided another major talking point. The 946 appeared in the crowd to confront Reigns, prompting The Usos and Solo Sikoa to join the scene. A brawl then spilled through the concourse and into the parking area, with Jaida Parker helping The 946 escape in a car. The confrontation set up further developments in the Bloodline storyline.
Also Read: WWE Money in the Bank 2026 – Full list of winners from Roman Reigns to Tiffany Stratton
2. Tiffany Stratton wins her second Money in the Bank briefcase
Tiffany Stratton emerged victorious in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, defeating Jacy Jayne, Lash Legend, Lola Vice, Roxanne Perez and Sol Ruca. The odds were against Stratton, but the former champion came out on top after an exciting battle.
The six-woman contest featured several spectacular sequences, including a major ladder spot involving Legend and Ruca that left both competitors down. Ruca also reached the briefcase before Jayne tipped the ladder, forcing her to abandon the attempt and launch herself onto the other competitors.
Stratton’s decisive moment came during the closing stages when she battled Legend near the top of the ladder. She grabbed the briefcase and used it to strike her opponent before securing the prize.
The victory was particularly significant because it marked Stratton’s second Money in the Bank win, following her triumph in 2023. She now holds another opportunity to challenge for a championship at a time of her choosing, making her a major threat to WWE’s women’s division.
3. Oba Femi establishes his dominance against Bronson Reed
Oba Femi defeated Bronson Reed in a hard-hitting contest that showcased the strength of both heavyweights. Reed initially gained control with a series of sentons and powerful strikes, putting Femi under considerable pressure.
The match took a dramatic turn when Maxxine Dupri slipped brass knuckles to Reed. The Vision member used the weapon to land two loaded punches, but Femi remarkably survived the attack and kicked out after Reed’s Tsunami splash.
Reed attempted another aerial manoeuvre, only for Femi to evade it. The Ruler then connected with a corkscrew uppercut, delivered a powerful back suplex and finished the contest with the Fall From Grace.
The victory was an important statement for Femi, who overcame both Reed’s physical offence and the interference that threatened to derail his performance. His ability to withstand the brass-knuckle strikes and Tsunami made the win even more impressive.
4. Liv Morgan reclaims the Women’s World Championship
Liv Morgan became the Women’s World Champion by overcoming reigning champion Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match.
In the match, there were switching sides when Lynch and Morgan teamed up against Vaquer before all three went at each other. Vaquer used her athleticism to perform the awesome Spiral Tap maneuver, but Lynch stopped the pinfall attempt by taking the referee out of the ring.
In the later part of the match, all three women traded blows before the fight for dominance. Vaquer and Lynch battled inside the ringside area, allowing Morgan to make her move.
The opportune moment for Morgan was when she landed the Oblivion, thus getting the pinfall and becoming the new champion. With this victory, it seems that Morgan is making a huge comeback after being stripped of her world championship belt by Vaquer.
With the championship back around her waist, Morgan heads out of New Orleans with more confidence, while Vaquer and Lynch have more reasons to come back.
5. Penta wins the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match
Penta was one of the biggest winners of the night when he defeated Bron Breakker, CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans in the Money in the Bank ladder match for the men’s division.
There were many high-risk spots in the match, including when Breakker used his power to launch the opponents in the ring. In one sequence, he speared Je’Von Evans, who at a later moment crashed through the roof of an ambulance from a sequence of dangerous ladder spots.
Evans made a comeback from that accident and came back from the ambulance to attack Bron Breakker and keep the match alive. Although that moment made the match interesting again, the eventual winner took advantage of the commotion.
The sequence ended with Penta launching Breakker into the ringside with the help of a bridging ladder before climbing to get the briefcase. This win gives Penta the opportunity to have a shot at the title sometime during the following year.
This win is a huge step forward in Penta’s career and possibly the biggest of his WWE career so far. His victory also opens up the chance for an unexpected title contender.
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Who won the men’s & women’s Money in the Bank 2026 ladder matches?
Tiffany Stratton won the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match while Penta emerged victorious in the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match at the 2026 MITB PLE edition.
What is the next PLE after Money in the Bank 2026?
The next WWE Premium Live Event (PLE) after Money in the Bank 2026 is Crown Jewel, which will take place at the Riyadh Season Stadium in KAFD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 7, 2026.
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