WWE Money In The Bank 2026: Success Or Failure?

Money In The Bank 2026 is done and dusted, with WWE taking a trip to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana for the latest installment of this PLE series. We saw big championship showdowns, chaotic ladder matches with brand new Money In The Bank holders, and more throughout the night – but which booking decisions, moments, and matches were the best and worst of the night?

Like any professional wrestling event, there was good and bad which came out of Money In The Bank 2026, with title changes, creative decisions, matches, and more helping to make this show either a success or a failure.

8

Success: Roman Reigns & LA Knight Deliver A Banger World Title Match

• Knight proved himself as a main eventer.
• Reigns vs. Knight was a terrific opener for Money In The Bank.
• This was Knight’s best match in WWE to date.

LA Knight isn’t known for his in-ring quality, with his charisma and connection with the fans often much of the handiwork. However, at Money In The Bank he proved his worthiness as an in-ring performer, having arguably the best match of his entire WWE career to date. Knight & Reigns went toe-to-toe with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line in a banger match that had a palpable atmosphere.

Knight came desperately close to upsetting Reigns and walking out with his first world title on more than one occasion, though ultimately Reigns was too powerful to overcome. There are some who believe that this was Knight’s final chance at winning the big one, however his incredible performance may have earned him a lifeline in the WWE main event scene. He proved himself worthy of his spot, looking like Reigns’ equal in the opener of Money In The Bank 2026.

7

Failure: LA Knight Loses… Again

• Reigns defeated Knight at Money In The Bank.
• Knight is over with WWE fans, but has never won a world title.
• This felt like Knight’s final chance at world championship glory.

Over the last three years, LA Knight has been one of the consistently over stars on the entire WWE roster, even with many losses and a lack of world title glory. At Money In The Bank 2026, he was way more over than fellow babyface Roman Reigns, and the audience were desperate to see him win the World Heavyweight Championship. However, despite hitting Reigns with multiple finishers and big moves, Reigns kicked out of everything and ultimately made Knight look weak when all was said and done.

The match itself was great and Knight proved his worth, but the result was yet another devastating blow to Knight and his fanbase. Much like many times throughout Reigns’ last run as world champion, the atmosphere at this PLE made it feel like the perfect place to finally pull the trigger and crowd a new titleholder. Alas, Knight lost, and it does truly feel like it was his final chance to win the big one.

6

Failure: Tiffany Stratton Wins A Second Money In The Bank Ladder Match

• WWE fans expected Roxanne Perez to win.
• The women’s Money In The Bank field had many rising stars.
• Stratton was the only wrestler who didn’t need to win Money In The Bank.

Roxanne Perez, who has been on an absolute roll in 2026, was one of the most obvious lay-ups for a Money In The Bank victory in WWE history. However, in a complete left-field move, WWE had Tiffany Stratton stand tall with the briefcase, winning the contract for the second time in three years.

Out of all of the rising stars, new call-ups, and popular names in the match, Stratton was the only wrestler who objectively did not need to win this match. WWE could have elevated a new star but instead went with a bland, safe option, which will almost obviously lead to a heel turn and cash-in on Chelsea Green. Once again, WWE has wasted the Money In The Bank gimmick for another year.

5

Failure: Inexperience Leads To An Unsafe Money In The Bank Ladder Match

• The women’s Money In The Bank was full of young and inexperienced wrestlers.
• There were many scary spots in the Money In The Bank ladder match.
• Tiffany Stratton, Lola Vice, and Jacy Jayne came close to serious injury.

The Money In The Bank ladder match is renowned for being one of the most dangerous matches in wrestling, but it is rare for anyone to get any sort of injury. However, when you throw in many inexperienced names with a handful of years of in-ring experience between them, many of whom only got called up to the WWE main roster this year, there is an increased risk.

The women’s match had some strong moments and big spots, but it also had an uncomfortable air of danger which was hard to shake, starting early on when the field failed to properly catch Tiffany Stratton, who landed very awkwardly after a Swanton Bomb from atop a ladder to the floor. Later in the match, Lola Vice & Jacy Jayne crashed very awkwardly out of the ring in an unplanned bump due to the fact that a ladder hadn’t been set up securely during the match. WWE should have put in more veterans to keep the match on track, while featuring one or two upcoming stars in such a high-risk environment.

4

Success: Oba Femi Continues To Dominate

• Femi defeated Bronson Reed at Money In The Bank.
• Femi vs. Reed was an impressive matchup.
• WWE has continued to book Femi strongly.

Although The Vision faction is one of the most lethargic acts in WWE today, their feud with Oba Femi has been handled well. At Money In The Bank 2026, Femi battled Bronson Reed in a brutal, hard-hitting, stiff matchup in which they each showed impressive resilience, strength, and energy, all leading to Femi stacking up another good win.

After his feud with Brock Lesnar, Femi was in dire need of another statement win (especially following his non-finish against Bron Breakker at Saturday Night’s Main Event), and beating Reed was exactly that.

3

Failure: Liv Morgan Wins Back The Women’s World Title

• Morgan won the Women’s World Championship at Money In The Bank.
• Morgan’s reign in 2026 was awful.
• Vaquer deserved a longer run as Women’s World Champion.

Money In The Bank 2026 featured Stephanie Vaquer defending her recently-won Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch & Liv Morgan… and it also featured her losing it. Despite only picking up the title in recent weeks, Vaquer dropped the title thanks to an Oblivion from Liv Morgan.

Throughout 2026, Morgan held the Women’s World Title for many months in one of the worst title reigns in recent memory, so the decision to crown her again is one that has left many fans scratching their heads. This was one of the worst booking calls of the whole PLE.

2

Failure: The Worst Money In The Bank Ladder Match Ever

• The men’s Money In The Bank ladder match was terrible.
• Je’Von Evans’ ambulance spot was the only saving grace.
• Despite a lot of talent, the production of Money In The Bank’s main event failed.

CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, Penta, and Bron Breakker are six incredibly gifted wrestlers with a lot of talent in their backpockets. On paper, this looked like the perfect Money In The Bank lineup, but in execution it failed to hit the high marks.

This was slow, scrappy, and odd the whole way through, with hardly any big spots (save for Je’Von Evans insane bump through the roof of an ambulance). The bout saw mostly normal in-ring wrestling moves rather than any creative ladder involvement or fun moments, and it failed to carry much storytelling aspects apart from the hatred between Owens & Punk and Breakker’s dominance, so it wasn’t even carried from this perspective. This is one of, if not the worst produced Money In The Bank ladder matches ever, even with a strong winner.

1

Success: Penta Is Mr. Money In The Bank

• Penta has been on a roll in 2026.
• He won the men’s Money In The Bank contract.
• WWE picked the correct winner.

Seeing a new star made and elevated via Money In The Bank is always great, and that was the case when Penta claimed the briefcase to close out the PLE. There is a long way to go for WWE to determine whether or not Penta will successfully cash-in the briefcase, but for now fans can rejoice on WWE pulling the trigger with someone who is riding a strong wave of momentum.

Ever since his show-stealer with Roman Reigns, Penta has been amongst the most over stars in WWE, and winning the Money In The Bank briefcase is his next step up the ladder.