WWE SmackDown Highlights: Women's Tag Title Match and Money‑in‑the‑Bank Hype in Lafayette

The October 9 episode featured a women's tag team championship match and extensive promotion for Saturday's Money‑in‑the‑Bank event.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 06:24:22 GMT

WWE aired its October 9 episode of SmackDown from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, spotlighting a women’s tag team championship bout and a full‑scale hype segment for the upcoming Money‑in‑the‑Bank pay‑per‑view.

What happened

The show opened with Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis discussing the Money‑in‑the‑Bank event. CM Punk then addressed the crowd, declaring his intent to become the first three‑time MITB winner and challenging the field. He was joined by Kevin Owens and later Sami Zayn, each exchanging remarks before a ladder‑centric segment began.

A women’s tag team championship match saw Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley face Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley. The bout was scheduled as part of the evening’s card alongside other matches, including a War Raiders versus M.F.T. contest that featured interference from Haku and a post‑match assault by the War Raiders on the M.F.T. team.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report’s live‑blog noted that all Money‑in‑the‑Bank ladder‑match competitors were present on the SmackDown stage to promote the upcoming pay‑per‑view, while a separate Bleacher Report article highlighted that Trick Williams and Bron Breakker were booked for a singles match later in the show. The first source mentioned a “historic” atmosphere at the Cajundome, whereas the second source emphasized the narrative focus on CM Punk’s MITB ambitions.

What was said

CM Punk told Bleacher Report’s live‑blog that he would climb the ladder and attempt to become the only three‑time MITB winner, adding that he was willing to take the risk despite the match’s danger. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn each entered the ring and traded personal insults, as reported by the same outlet.

How it came about

The Lafayette stop followed WWE’s Raw on September 28, which featured the Bloodline faction’s storyline developments (see Felo’s coverage). In the weeks leading up to Money‑in‑the‑Bank, WWE has built multiple qualifying matches, including a women’s qualifier on SmackDown that drew potential interference from Giulia, Blake Monroe, Nia Jax and Chelsea Green (see Felo’s earlier report).

Key facts

The October 9 SmackDown episode was held at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. (bleacherreport.com)
Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley challenged Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley for the women’s tag team championship. (bleacherreport.com)
CM Punk announced his goal to become the first three‑time Money‑in‑the‑Bank winner during the show. (bleacherreport.com)
All Money‑in‑the‑Bank ladder‑match competitors were present on SmackDown to promote the upcoming pay‑per‑view. (bleacherreport.com)
War Raiders faced the M.F.T. team, with Haku interfering and the War Raiders assaulting the M.F.T. after the match. (bleacherreport.com)