Man, talk about a gut punch. The 2026 WWE Money in the Bank show went down in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center, and while we had some wild ladder matches, the biggest takeaway has to be the crushing blow to LA Knight’s world title aspirations. The guy looked phenomenal against Roman Reigns, and you could tell “The OTC” wanted him to come out of it looking like a legit megastar. But after that clean loss, it is just impossible to see any path for Knight to claw his way back to a world championship.
The Clock Just Ran Out for LA Knight
Seriously, this one stings. LA Knight, nearly 44 years old, has now lost multiple times to the biggest name in WWE, Roman Reigns, who is the absolute central star of his brand. If this wasn’t the moment for him to finally grab that world title, then when is it ever going to be? The source makes it pretty clear: it seems highly unlikely “it ever will be Knight’s time.” You have to figure his next step is probably a challenge for the Intercontinental Championship, and at his age, how many “next steps” does he even have left in his career? It feels like the ultimate ceiling just crashed down on him, and that’s a tough pill to swallow for a guy who gives it his all.
Penta and Tiffany Stratton Steal the Show, Roxanne Perez Stumbles
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for everyone. Two absolute breakouts owned the night. Tiffany Stratton made history, becoming the first woman to win two separate Money in the Bank briefcases. That’s a huge statement from WWE. After her SmackDown arrival in 2024, her first world title reign got lost in some “poorly chosen rivalries” with Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill. But now, her path to gold leads straight through her friend Chelsea Green. That’s some juicy drama right there, the kind that could drag Stratton back into her “dastardly heel era” that made her a star in NXT, and honestly, that storyline could carry them all the way to WrestleMania 43.
Then there is Penta. Nobody thought he would ever be one of the top men in WWE, but his meteoric rise in 2026 is undeniable. After a killer run as Intercontinental champion and a match with Roman Reigns that even had fans questioning things, his Money in the Bank ladder match win now gives him the easiest path to a future world championship. He’s proven everyone wrong, big time.
On the flip side, Roxanne Perez, who everyone had pegged as the favorite for the women’s ladder match despite what WWE showed us, ended up a loser. The 24-year-old has done everything right in her first year, setting herself up for a massive rise. But that loss just threw her path to gold into total uncertainty. She’s stuck looking at Liv Morgan, her stablemate and the top champion, who hasn’t given her a clear shot at the title since winning it last year. Unless her stable, The Prodigy, decides to fully turn face and ditch The Judgment Day, it looks like she is gonna be riding the bench for a while.
946 Makes Its Presence Felt, What’s Next for Everyone?
Even without a match on the card, the group 946 made a massive impact, brawling with The Usos and Solo Sikoa right out of the arena. Royce Keys and OTM continue to look like a serious threat to everyone, especially after Roman Reigns. If 946 can win inside WarGames this year, Keys could be challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship by the end of the year. It’s rare a new stable feels this important this fast, and WWE better be careful to keep that momentum going even while they are fighting top names.
So, while we got some new briefcase holders ready for their shot at glory, and a stable making waves, it is LA Knight’s heartbreaking situation that sticks with you. What a tough night for the veteran.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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