Lineup for WWE SmackDown on October 9, 2026: CM Punk returns; final face-offs before Money in the Bank
WWE SmackDown returns on October 9, 2026, at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the final episode before Money in the Bank 2026 and will feature CM Punk’s return, a Women’s Tag Team Championship match, and appearances from the superstars entered in the two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches.
The show is advertised as the last SmackDown before the Money in the Bank premium live event in New Orleans and is expected to include on-camera appearances from all six men’s and six women’s ladder-match participants. CM Punk is listed for the episode while Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid will defend the Women’s Tag Team Championship against Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley, who previously beat the champions in a non-title encounter.
CM Punk is advertised as preparing for the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match after qualifying alongside Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Penta and Kevin Owens; no televised match has been announced for him, and the article notes the Second City Saint could use the appearance to send a final warning to his rivals.
The Women’s Tag title bout will pit champions Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid against Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley; the challengers enter the rematch on the back of a non-title victory over the champions, while the champions’ established teamwork as Fatal Influence is cited as a potential advantage.
All 12 Money in the Bank competitors are expected to appear on the show, with the women’s field listed as Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend and Tiffany Stratton, and their appearances described as possible precursors to confrontations ahead of the New Orleans event.
‘The Visionary’ Seth Rollins is advertised for a six-man tag team dark match, teaming with Solo Sikoa and LA Knight against The 946, but the listing is explicitly noted as not confirming a televised return for Rollins; the article also says wrestlers such as Charlotte Flair, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are expected to appear on the show.
Ticketing data from WrestleTix shows 6,351 tickets distributed for the Lafayette SmackDown, an increase of 778 since the prior count three days earlier, with the current setup at 7,242 and 891 available tickets; the published event listing reads: WWE Friday Night SmackDown Fri • Oct 09, 2026 • 6:30 PM Lafayette Cajundome, Lafayette, LA, and the update includes Days until show: 2 and YTD Show Avg: 9,432.
SmackDown will serve as the final televised stop before Money in the Bank 2026, with organisers expecting all ladder-match participants to appear on October 9 at the Cajundome, setting the card and on-screen confrontations ahead of the premium live event.