WWE reports: CM Punk’s MITB status unclear; Rollins return plans paused; Reigns–Penta rematch discussed
Reports on September 25, 2026 said CM Punk's participation in Money in the Bank on October 10 in New Orleans is uncertain, while WWE is re-evaluating a return for Seth Rollins and considering a Roman Reigns–Penta rematch after their title clash on Raw in Mexico City.
The uncertainty around Punk follows his loss of the Undisputed Championship to Sami Zayn two weeks earlier, which had prompted fan speculation about a rematch at Money in the Bank; WrestleVotes on Fightful Select reported Punk was discussed for the October 10 PLE but that his status remains uncertain. Seth Rollins has not been on WWE television since losing to Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, despite appearing during WWE’s South American tour, and WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select said Rollins was at one point considered for Money in the Bank but those plans appear to have been scrapped.
WrestleVotes sources told Khel Now that WWE is "waiting for the right time" to bring Rollins back to television, even as he remains advertised for upcoming live events and is listed among the featured stars for the promotion’s upcoming tour of Hawaii. The report added that a planned Money in the Bank appearance for Rollins has been shifted away from current creative plans.
A creative source cited by WrestleVotes said the company changed course after the strong reception to Roman Reigns versus Penta on Raw in Mexico City; the match had initially been viewed internally as a one-off world title encounter. That source linked the reconsideration to "impressive viewership numbers and strong merchandise sales for Penta," which prompted WWE to explore the possibility of a rematch between Reigns and Penta.
WrestleVotes further reported that several members of WWE creative now see Penta as the "heavy favorite" to win this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The report notes this creative direction was not part of plans as recently as SummerSlam, where Penta lost the Intercontinental title to Chad Gable.
Separately, Khel Now cited details from Executive chairman of TKO Ari Emanuel’s new book revealing that Stephanie McMahon persuaded Vince McMahon to resign amid public scrutiny related to the Janel Grant lawsuit; Dave Meltzer discussed that revelation on Wrestling Observer Radio and said: “Okay. Well, I mean, it was. It was interesting how he framed the whole deal. He did the one thing that. That he did do that. I mean, we all knew it, but he. He actually said it was that, you know, when Vince resigned. That the person who talked him into resigning was in fact Stephanie, which we all knew, but it had never been said publicly.”
The next confirmed date referenced in the reporting is Money in the Bank on October 10 in New Orleans, with CM Punk’s involvement listed as unresolved and WWE continuing to adjust creative plans ahead of that premium live event.