WWE rumor roundup: Roman Reigns vs LA Knight at Money in the Bank; Sami Zayn regains title; Crown Jewel plans
Roman Reigns is reportedly set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight at Money in the Bank on October 10, 2026, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, and Sami Zayn regained the Undisputed WWE Championship from CM Punk on the September 11 SmackDown in Mexico City. The report also covers backstage planning around Crown Jewel, main roster introductions, and international event scheduling discussed by WWE sources.
The Reigns–Knight pairing was confirmed after LA Knight attacked Roman following Reigns’ title defense over Penta on Raw in Mexico City this past Monday, according to the roundup. Ibou of Self Made Sessions said WWE “never seriously considered having Penta defeat Roman Reigns for the World Championship,” despite Raw being in Mexico City, and that officials have talked about LA Knight delivering a shock win at Money in the Bank. The proposed finish discussed could involve Solo Sikoa providing a storyline reason to pull Reigns into a WarGames angle at Survivor Series, and the scenario has been floated as a way to escalate the conflict.
Ibou further said the “ultimate goal” is for Roman Reigns to eventually drop the World Championship to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. “The one idea that was bandied about and talked about was LA Knight potentially beating Roman Reigns in a shock title win, And one of the ideas that was talked about was involving Solo, and then playing into the War Game storyline. That being the catalyst to pull Roman in to a storyline that, at the moment, he’s been avoiding.” “Like the whole thing that they’re telling right now is Roman’s basically like, ‘I’m not worried about none of these other (superstar) that you guys are fighting. You guys deal with that. I’m The Tribal Chief,'” the insider added. The promotional thinking reported suggests a shock title change to LA Knight could be used to draw Reigns into a larger storyline.
On the title-change front, Ibou of Self Made Session reports Sami Zayn’s Undisputed WWE Championship victory over CM Punk was designed as a bridge to eventually transfer the title to Kevin Owens, with Zayn sometimes used to navigate backstage dynamics. Sami defeated Punk in the main event of the September 11 edition of SmackDown in Mexico City to regain the Undisputed title, kicking off his second World title reign.
WWE ran SmackDown, Night 2 of AAA TripleMania 34, and Raw from Arena CDMX in Mexico City this past weekend, and sources cited by WrestleVotes said that, after the weekend’s success, officials will consider bookending next year’s TripleMania with both Raw and SmackDown to create a destination weekend. The discussion about programming around TripleMania followed the cards run in Mexico City and the reported reception there.
WrestleVotes on Fightful reported officials have been discussing the U.S. State Department’s September 15 travel advisory that placed Saudi Arabia at a Level 3 recommendation, with certain regions elevated to Level 4. Despite those travel warnings, the same source indicated the November 7 Crown Jewel event is still expected to proceed as scheduled because WWE remains contractually committed to ESPN for that date.
The report also covered talent moves and production plans: Women’s NXT Champion Kelani Jordan made her main roster debut on Raw in Mexico City in a triple-threat qualifier for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match against Lola Vice and Raquel Rodriguez, an appearance WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select said was intended to introduce her to the main roster audience and that plans call for her to move to the main roster after her NXT Women’s Championship run. Sources from Fightful Select and PWInsider indicated the upcoming Worlds Collide event might not air live and could be treated as a house show or taped for later release, with the expectation that footage will eventually be made available on YouTube or Club WWE. Separately, WrestleVotes via Fightful Select reported WWE has committed to a three-year partnership with Perth, Australia, with a PLE weekend planned each year, following the announcement of WrestlePalooza Perth in December; the report named Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble as possible PLE options and noted 2028 as a potential target year to bring a major event to Perth.
The 2026 Money in the Bank is scheduled for October 10, 2026, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and sources say Crown Jewel remains expected to take place on November 7 under WWE’s contractual commitment to ESPN.