WWE would save one of the most important matches of the night for the closing of SmackDown. CM Punk, Gunther, and Finn Bálor will face off in a triple threat match to qualify for Money in the Bank, and all signs point to the three former world champions being the ones to put the final touch on the show.
According to the preliminary order of the show published by Viper Reports, the match between Punk, Gunther, and Bálor is currently scheduled for the main event. The decision would give special prominence to a match that already stands out due to the caliber of its participants. Only one of the three will earn a spot in the male Money in the Bank Ladder Match to be held on October 10th in New Orleans.
The situation holds special importance for CM Punk. The wrestler enters this qualifier just two weeks after losing the WWE Undisputed Championship to Sami Zayn in the main event of SmackDown in Mexico City. That defeat ended a reign of 67 days during which Punk had successfully defended the title against Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Johnny Gargano.
Punk wasted no time in making his intentions clear. After the loss, the former champion stated he would try to regain the title, so qualifying for Money in the Bank could open an alternative path for him to quickly return to the orbit of the Undisputed Championship. The contract would allow Punk to challenge a world champion at a time of his choosing over the following year.
Furthermore, Money in the Bank is not unfamiliar territory for CM Punk. The Chicago wrestler has a historic relationship with the concept after winning the briefcase in two consecutive editions, WrestleMania XXIV and WrestleMania XXV. Both victories ended with successful cash-ins that allowed him to capture world championships, making him one of the wrestlers most associated with the stipulation.
Gunther also doesn't enter the match as a mere companion. The Austrian continues to be one of WWE's main figures and is already familiar with Punk and Sami Zayn. In fact, Gunther was part of the triple threat for the Undisputed Championship held at Night of Champions, where Zayn managed to win the title before subsequently losing it to Punk.
The third participant in the match will be Finn Bálor, who will seek to regain prominence in the singles scene. The Irishman has experience as a world champion, and qualifying for Money in the Bank would allow him to immediately position himself around WWE's top titles once again. The nature of a triple threat also allows any of the three to achieve victory without directly defeating the other two.
The winner will join a male Money in the Bank that is already taking shape. Penta secured his qualification this week on Monday Night Raw after replacing Solo Sikoa and defeating Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio. The Mexican thus joined Bron Breakker, Je'Von Evans, and Trick Williams, who had previously secured their respective spots.
Thus, the victor between Punk, Gunther, and Bálor will become the fifth confirmed participant, pending the last member of the ladder match. WWE Money in the Bank 2026 will take place on Saturday, October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The show already features another important title match. Roman Reigns will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight, while WWE continues to progressively complete the two ladder matches.
If the rundown order remains, SmackDown will start with a steel cage match and end with three former world champions vying for a spot in one of WWE's most important matches. The structure would allow the company to open and close the show with two of its main attractions announced for the night.
Currently, WWE has not officially confirmed that Punk, Gunther, and Bálor will close the show. Internal rundowns are subject to changes until broadcast, so the order could still shift. However, if the reported plan holds, the three wrestlers will have the responsibility of closing SmackDown with a match that will nearly complete the male Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
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