Tiffany Stratton, Kevin Owens Clinch Final MITB 2026 Spots

WWE’s Money in the Bank premium live event is set to round out its two signature ladder matches after the final qualifying bouts took place on Friday Night SmackDown. The last open spots in the men’s and women’s fields went to Kevin Owens and Tiffany Stratton, completing the lineups for one of the company’s most anticipated annual shows.

Money in the Bank remains one of WWE’s most distinctive concepts. In both the men’s and women’s matches, competitors battle with ladders in play as they attempt to climb up and retrieve the briefcase suspended above the ring. Inside that briefcase is a guaranteed championship opportunity, giving the winner the chance to challenge for a title at any time and in any place.

On the men’s side, Owens earned the final qualifying position by winning a triple-threat match against Johnny Gargano and Cody Rhodes. The finish unfolded amid outside interference and a timely distraction. Rhodes appeared to be in control and looked poised to secure the victory, but the match shifted when Randy Orton got involved and derailed his momentum.

Orton’s interference pulled Rhodes into a brawl, and that momentary loss of focus proved costly. As Rhodes was tied up with Orton, Owens took advantage of the opening and pinned Gargano. Orton then held onto Rhodes’ legs, preventing him from getting back into the action in time to break up the fall. The sequence allowed Owens to punch his ticket into the 2026 men’s Money in the Bank ladder match as the final entrant.

On the women’s side, Stratton secured the last available place by defeating Tatum Paxley and Candice LeRae in her qualifier. Even at a young age, Stratton already has a notable history with this stipulation, making her one of the more closely watched names in the field. Her previous success in the match adds another layer of intrigue heading into this year’s event.

Stratton won the Money in the Bank match in 2024 and later cashed in her contract on Nia Jax to capture the WWE Women’s Championship. That track record gives her immediate credibility in another ladder match scenario, where experience with timing, positioning, and chaos can make a major difference. With her latest qualifying win, she enters the 2026 contest as a competitor many will view as a serious threat.

Final fields set for New Orleans

With Friday’s results now official, both Money in the Bank fields are locked in. Owens arrives after surviving a dramatic men’s qualifier shaped by Orton’s involvement with Rhodes, while Stratton advances with proven success in the match already on her resume. Their additions finalize the two marquee lineups for the event.

The 2026 edition of Money in the Bank will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The show is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET and will be available on ESPN Unlimited. With the qualifying stage complete, attention now turns to the ladder matches themselves and which superstar will leave New Orleans holding a contract that can instantly change the championship picture.