WWE SmackDown Money in the Bank qualifying matches: Six stars who could get their chance in New Orleans

With Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Sol Ruca and Lola Vice securing their spots in the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank matches thus far, we will see more qualifiers take place on the September 18 WWE SmackDown.

With many talented stars competing on Friday nights, there’s no shortage of options for WWE to choose from.

Here are six stars we could see compete in the next set of Money in the Bank qualifying matches.

Carmelo Hayes

It has now been an entire month since we last saw Carmelo Hayes compete on Friday Night SmackDown, with his last appearance being a loss to Baron Corbin on the August 14 episode of SmackDown. While he missed out last year, Hayes did compete in the 2024 Money in the Bank ladder match and proved why he can be such an exciting addition to a match like that.

Hayes’ booking has been highly criticised by fans after such a promising end to 2025/start of 2026, so one way they could help turn things around is booking him to qualify in the Money in the Bank once again this year.

Trick Williams

Despite being embroiled in a feud with the aforementioned Baron Corbin, Trick Williams seems like a likely candidate to, at the very least receive a qualification match, given his immense popularity.

Trick has been viewed as a frontrunner to win the Money in the Bank throughout the year, as he is someone who clearly has world championship potential. Given that he already has the US Title however, and is involved in a storyline with Corbin already, ‘Trick Willy’ should really miss out on the Money in the Bank match this year.

GUNTHER

After retiring three WWE legends in the space of seven months, GUNTHER’s 2026 hasn’t quite been as dominant as that ‘Career Killer’ run suggested it would.

The SmackDown main event picture is packed, so that has made his expected ascent to the Undisputed WWE Championship more tricky, and much of his summer was occupied by his excellent feud with Nick Aldis. Now that GUNTHER is back in the hunt for gold however, we should see him qualify for Money in the Bank – which would be a first for ‘The Ring General.’

Jacy Jayne

The women’s Money in the Bank field is once again wide open this year, but Jacy Jayne has long felt like a frontrunner to at least earn a spot in the match after a breakout first year on SmackDown.

The Fatal Influence leader has already won her first piece of gold with the Women’s US Title, but she’s already made it clear that she has her sights set on even more. Even if a cash-in doesn’t come until 2027, Jayne would feel like a natural fit to hold onto the briefcase.

Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany Stratton is no stranger to the Money in the Bank, having won the briefcase back in 2024. Her successful cash-in on Nia Jax in January 2025 then led to a WWE Women’s Title run that lasted almost the entirety of that year. So, Stratton doesn’t need reminding of the importance of Money in the Bank.

Stratton has seemed more focused on protecting current Interim WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green than her own ambition lately, but it feels like a heel turn is coming. Stratton winning Money in the Bank and then immediately cashing in on Green would make for a cruel moment, and one that will establish Stratton as a top heel on main roster.

Lash Legend

While Stratton would be the favorite in her Money in the Bank qualifier three-way, we have seen the damage that Lash Legend has done to her in recent weeks.

Legend, like her husband Trick Williams, is someone with massive upside and clearly WWE sees that. She certainly should be in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and would be a dark horse to win the entire thing. However, she may be used as a means to stack the odds against Stratton, rather than get the glory herself this time around.

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