New Orleans gets its first taste of WWE Money in the Bank Saturday, when the Smoothie King Center hosts a loaded card featuring CM Punk, Roman Reigns and a briefcase match stuffed with future main-eventers. The show kicks off at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Business District arena, and inclement weather is expected to roll through the city this weekend.
The event marks the first time the Money in the Bank franchise has ever touched down in New Orleans, according to WWLTV.com. It is also a historic booking for the franchise itself: this year's show is the 17th annual edition and the first to land in October and after SummerSlam, a scheduling shift documented by Wikipedia, since Money in the Bank was traditionally wedged between WrestleMania and SummerSlam.
Getting to Saturday's date wasn't simple. The show was originally penciled in for August 29, then bumped to September 6, before finally settling on October 10 as part of a broader reshuffling of WWE's touring calendar, per the same Wikipedia entry. That reshuffling also put Sunday Night's Main Event in Atlanta on September 6.
Who's Fighting for the Briefcase
The men's Money in the Bank ladder match brings together Bron Breakker, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, Penta, CM Punk and Kevin Owens, all climbing for a briefcase containing a contract that guarantees its holder a championship match whenever they choose to cash it in, within the next year. On the women's side, Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend and Tiffany Stratton will scale the same ladder for the same prize.
Outside the ladder matches, Roman Reigns — known to fans as The OTC — squares off against LA Knight, who wrestles under the real name Shaun Ricker. The women's World Championship picture gets crowded too, with Stephanie Vaquer, Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch all set to compete for the title. Rounding out the card, Oba takes on Bronson Reed.
A Weekend Weather Watch
Inclement weather is expected to affect New Orleans this weekend, and WWLTV.com says it will continue monitoring conditions and any changes to the event as the forecast develops. The outlet notes that Money in the Bank could be canceled or altered if conditions require it, though no decision had been made as of publication.
Where the Show Fits in Wrestling History
The Money in the Bank match itself dates back to WrestleMania 21 in 2005, when the concept was conceived in storyline by wrestler Chris Jericho, according to USA Network. It spun off into its own standalone pay-per-view in July 2010. Money in the Bank is considered one of WWE's five biggest events, alongside the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series. Winning the briefcase has historically served as a launching pad for future world champions.
Saturday's broadcast will also be the first Money in the Bank to stream under WWE's multi-year domestic rights deal with ESPN, which made ESPN platforms the exclusive U.S. home for all WWE Premium Live Events starting in 2026. That agreement effectively moved WWE's flagship shows off Peacock, a shift confirmed by the ESPN Press Room.
Venue Rules and New Orleans' Wrestling Pedigree
The Smoothie King Center sits in the Central Business District next to the Caesars Superdome and opened in 1999, with a maximum capacity of 17,700 for arena-scale shows.
New Orleans is no stranger to WWE spectacle, having hosted WrestleMania XXX in 2014 and WrestleMania 34 in 2018 at the neighboring Superdome, per WWE. This weekend's show brings WWE spectacle to arena size, with the city's first Money in the Bank event.
Fans looking ahead can also find a November 6 Road to Survivor Series: WarGames event at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. As for Saturday, ticket prices vary by type across standard, VIP and suite options, with doors built around that 4:30 p.m. start time.
