Kevin Owens and Tiffany Stratton earned spots in their Money in the Bank ladder matches on the October 2 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, each winning a triple threat match. Owens won the main event over Johnny Gargano and Cody Rhodes, and Stratton beat Candice LeRae and Tatum Paxley earlier in the night, according to WWE.com's results.
In the main event, Owens won with a Pop-up Powerbomb on Gargano. WWE.com reported that Randy Orton interfered and kept Rhodes from winning, and Yahoo Sports wrote that Orton repeatedly attacked Rhodes outside the ring, which removed him from contention. The win puts Owens in the men's ladder match alongside CM Punk, Trick Williams, Je'Von Evans and Penta.
Stratton's qualifier was also a triple threat, not a singles match. She pinned LeRae after hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, WWE.com said. Yahoo Sports added that Stratton had first used a moonsault to break up a pin before taking the win. She joins Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne, Roxanne Perez and Lash Legend in the women's ladder match.
Also on the show, Blake Monroe defeated Giulia in Monroe's main roster in-ring debut. WWE.com's results say Monroe pinned Giulia after sending her face-first into the ring post. Fightful described the match as Monroe's first since an April 21 NXT appearance. Giulia was helped to the back afterward, and later footage showed her hitting Monroe with a headbutt backstage, continuing the feud.
In tag team action, Ricky Saints and The War Raiders defeated Rey Fenix and Fraxiom. Saints won with a Rochambeau on Fenix, who is the AAA Cruiserweight Champion, according to WWE.com. Yahoo Sports wrote that Saints blind-tagged in before the pin.
The show also featured a confrontation among Money in the Bank entrants and the champions. WWE.com listed Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn facing United States Champion Trick Williams, Gunther, Finn Bálor, Penta and Je'Von Evans. Yahoo Sports reported that Zayn demanded respect before Evans and then Penta interrupted him, and that Evans and Penta argued over who should challenge for the Undisputed Championship. Gunther later attacked both Zayn and Bálor as the segment turned into a brawl.
Fightful reported that a rematch between Paige and Nikki Bella was announced for the October 16 SmackDown.
Money in the Bank takes place October 10 in New Orleans. With both qualifiers decided on SmackDown, the men's and women's ladder match fields are now set.
