Kevin Owens Secures Money in the Bank Spot After Controversial SmackDown Victory

Kevin Owens is heading to WWE's Money in the Bank with a chance to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He secured the final spot in the men's ladder match on the latest SmackDown, capitalizing on a chaotic main event involving Cody Rhodes and Johnny Gargano.

The final spot for the men's Money in the Bank ladder match was decided in a triple-threat main event on October 7's Friday Night SmackDown. Kevin Owens faced Cody Rhodes and Johnny Gargano in a contest that descended into outside interference. Multi-time WWE Champion Randy Orton appeared, aiming to cost Rhodes the match.

Rhodes managed to counter Orton and nearly delivered a Punt Kick. That distraction allowed Gargano to take out The American Nightmare. But when Gargano turned to Owens, he walked into a pop-up powerbomb. Owens pinned Gargano for the win, with Orton preventing Rhodes from breaking up the pinfall by holding his leg. The victory sends Owens to the Money in the Bank premium live event on October 10 in New Orleans.

Owens' path to the briefcase is directly tied to his history with Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn. The two have a long, complex friendship and rivalry. Zayn recently retained his title against Owens on the September 18 episode of SmackDown, but the finish was botched. The original plan called for CM Punk to hit Owens with the championship belt, allowing Zayn to get the pin.

Instead, the referee did not call for the bell after a three-count, forcing everyone to improvise. Zayn eventually hit a second Helluva Kick to officially win. The blundered finish reportedly left several people in WWE unhappy, feeling it lessened the impact of Punk's storyline involvement. If Owens wins the Money in the Bank contract, a cash-in on his old friend Zayn is a strong possibility.

The wrestling world was shaken by the sudden passing of AEW star Pac, real name Benjamin Satterley, at age 40. Owens, who knew Satterley from their time together on the independent circuit and in WWE, posted a heartfelt, six-word tribute on social media that resonated widely. AEW's tribute video on the October 5 edition of Dynamite also featured footage of Owens from his Ring of Honor days, acknowledging their shared history.

Pac's family released a statement read on Dynamite, thanking the global community for its support. They remembered him as a principled man who adored his family. Owens' emotional public response highlighted the deep personal connections that exist behind the scenes in professional wrestling.

Beyond Owens' ascent, the Money in the Bank card features other major developments. Roman Reigns is scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight. Rumors suggest one creative idea involves Knight scoring a shocking win to become champion, potentially pulling Reigns into a War Games storyline. Also, despite a loss to Reigns on Raw in Mexico City, Penta impressed WWE executives backstage. There is a belief he could become a major star in Latin America, especially with Rey Mysterio nearing retirement.

• Kevin Owens earned the final men's Money in the Bank spot by pinning Johnny Gargano on October 7's SmackDown.
• Owens' recent title match against Sami Zayn on September 18 ended with an improvised finish after a referee error.
• Owens paid tribute to the late AEW star Pac, with whom he shared a long history dating back to the independent scene.
• The Money in the Bank premium live event takes place on October 10 in New Orleans, Louisiana.