WWE made a last-minute change to the match order for Money in the Bank, which is set for Saturday, October 10, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Michael Cole announced on tonight’s SmackDown that the World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and LA Knight will open the premium live event.
The decision comes as a surprise, especially since WrestleVotes Radio reported on Fightful Select as recently as Thursday, October 8, that the match was scheduled to main-event the show.
WrestleVotes also said WWE had at one point considered closing the show with the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match, but that plans ultimately shifted in favor of Reigns and Knight.
The feud between Reigns and Knight came to a head on the September 14 episode of Raw in Mexico City, when Reigns defeated Penta and Knight attacked him after the show went off the air. Adam Pearce made the match official that same night.
The change rules out a same-night cash-in on the winner of Reigns vs. Knight, since there will be no Mr. Money in the Bank yet when the title match takes place.