CM Punk is set to put his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line at SummerSlam 2026. He will defend it against Cody Rhodes in the main event of SummerSlam. The WWE Championship match is likely to close night one of SummerSlam. The World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins looks all but set to close the second night. Punk made his first entrance as the champion on this week’s Smackdown. He asked for the superstars to step and challenge him for the title.
Cody Rhodes’ music hit in the arena and he challenged the champion to a title match. Nick Aldis, Smackdown’s General Manager, made the match official on the spot. It will be Punk’s first title defense.
He made a shocking return on this week’s Raw and defeated Sami Zayn to win the WWE Championship. Sami was originally scheduled to face Cody but the match had to be canceled as Gunther attacked him at the start of the show.
Adam Pearce had the responsibility to make sure that the fans got a title match and he called Punk to challenge the champion. Punk, who lost the World Heavyweight Championship in his previous match at Wrestlemania 42, won the gold upon his return.
Punk, Cody to team up
Two weeks before their title match, Punk and Cody will team up against Gunther and Sami Zayn for a tag team match at the July 18th Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match is likely to be the main event.
As of now, WWE has not confirmed Gunther’s and Sami’s opponents for SummerSlam. Gunther could challenge Aldis in a one-on-one match. He attacked the Smackdown’s GM on the show.
Should Aldis make his in-ring return, it will be the first time that he will compete in a WWE ring. He has been an on-screen character since making his WWE debut in 2023.
