CM Punk to Defend WWE Championship Against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026

Main Event Set for SummerSlam 2026

At SummerSlam 2026, CM Punk will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a highly anticipated main event. This championship bout is expected to headline the first night of the event, while the World Heavyweight Championship clash between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins is poised to conclude the second night. Punk made his triumphant return as champion during this week's Smackdown, where he invited other superstars to challenge him for the title. In a surprising turn, Cody Rhodes' entrance music played, leading him to confront Punk and officially challenge him for the championship. Smackdown's General Manager, Nick Aldis, promptly sanctioned the match, marking Punk's inaugural title defense.

Punk's journey back to the top began with a shocking victory over Sami Zayn on Raw, where he captured the WWE Championship. Originally, Sami was slated to face Cody, but that match was scrapped after Gunther attacked Sami at the start of the show. Adam Pearce, tasked with ensuring fans received a title match, called upon Punk to defend his championship. Punk had previously lost the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 42 before reclaiming gold upon his return.

Tag Team Match Announcement

Punk and Cody Join Forces

In a twist leading up to their title showdown, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes will join forces for a tag team match against Gunther and Sami Zayn on July 18th during Saturday Night's Main Event. This match is anticipated to be the main event of the evening. Currently, WWE has not confirmed the opponents for Gunther and Sami at SummerSlam, but Gunther may challenge Aldis in a singles match after attacking the Smackdown GM. If Aldis returns to the ring, it will mark his first in-ring competition since debuting in WWE in 2023.