CM Punk to defend Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

CM Punk appeared connected "Friday Night SmackDown" acceptable to instrumentality connected immoderate challenger that was acceptable to measurement to him aft winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.

Punk entered the ringing successful Oklahoma City and called backmost to the "Monday Night Raw" aft WrestleMania 42 erstwhile helium told Cody Rhodes he’d beryllium acceptable to present if a title accidental fell "out of the sky."

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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk look disconnected during SmackDown astatine Paycom Center successful Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)

"When title opportunities autumn retired of the sky, CM Punk catches them," helium said.

Punk named imaginable SmackDown superstars he’d deliberation mightiness travel for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He adjacent said that Zayn could travel backmost astir and get his rematch if helium wanted. He didn’t notation Rhodes’ name, but the "American Nightmare" came retired uncalled and marched his mode down to the ring.

"I don’t deliberation you and I tin tally distant from each different anymore," Punk told Rhodes.

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Cody Rhodes looks connected during SmackDown astatine Paycom Center successful Oklahoma City, Okla., connected July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)

Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would privation a lucifer with him, conscionable "say when." It was a speedy retort from Punk, who said, "when." SmackDown wide manager Nick Aldis, who was successful the ringing for the segment, booked the lucifer for SummerSlam.

Punk volition support the Undisputed WWE Championship astatine SummerSlam, which takes spot Aug. 1 and 2 astatine U.S. Bank Stadium successful Minneapolis.

First, however, Punk and Rhodes volition beryllium progressive successful a tag squad lucifer astatine Saturday Night’s Main Event successful New York City adjacent week. Aldis made the lucifer aft Gunther demanded that Aldis enactment him successful a lucifer against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would beryllium for the championship. Instead, Gunther volition tag with Zayn.

Gunther didn’t instrumentality excessively kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came backmost retired to interruption up the calamity. He wanted to instrumentality connected Gunther aft the amusement went disconnected aerial but Gunther walked away.

Gunther makes his entranceway during SmackDown astatine Paycom Center successful Oklahoma City, Okla., connected July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)

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Punk decidedly has his hands afloat arsenic helium moves to SmackDown to go a warring champion.