On this week’s WWE SmackDown, another big-time bout between two of the best and brightest was set up at the “Biggest Party of the Summer,” WWE SummerSlam 2026. At the Paycom Center, as Cody Rhodes and new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk went face-to-face in the middle of the ring to confront each other after the latter’s title win back at WWE Monday Night Raw, it escalated really fast.
Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk at SummerSlam 2026
CM Punk rolled into SmackDown, sporting the Undisputed WWE Championship. He would call out the likes of Gunther, Sami Zayn, Royce Keys, Trick Williams, and Finn Balor. After naming all the challengers he wanted, he would then be faced with none other than Cody Rhodes. SmackDown in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, popped off early as these two went nose-to-nose.
Rhodes remarked that they found themselves in a similar situation, but now Punk’s champion and Rhodes are the ones without it. Cody would then say that Punk talked about “title matches falling out of the sky.” However, there have been matches that have been brewing for a long time. Punk said that he didn’t want to beat around the bush and Rhodes should say when. Cody Rhodes did just that, with Punk remarking: SummerSlam.
Nick Aldis, after being reinstated from his administrative leave, quickly made it official, saying that the main event for WWE SummerSlam 2026 is now official; it’s going to be the Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk defending against Cody Rhodes.
These two have a tremendous amount of history. Since Punk came back to WWE in late 2023, it’s been building up to exactly this. It’s actually amazing how these two missed each other for the longest time. But now, we got the showdown of all showdowns. CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Undisputed WWE Championship Match at WWE SummerSlam 2026!
Title matches may fall out of the sky, but not many dream matches like this do.
