#2. Nick Aldis Costs Gunther a Shot at the WWE Championship
Last week on SmackDown, a frustrated Gunther put his hands on Nick Aldis and put him to sleep with the Sleeperhold. The blue brand’s General Manager has not been seen since the vicious assault, but he will surely return for revenge.
Adam Pearce elevated the stakes of the Tag Team bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event. If Gunther and Sami Zayn can defeat Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, they will be added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. The stipulation takes the Ring General closer to the World Title, but it also gives Aldis a viable incentive for revenge.
SmackDown’s shot caller could make an unannounced appearance at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He could distract and attack Gunther, costing the Career Killer another shot at the WWE Championship. We might be headed for a one-on-one clash between Gunther and Aldis at SummerSlam. This interference angle is an intriguing way to accelerate their ongoing feud.
#1. CM Punk Turns on Cody Rhodes
As of the time of writing, CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes is the WWE Championship match for SummerSlam 2026. Both men have tremendous respect for one another and have, thus far, remained cordial towards each other. However, there can only be one man at the top on SmackDown.
In recent years, many of Rhodes’ longtime friends have turned their backs on the American Nightmare. At Saturday Night’s Main Event, Punk could join that list. The Second City Saint has shown heelish tendencies in recent weeks. His WWE Championship victory came out of nowhere and was contradictory to the character arc he had built as World Heavyweight Champion.
WWE doesn’t like doing babyface vs. babyface feuds. The company has shown a reluctance to turn Rhodes heel, which is why Punk could be the one to change character. After defeating Gunther and Sami Zayn, the Chicago native could betray his friend and viciously assault the American Nightmare.
This would add a personal touch to their rivalry, making their clash at SummerSlam more meaningful. A CM Punk heel turn could be the spark the road to SummerSlam needs.
