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CM Punk to defend undisputed WWE title against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

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After winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn, CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to face any opponent who was ready to step up to him.

Punk stepped into the ring in Oklahoma City and was recalled to “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42, where he told Cody Rhodes that if a title opportunity “fell from the sky,” he would be ready to take it.

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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)

“When championship opportunities fall from the sky, CM Punk grabs them,” he said.

Punk thought potential SmackDown superstars could come in for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams. He even said Zayn could come back and have a rematch if he wanted. He didn’t say Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” appeared and walked to the ring before he was called.

“I don’t think you and I can avoid each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.

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Cody Rhodes appears at Paycom Center during SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes watches during SmackDown at Paycom Center on July 10, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)

Rhodes accepted this and said Punk would want a match with him, just “tell me when”. This was a quick response to which Punk replied “when?” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring during the segment, booked the SummerSlam match.

Punk will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place on August 1 and 2 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

But first, Punk and Rhodes will participate in a tag team match next week on Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City. Aldis made the match after Gunther requested that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther hoped it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.

Gunther did not take kindly to this and attacked Aldis. Rhodes returned to end the disaster. He wanted to confront Gunther after the show went off the air, but Gunther walked away.