Did WWE alter plans to crown CM Punk against Sami Zayn ahead of SummerSlam 2026?
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
CM Punk returned in Chicago to replace Cody Rhodes.
By now, everyone is well aware of CM Punk’s highly anticipated return that transpired in Chicago on the July 6 edition of Monday Night Raw. He replaced Cody Rhodes, who was the number one contender and was gearing up to battle the Undisputed Champion Sami Zayn in a rematch from Night of Champions.
However, the brutal and vicious attack from Gunther left Rhodes injured and unable to get medical clearance as SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis managed to find a replacement.
Punk replaced Cody and battled Sami in the main event of this Monday’s show, pinning Sami to capture his eighth World title and ending Sami’s first historic World title reign at just 9 days.
This decision puzzled many fans, as Sami finally captured the World title after nine failed attempts, only for his title reign to last nine days. While reports hinted that Sami would be a transitional champion, no one thought his title reign would last even two weeks.
Punk’s return led many people to believe that WWE likely pivoted from the original plans of Cody Rhodes regaining the title from Sami in the rematch, a decision which definitely would have faced more backlash than Punk winning the title, as he is a massive fan-favorite.
On this note, new reports have provided some clarity on WWE‘s plans and whether there were any changes in the lead-up to SummerSlam 2026.
CM Punk winning the title was the plan for a long time
According to Fightful Select, this was the plan from the beginning. WWE had long known when CM Punk would return and always intended for Sami Zayn to drop the title to him.
On the other hand, False Finish reports that Punk winning the Undisputed title against Sami and heading into SummerSlam to defend the title has been planned for well over a month.
The report adds that Punk was initially set to challenge Cody at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, but WWE decided to book it for SummerSlam as they want the Summer’s Biggest Party to be even better than WrestleMania 42.
Earlier reports have hinted at Punk defending the title against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, and these new reports confirm that the showdown teased after WrestleMania 42 in Punk’s last appearance until his return this week was the plan all along for Summer’s Biggest Party.
The 39th edition of SummerSlam will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Who will CM Punk face at SummerSlam 2026?
Multiple reports have confirmed that Punk, after winning the WWE title, is set to face Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. The match was initially planned for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, but the promotion bumped it in order to make SummerSlam better than WrestleMania 42.
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.