Potential spoiler on plans for CM Punk at SummerSlam 2026 after WWE title win on Raw in Chicago
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
The Second City Saint returned on Raw in Chicago.
‘The Second City Saint’ CM Punk returned for the first time since April on the July 6 edition of Monday Night Raw in Chicago. Punk returned to replace Cody Rhodes in the Undisputed title main event match as Rhodes was ambushed by Gunther at the start of the show and failed to get medical clearance to compete.
Punk returned to action for the first time, dropping the World Heavyweight title to Roman Reigns in the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 42.
The Second City Saint managed to outlast the Champion, delivering the Helluva Kick, followed by GTS to pin Zayn, ending his title reign at just 9 days. The win marked Punk’s 8th World title reign and his first WWE title reign after 13 years.
With SummerSlam 2026 on the horizon, fans have now started to speculate on who the newly crowned Champion will be facing in Minneapolis.
CM Punk will face Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026
According to WRKD Wrestling, the newly crowned Undisputed Champion will face Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026. The match was teased in Punk’s last appearance on the WrestleMania fallout show of Raw in April, where the two engaged in a promo battle and Cody held the Undisputed title.
On the other hand, PWInsider reported that, despite rumors suggesting issues between Punk and WWE, there were no problems between the two sides.
According to the report, CM Punk was simply taking time away after WrestleMania to rest and recharge. The outlet also supported the possibility of a future Punk vs Cody Rhodes match, noting that the idea had been discussed internally for several months.
“Punk was slated for appearances this summer and it wasn’t hard to guess he’d return in The Second City. Despite claims of issues between the two sides, we are told there were none and Punk was given some time off to recharge after Wrestlemania.
The title win appears to set up Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for Summerslam, a match that has been discussed internally for many months.”
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.
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.
What matches have been announced for the show?
• Liv Morgan (c) vs Iyo Sky – Women’s World title match• Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar – Hell in a Cell match• Roman Reigns (c) vs Seth Rollins – World Heavyweight title match• Penta (c) vs Gauntlet match winner – Intercontinental title match
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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.