Report - AEW World title change wasn't timed to counter CM Punk's WWE title win in Chicago
CM Punk won the Undisputed WWE Championship in Chicago last week.
Replacing Cody Rhodes, CM Punk made his first in-ring appearance since April to battle Sami Zayn for the Undisputed title on the July 6 edition of Raw in his hometown of Chicago. Punk won the title in his return to kick off his eighth World title reign.
Two days later at AEW Dynamite: Beach Break in Clearwater, Florida, Kenny Omega defeated MJF to win the AEW World title for the second time. His first World title reign ended in 2021.
Following the title change on Wednesday, some started speculating if AEW decided the major title change angle to overshadow Punk’s title win in Chicago. Reports also made it clear that the original plans for the AEW World title match were planned for AEW’s inaugural Redemption PPV.
While AEW had announced the match for Dynamite well before the title change, that didn’t stop fans from drawing connections between the two events, a narrative that has become even more prevalent as the rivalry between AEW and WWE continues to intensify.
Kenny Omega’s title win was planned for months
According to a report from Fightful Select, rumors claiming AEW’s televised title change was meant to overshadow CM Punk’s WWE title win are false.
The report noted that Kenny Omega’s AEW World title win over MJF had been planned for months, with the match being scheduled before Sami Zayn’s WWE title win even took place.
Sami pinned Cody Rhodes in a triple threat match also involving Gunther at Night of Champions to win the World title and become a Grand Slam Champion in WWE.
“There was a talking point that AEW did their title change on TV to “steal thunder” from CM Punk’s title win.
It was repeatedly reiterated to us that this wasn’t the case, and Kenny Omega winning the AEW Championship from MJF had been planned for months. The plan for the match on AEW TV was set before Sami Zayn’s WWE Championship win even happened.”
CM Punk will defend the title at SummerSlam against Cody Rhodes
CM Punk is now set to defend the Undisputed title against Cody Rhodes at the upcoming 2026 edition of SummerSlam. This match was planned for a long time, per reports, and WWE even teased the showdown during Punk’s last appearance in April on Raw after WrestleMania, when Cody held the WWE title.
On the other hand, Kenny Omega will defend the title against the winner of the men’s Owen Hart tournament, Will Ospreay, at the 2026 edition of AEW All In, which will emanate from London.
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.
When and where will AEW All In 2026 take place?
The 2026 edition will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, during the United Kingdom’s August Bank Holiday weekend.
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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.