CM Punk & Cody Rhodes Show Each Other Mutual Respect After WWE SmackDown Goes Off the Air

WWE Undisputed Champion CM Punk and former champion Cody Rhodes shared a moment together after last night’s SmackDown went off the air. In the main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther by disqualification. A big brawl with Sami Zayn, CM Punk, and Gunther closed out the show.

After the USA Network broadcast ended, a fan captured some live footage of CM Punk and Cody Rhodes showing each other some respect. With the two wrestlers in the ring, Rhodes asked the production crew to cut his music and then start playing CM Punk’s theme.

An appreciative Punk then hugged Cody, and then he asked the production crew to do the same, cutting off his music and then play Cody’s theme. After Cody’s music started playing, the two men shook hands.

Their mutual respect will have to carry over tonight at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, as their one-on-one title bout is now in jeopardy. Rhodes and Punk have to team up against Gunther and Sami Zayn. If Zayn and Gunther win tonight’s match, they will be added to the WWE Undisputed Title bout at SummerSlam 2026.

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event airs later tonight on Peacock. The event is being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes after Smackdown went off the air last night.

Both telling the truck to play the music of each other 😂❤️

📸: kz3man | IG pic.twitter.com/b552nryckw

— Teffo (@Teffo_01) July 18, 2026