CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes Reportedly Slated to be One of Two Main Events of WWE SummerSlam 2026

An update on WWE’s plans for a showdown between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk at SummerSlam 2026. CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes has long been speculated to be this summer’s high-profile feud once The Best in the World returned to weekly programming.

Punk lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night Two. The following night, on WWE RAW, the Chicago native had a tense confrontation with Cody Rhodes, during which the two teased a championship match down the line. A lot has happened since Punk went on a hiatus. Rhodes lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Sami Zayn in a Triple Threat Match at Night of Champions in Riyadh last month.

Despite that, he is expected to face CM Punk at SummerSlam 2026. On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (WOR) [via WrestlingInc.com], Dave Meltzer reported that Punk vs. Cody has long been scheduled to headline on the two nights in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“It was not only planned to be a SummerSlam match; it was scheduled to headline one of the nights,” Meltzer said.

That said, whether the match would have the WWE Title involved would depend on the result of the championship match between Rhodes and Sami Zayn on tonight’s RAW. The July 6 episode of WWE’s flagship weekly show is set to emanate from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, and Punk is expected to make his return and possibly confront Cody.

Meltzer added that if Cody fails to defeat Sami for the title, then that would mean WWE changed their initial plans for the showdown between The American Nightmare and The Best in the World.

“If Cody doesn’t go into SummerSlam as champion, then we know that they just totally changed the plans, which you’re allowed to do that too, so that’s just what they did. I think doing it nine days later in this specific case is a real bad move. There are cases where it’s not, when it’s someone who’s clearly a transitional champion, and he is a transitional champion, but I think people will take nine days as a slap in the face to him. He won’t, but I think that they would. So, I just wouldn’t do it.”

"Just say when."

ANYTHING can happen in the future for @CMPunk and @CodyRhodes… 👀#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/ZgaPbprS8k

— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2026