CM Punk Defends WWE Title Against Cody Rhodes at 2-Night SummerSlam 2026

Q: As CM Punk and Cody Rhodes clash for the ultimate prize, who will walk out of Minneapolis as the Undisputed WWE Champion?

CM Punk is the safer pick to leave Minneapolis as Undisputed WWE Champion. The key fact is that Punk enters SummerSlam as the reigning champion. WWE’s own match preview describes him as the “newly crowned” titleholder after he replaced an injured-by-attack Cody Rhodes on Raw and defeated Sami Zayn for the championship on July 6. That gives Punk momentum and positions this bout as the first major defense of his latest reign, often a strong indicator in WWE title booking. The storyline also suggests WWE has more unfinished business around Punk as champion than around Cody immediately regaining the belt. Sami Zayn remains active in the title picture, and a SummerSlam No. 1 contender match involving Zayn and Finn Bálor points to the next challenger being set up around whoever survives Punk-Rhodes. Gunther is occupied with Nick Aldis, reducing the chance of the championship scene being reset back to Cody right away. Cody still has a credible path to victory. He was champion as recently as late June, he never got his one-on-one rematch with Zayn because of Gunther’s attack, and WWE has framed this as a major dream match between two top stars meeting one-on-one for the first time in nearly 18 years. If WWE wants a dramatic redemption arc, Rhodes is an obvious option. But based on the current build, Punk retaining—possibly through chaos, interference, or a protected finish—looks slightly more likely than a clean Cody title win.

Q: With SummerSlam kicking off tomorrow, will hometown beast Brock Lesnar meet his match inside Hell in a Cell against powerhouse Oba Femi?

Yes—Oba Femi has a very real chance to beat Brock Lesnar, even in Lesnar’s billed hometown setting and inside Hell in a Cell. The strongest evidence is the rivalry itself. Femi already pinned Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, proving he can beat him on a major stage. Lesnar answered by winning the rematch at Clash in Italy, leaving the feud tied 1-1 and making SummerSlam the decisive rubber match. WWE’s own build has framed Femi not as an underdog novelty, but as a rising main-event force: he won King of the Ring, earned a world-title opportunity, and then chose to delay that prize to settle business with Lesnar. Lesnar still carries major advantages. He is far more experienced in marquee stipulation matches and has a 2-0 record in Hell in a Cell, both wins coming against The Undertaker. Femi, by contrast, has never wrestled inside the structure. That matters in a match designed to reward durability, composure and timing as much as brute strength. But the broader trajectory favors Femi. WWE has consistently presented him as “The Ruler,” a future centerpiece talent, and a win over Lesnar inside the Cell would be the kind of defining coronation that cements a new star. Lesnar being linked to Minneapolis adds drama, but it does not guarantee protection. So the safest read is this: Lesnar is dangerous enough to win, but Femi is absolutely capable of being the man who finally meets—and overcomes—the Beast on one of WWE’s biggest stages.

Q: Can Nick Aldis survive his highly anticipated WWE in-ring debut against the ruthless Ring General, Gunther, this weekend?

Nick Aldis can survive the match, but the evidence suggests Gunther should be the clear favorite. Aldis is not a novice. He is a former world champion in TNA and the NWA, and WWE has leaned into that by stressing he is “more than just a man in a suit.” He has also been preparing seriously for this return, calling SummerSlam a major test and saying he has thrown himself into conditioning for what he described as a “tall order.” That matters, because this is not a ceremonial appearance; WWE is presenting it as a real in-ring comeback. Still, the obstacles are obvious. This is Aldis’ WWE in-ring debut, his first match since October 2023, and it comes on one of WWE’s biggest stages against one of the company’s most dominant active stars. Gunther’s recent résumé is designed to make him look dangerous: WWE promotional material highlights that he retired Goldberg, AJ Styles and John Cena within the past year. In storyline, he has also repeatedly targeted Aldis physically, including sleeper holds and backstage attacks, showing he has already dictated the violence in the feud. Aldis’ best path is to turn the match into a disciplined, technical fight, slow Gunther’s rhythm and capitalize on emotion-driven mistakes. But if the question is whether he can survive, yes—he has the pedigree and toughness to make it competitive. If the question is whether he is likely to win, the smarter expectation is that Gunther overwhelms him and leaves SummerSlam with his aura restored.

3 articles · Updated · PWTorch · Aug 1

SummerSlam on Aug. 1-2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will feature CM Punk defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes on Night 1.
Cody earned the shot after beating Jey Uso in a No. 1 contender match, but Gunther attacked him before a planned title bout with Sami Zayn, opening the door for returning Punk to win the championship.
Nick Aldis later sanctioned Punk vs. Cody after Cody challenged Punk on SmackDown, turning a title reshuffle into SummerSlam’s top one-on-one match.
Gunther and Zayn tried to force their way into the bout, but Punk and Cody kept it singles after winning at Saturday Night’s Main Event with Aldis interfering.
That result left Zayn angry over a 9-day reign and deepened Punk-Cody tension, with Cody framing the feud personally while Punk insists it is only about the belt.