CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes Set for WWE SummerSlam 2026

WWE announced that the Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk will defend his title against former champion Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, a two‑night premium live event scheduled for August 1‑2, 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The match was confirmed during the July 10 episode of SmackDown, where General Manager Nick Aldis introduced Punk and Rhodes shook hands after Rhodes demanded a title shot.

Ticket‑sale reports show 22,069 tickets sold for Night One and 23,809 for Night Two, far below the 50,000+ sold for the previous year's event, sparking commentary that the slower sales reflect waning fan interest in WWE’s current product. Analysts noted that WWE is relying heavily on established stars—Punk, Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar—while newer talent receives limited exposure.

The SummerSlam card also includes Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY for the Women’s World Championship, and Oba Femi III vs. Brock Lesnar in a Hell‑in‑a‑Cell match. The event follows a series of SmackDown episodes that featured other storyline developments, such as Baron Corbin’s surprise return and ongoing backstage segments involving Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae.