CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes Set for SummerSlam After SmackDown Confrontation

CM Punk will put the WWE Undisputed Championship on the line against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis making the bout official on the July 11 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.

Punk opened the show as the newly crowned champion, addressing the WWE Universe for the first time since capturing the title earlier in the week on Raw. He unseated Sami Zayn for the championship, with the opportunity arising after Gunther attacked then-champion Cody Rhodes, leaving the door open for Punk to cash in and walk away with the gold. Now officially part of the SmackDown roster, Punk made clear he intends to be an active, fighting champion on Friday nights — calling out a long list of potential challengers including Zayn, Gunther, Finn Bálor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams.

The celebration didn’t last long. Rhodes made his way to the ring and confronted the new champion, reflecting on their previous encounter following WrestleMania and making the case that a title match between the two had been years in the making. Punk acknowledged that he had long imagined a clash with Rhodes headlining WrestleMania, but conceded that the two could no longer sidestep one another. Rhodes made his intentions plain — he wants the championship back, and he wants it at SummerSlam. The segment concluded with both men sharing a handshake before Aldis stepped in to make the match official.

SummerSlam takes place on August 1 and August 2 in Minneapolis, and the Punk-Rhodes championship match immediately stands as one of the centerpiece bouts of WWE’s biggest summer event. With a deeply personal backstory between the two and a title on the line, the matchup has the makings of a genuine show-stealer.