CM Punk and Cody Rhodes escalate rivalry on SmackDown before SummerSlam

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Things started to heat up between Cody Rhodes and WWE Champion CM Punk last weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event when CM accidentally clipped Cody’s face with the belt on his way out of the ring. Cody returned the favor on tonight’s (July 24) episode of SmackDown when he accidentally dropped the microphone for Punk to pick up. You can feel the tension…@CMPunk | @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/9rve81JDhD — WWE (@WWE) July 25, 2026 After they went back-and-forth about whether these are actually accidents or not, Cody decided to make things personal with CM. He revealed that their match at SummerSlam isn’t just about winning the title, because he doesn’t actually like Punk. Cody has worked his ass off to become the face of WWE, and has fearlessly stared down every superstar in the locker room along the way. And even though he is now the top guy who WWE sends to do mainstream interviews like the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Punk is the one person on the roster who he sweats and has a chip on his shoulder about. And it all goes back to Punk’s infamous pipe bomb promo, which Cody followed to a tee to take the top spot in WWE. It sounded to me like Cody is jealous or feels threatened by CM’s overwhelming popularity with WWE fans, which Punk brought back with him in full force when he finally returned after so many years away. "For this story to have the proper ending…I HAVE to beat you at SummerSlam." The gloves are off, @CodyRhodes isn't holding back! 😤 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rKMhsMKmog — WWE (@WWE) July 25, 2026 Punk called out Cody for being a liar for saying he doesn’t like him. The only thing he doesn’t like is the fact that Punk is the champion. Rhodes can’t handle having an athletic competition for the title against someone he respects, so he’s doing what he always does by finding a way to make himself the victim and everyone else his enemy. But CM isn’t Cody’s enemy, unlike his past opponents like Kevin Owens, John Cena, and Randy Orton. That’s because Punk is true to his word about not stabbing Cody in the back. He will instead stab him in the front and break his heart when he beats Cody’s ass at SummerSlam. "At SummerSlam, I'm gonna break your heart."@CMPunk is not mincing words, his story has no room for @CodyRhodes… 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/ES1RBTHBWS — WWE (@WWE) July 25, 2026 CM then brought back the famous words of his 2011 pipe bomb promo when he said Cody will have to come to grips with the fact that Punk is still the best in the ring, on this microphone, and nobody can touch him. Not even Dusty’s kid. CAN'T. WAIT. @CMPunk and @CodyRhodes are ready for the emotional rollercoaster of #SummerSlam! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BpM4MFjn6c — WWE (@WWE) July 25, 2026 Who do you think got the better of this promo battle between Punk and Rhodes? Which one do you think is the liar? Let me know your reaction to this segment in the comments below, Cagesiders.