CM Punk prepares to defend WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam
Wrestling Inc • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 1, 2026, 10:00 AM
Last updated Aug 1, 2026
CM Punk will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam on Saturday. Punk won the title unexpectedly from Sami Zayn three months after losing to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Rhodes aims for his fourth reign after previously beating Reigns and John Cena this year. Following this match, former champion Zayn will face Finn Balor for a chance to challenge the title again.
- •Punk won the championship from Zayn just nine days after Zayn's victory.
- •This is Punk's first title defense since Elimination Chamber 2013.
- •Rhodes seeks to match Punk's title reign count with his fourth win.
- •Zayn faces Balor for No. 1 contendership ahead of SummerSlam.
- •GUNTHER, another top contender, will focus on Nick Aldis this weekend.
- 10:00 AMWrestling Inc — Breaking Down The Belts: CM Punk's Undisputed WWE Championship
"As we barrel toward WWE SummerSlam, Wrestling Inc. breaks down who will be the man to dethrone Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk - and who should be.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 11:30 AMWWE’s Danhausen reveals he’s sending Kesha a gift after singer’s social media request
- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 11:00 AMWWE SummerSlam 2026: Start time, how to watch, match card for night 1
- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 11:00 AMWWE Summerslam 2026 preview. SummerSlam Night 1 matches. Summerslam Sunday
- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 9:45 AMRandy Orton could make his return to WWE ‘very soon’ after injury lay-off
- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 9:00 AMSinister mask proved winning touch for wrestler Don Jardine
- WWE•Aug 1, 2026, 9:00 AMPhoto of SummerSlam stage gets praised as WWE ‘actually put effort into it’
