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CM Punk appeared ready to take on any challenger after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn on “Friday Night SmackDown”.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and recalled it on “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes that he was ready to put on a good show if a championship opportunity went “out of the sky”.
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk faced off during SmackDown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
He said, “When championship opportunities fall from the sky, CM Punk grabs them.”
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars who he thinks could compete for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn can come back and get his rematch if he wants. He did not mention Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” came out without saying a word and headed to the ring.
Punk told Rhodes, “I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore.”
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Cody Rhodes appears during SmackDown at Paycom Center on July 10, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would like a match with him, just “let us know when.” This was Punk’s quick response, who said, “When.” SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which will take place on August 1 and 2 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match in the main event of Saturday Night in New York City next week. After Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk, Aldis made the match. Gunther hoped it would lead to a championship. Instead, Gunther would tag with Zane.
Gunther doesn’t take too kindly to this and attacks Aldis. Rhodes came back to break up the disaster. After the show closed, he wanted to compete with Gunther but Gunther left.
Gunther enters during SmackDown on July 10, 2026 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk certainly has his hands full moving forward to become a fighting champion on SmackDown.
