CM Punk and Cody Rhodes Secure SummerSlam Match After Tag Team Victory

The road to SummerSlam 2026 took a volatile turn following a high-stakes tag team bout at Madison Square Garden. Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes teamed up on Saturday Night’s Main Event to face Gunther and Sami Zayn. The victory locked in their upcoming singles match for the championship, bypassing a potential multi-man stipulation that would have added Gunther and Sami Zayn to the marquee event.

Madison Square Garden Tag Victory Secures SummerSlam Singles Match

The tag team match carried major championship implications.

The finish arrived when Nick Aldis interfered to pull the referee from the ring after Gunther struck Rhodes with the WWE title and powerbombed him. Aldis then struck Gunther with the WWE title, allowing Punk to drill Gunther with the GTS. He pulled tag team partner Rhodes on top of Gunther, giving his team the win. After the match, Rhodes handed Punk the belt as the two celebrated.

Backstage Confrontation Erupts Over Championship Belt Strike

Celebrations in the ring proved short-lived. As Punk exited the ring with his WWE Championship, he accidentally hit Cody in the face with the belt’s strap. Cody returned the favor on an episode of SmackDown when he accidentally dropped the microphone for Punk to pick up. After they went back-and-forth about whether these are actually accidents or not, Cody decided to make things personal with CM, revealing that their match at SummerSlam isn’t just about winning the title, because he doesn’t actually like Punk.

For The American Nightmare, the celebration quickly turned sour when Punk flung the Undisputed WWE Championship over his shoulder, and in turn, nailed Rhodes in the eye with it — the very same eye that swelled shut at WrestleMania 42. Rhodes later confronted Punk about it backstage, questioning if The Second City Saint's actions were intentional or accidental. As cameras zoomed in on the pair, Rhodes’ language turned profane, with Punk attempting to calm him down. Instead, tensions and voices escalated, causing WWE officials, including Bobby Roode, to step in between them before things could get physical.

Fanatics Fest Clash and Paranoia Claims Lead Into August 1 Bout

During the SummerSlam 2026 kickoff show, both wrestlers were face-to-face again. Punk said that the backstage interaction at SNME was a regrettable incident and that they should both move on from it by apologizing. Cody said they’re not brothers, and he’s not apologizing for it. The Cult of Personality responded to Cody, telling the audience he’s just paranoid that Punk is going to turn on him, as John Cena and Randy Orton did. Punk told him, Okay. You’re still mad about it. That’s your ego talking. I understand. No, listen, I understand.

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. Rhodes appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and spoke about his match with Punk, noting that this feels like a first time in terms of who they are now.