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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger willing to succeed him after winning the undisputed WWE Championship from Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back on “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes that he would be willing to keep his promises if a championship opportunity fell “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off on SmackDown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall from the sky, CM Punk takes them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars who he believes could come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back and get his revenge if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but “American Nightmare” came out clean and headed to the ring.
“I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.
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Cody Rhodes attends SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, “just say when”. It was a quick response from Punk, saying “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 title at SummerSlam, which takes place August 1-2 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
But first, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match on Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther hoped it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will join Zayn.
Gunther did not appreciate this and attacked Aldis. Rhodes returned to end the calamity. He wanted to confront Gunther after the show ended, but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance on SmackDown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk definitely has his hands full as he heads to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.
