RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results As Randy Orton Returns, Shafts Cody Rhodes By Blake Oestriecher ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Blake Oestriecher is a columnist covering WWE, AEW and pro wrestling. Follow Author Aug 01, 2026, 08:32pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary WWE SummerSlam 2026 delivered a highly anticipated dream match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. In a hard-fought contest, CM Punk successfully retained his title against Rhodes, but the victory was not without controversy. The pivotal moment occurred when Randy Orton made a shocking return, delivering an RKO to Cody Rhodes, which allowed Punk to seize the opportunity and secure the pinfall. This unexpected interference has dramatically reshaped the landscape, setting the stage for a renewed rivalry between Orton and Rhodes. Meanwhile, Punk, now positioned as a cornerstone of SmackDown, is expected to move on to new challengers as the brand builds around its reigning champion.
WWE SummerSlam 2026 delivered arguably the biggest bout WWE could possibly do in CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes.
A true dream match that was once set for WrestleMania 43, Punk vs. Rhodes pinned two WWE cornerstones against one another a few years after their infamous departures from AEW. In the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, Rhodes and Punk kept things relatively civil, but inside U.S. Bank Stadium, the gloves came off.
Punk and Rhodes went head-to-head for WWE’s biggest prize, the Undisputed WWE Championship, on Night One of SummerSlam 2026.
CM Punk is still the WWE Champion, thanks to a little help from an old rival.
At WWE SummerSlam, Punk retained his WWE Championship in an instant classic against his former fellow AEW star, Cody Rhodes. But he only did so thanks to a shocking return by Randy Orton, who RKO’d Rhodes and helped Punk keep championship gold around his waist.
Here are the biggest moments and key takeaways from Punk vs. Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2026:
The feud between Rhodes and Punk seemed destined to continue as a major attraction on WWE SmackDown. Then came the return of Randy Orton.
Following Punk’s move to the blue brand, WWE is reportedly constructing a SmackDown roster designed specifically to be built around Punk. That includes the recent NXT call-up of Ricky Saints as well as Raw stars Finn Balor and Gunther moving over to Friday nights. Eventually, Punk should cross paths with those stars yet again, and that opportunity has opened up thanks to the shocking return of Orton.
At WWE SummerSlam 2026, Punk retained his WWE Championship but only after Orton returned to target his WrestleMania opponent in Rhodes. That leaves the door open for the continuation of the blockbuster rivalry between Rhodes and Orton, who has been off TV for the past few months. WWE is wise to extend this feud and get the most out of a storyline between two of its top stars at a time when WWE’s TV product has been mediocre at best as Orton’s return should inject new life into SmackDown.
Rhodes and Punk are arguably WWE’s two best all-around performers, and they should get the chance to show that. They just don’t have to do that against each other.
Punk has put on some epic feuds since returning against the likes of Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, among others, and with Rhodes now busy with Orton again, he should get a chance to do that with another one of SmackDown’s finest.
Look for WWE to reignite Orton vs. Rhodes and keep it going well past SummerSlam as Punk moves on to new challengers on the blue brand.
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