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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger who was ready to approach him after winning the WWE Undisputed Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes that he would be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell “from the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall from the sky, CM Punk takes advantage of them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown Superstars who he would think 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 rematch if he wanted to. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but “American Nightmare” left without being called 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 looks on during 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, who said “when.” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring during the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the WWE Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place August 1-2 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will participate in a tag team match in Saturday night’s main event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther hoped it was for the championship. Instead, Gunther will join Zayn.
Gunther didn’t like that much and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came out again to stop the calamity. He wanted to confront Gunther after the show went off the air, but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance during SmackDown at 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 moves to SmackDown to become wrestling champion.
