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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger ready to step up to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk stepped into 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 “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face each other on SmackDown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk grabs them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown Superstars he believed could make a run 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 the “American Nightmare” came out uncalled and marched his way down 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 the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk wanted a match with him, just “say when.” It was a quick retort 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 WWE Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place August 1st and 2nd at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at 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 would make it to the championship. Instead, Gunther wants to tag Zayn.
Gunther did not take that kindly and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back to break the accident. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off the air, but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his SmackDown debut at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk certainly has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a wrestling champion.
