WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results As Randy Orton Returns, Shafts Cody Rhodes

Aug 02, 2026 07:32 AM - 1 day ago 55

WWE SummerSlam 2026 delivered arguably the biggest bout WWE could perchance do successful CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes.

A existent dream lucifer that was erstwhile set for WrestleMania 43, Punk vs. Rhodes pinned 2 WWE cornerstones against 1 different a fewer years aft their infamous departures from AEW. In the weeks starring up to SummerSlam, Rhodes and Punk kept things comparatively civil, but wrong U.S. Bank Stadium, the gloves came off.

Punk and Rhodes went head-to-head for WWE’s biggest prize, the Undisputed WWE Championship, connected Night One of SummerSlam 2026.

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WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results For CM Punk Vs. Cody Rhodes

CM Punk is still the WWE Champion, acknowledgment to a small thief from an aged rival.

At WWE SummerSlam, Punk retained his WWE Championship successful an instant classical against his erstwhile chap AEW star, Cody Rhodes. But he only did truthful acknowledgment to a shocking return by Randy Orton, who RKO’d Rhodes and helped Punk support title golden astir his waist.

Here are the biggest moments and cardinal takeaways from Punk vs. Rhodes astatine WWE SummerSlam 2026:

Punk and Rhodes locked up and past instantly started exchanging blows. Then, Punk took down Rhodes pinch a caput scissors earlier locking successful an armbar. Punk yet tried to spell for the GTS, but Rhodes wiggled retired and caught Punk successful a headlock.
The slow gait continued for a while, but eventually, Punk took down Rhodes pinch a leaping bottommost footwear and tweaked his knee. Punk deed his patented moving knee and went for the moving bulldog, but Rhodes countered pinch a knee breaker and began targeting Punk’s injured knee.
Punk made a feeble comeback attempt, and arsenic Rhodes went for the Disaster Kick, Punk responded pinch a large boot. There were battling chants for Punk and Rhodes, past Punk went to the apical rope, which took him rather a while. Punk yet knocked Rhodes disconnected the ropes and connected pinch his celebrated apical statement elbow drop. That was capable for a adjacent two-count.
Rhodes avoided a GTS effort and past connected pinch a Cody Cutter for a two-count arsenic the crowd began to travel alive. Rhodes past deed a Disaster Kick for two. Frustrated, Rhodes pulled down Punk’s kneepad and continued to target the injured knee. Cody went for a Super Cody Cutter and connected, but Punk kicked retired astatine 2 again arsenic Rhodes looked for illustration he began to uncertainty himself.
Rhodes attempted the Figure Four, but Punk avoided it and rolled up Rhodes for two. Punk astir deed a GTS, but Cody avoided it arsenic good and this clip was capable to fastener successful the Figure Four. As Punk screamed successful agony, he was capable to rotation complete and reverse the unit earlier getting the statement break.
Punk avoided the Figure Four yet again and rolled Rhodes into the Anaconda Vice, but Rhodes sewage the statement break arsenic well. Punk lifted up Rhodes for the GTS again, but Rhodes escaped and astir deed a spinning Alabama Slam. Punk countered, rolled done and locked successful the Anaconda Vice erstwhile more. Rhodes yet wiggled retired of a jackknife screen and deed a Cross Rhodes, but Punk miraculously kicked retired arsenic the crowd erupted.
Rhodes put Punk connected the apical rope, but Punk knocked him disconnected to the ringing canvas. Punk went for a moonsault, which looked sloppy, and Rhodes moved, mostly avoiding the impact. Punk deed a large clothesline for a adjacent two-count and past went for the GTS. Rhodes avoided, and Punk went for it again. This time, he connected, but Punk’s injured knee delayed his pin effort truthful Rhodes kicked retired astatine two.
Outside the ring, Punk bashed Rhodes’ caput into the denote array repeatedly. Rhodes dropped Punk connected the array pinch a swipe of the legs. Then, Punk picked up Rhodes and went for the GTS. Rhodes escaped and shoved Punk shoulder-first into the alloy ringing steps.
Back in, Punk connected pinch the GTS again, but was excessively adjacent to the ropes truthful Rhodes sewage the statement break astatine the very past second. Back outside, Punk jumped disconnected the apical statement arsenic he attempted an elbow driblet connected the denote table, but Rhodes moved, sending Punk crashing done the denote array successful devastating fashion.
Inside the ring, Rhodes attempted different Cody Cutter, Punk moved in, and took retired the ref. That allowed Punk to deed the GTS, and Rhodes collapsed backmost onto Punk’s shoulders. Punk went for the GTS again, Rhodes wiggled retired and deed the Cross Rhodes, but Punk rolled out.
That allowed a returning Randy Orton to rotation into the ringing and deed an RKO retired of obscurity connected Rhodes. Punk didn’t spot immoderate of it, but he rolled backmost into the ring, deed different GTS and pinned Rhodes for the 1-2-3.

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results: What’s Next For CM Punk And Cody Rhodes?

The feud betwixt Rhodes and Punk seemed destined to proceed arsenic a awesome attraction connected WWE SmackDown. Then came the return of Randy Orton.

Following Punk’s move to the bluish brand, WWE is reportedly constructing a SmackDown roster designed specifically to beryllium built astir Punk. That includes the caller NXT call-up of Ricky Saints arsenic good arsenic Raw stars Finn Balor and Gunther moving complete to Friday nights. Eventually, Punk should transverse paths pinch those stars yet again, and that opportunity has opened up acknowledgment to the shocking return of Orton.

At WWE SummerSlam 2026, Punk retained his WWE Championship but only aft Orton returned to target his WrestleMania force successful Rhodes. That leaves the doorway unfastened for the continuation of the blockbuster rivalry betwixt Rhodes and Orton, who has been disconnected TV for the past fewer months. WWE is wise to widen this feud and get the astir retired of a storyline betwixt 2 of its apical stars astatine a clip erstwhile WWE’s TV merchandise has been mediocre astatine champion arsenic Orton’s return should inject caller life into SmackDown.

Rhodes and Punk are arguably WWE’s 2 champion all-around performers, and they should get the chance to show that. They conscionable don’t person to do that against each other.

Punk has put connected immoderate epic feuds since returning against the likes of Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, among others, and pinch Rhodes now engaged pinch Orton again, he should get a chance to do that pinch different 1 of SmackDown’s finest.

Look for WWE to reignite Orton vs. Rhodes and support it going good past SummerSlam arsenic Punk moves connected to caller challengers connected the bluish brand.