CM Punk WWE Championship Challenger Following SummerSlam 2026

WWE

Following CM Punk’s surprise return and immediate capturing of the Undisputed WWE Championship, the ‘Best in the World’ is set for a busy rest of the summer.

Set to take on both Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026, CM Punk certainly still has some intriguing other opponents waiting to challenge him for the title should he be able to leave Minneapolis still champion.

Here are six potential future challengers for CM Punk after SummerSlam 2026.

6. Ricky Saints

One challenger for CM Punk and the WWE Championship should Punk escape SummerSlam unscathed could be Ricky Saints.

With the cocky & quick witted Saints able to tangle with Punk both on the mic and in the ring, the pair could bring unique energy to a feud that could be presented as rather surface level before getting more and more vicious.

With the potential to create some magical moments that propel the next generation of WWE stars, a major feud between CM Punk and Ricky Saints could be an unexpected history maker.

Perhaps able to finally culminate their AEW feud that never resolved as Punk exited the company in the summer of 2023, the pair could finally bring an end to things in WWE.

5. Sami Zayn

After losing the WWE Championship to CM Punk, Sami Zayn has become increasingly unhinged, crashing the main event of SmackDown on July 17 and seemingly intent on destruction.

With Zayn demonstrating in the past as a performer that he is just as versatile outside the ring as he is during a match, the sky is the limit as to where his next character iteration could go.

Potentially using the loss to debut a more deranged version of his character, Zayn could go to extreme lengths in order to get his hands on CM Punk and reclaim the WWE Championship.

Possibly launching a very intense and explosive new rivalry for CM Punk, a scorned Sami Zayn could certainly be up next after SummerSlam.

4. Baron Corbin

Making a return to WWE recently, Baron Corbin has made his presence known in a big way on the blue brand.

Delivering his mission statement for his return to WWE in a vignette on the July 17 edition of SmackDown, Corbin noted that his attack on Trick Williams was just the beginning.

Putting the entire roster on notice, Corbin teased that he was prepared to take on all challengers after coming back to the company.

Able to serve as a major heel foil to CM Punk in a future program, it could be an exciting way to add a continued element of unpredictability to the returning character.

3. Lexis King

A potential series of call-ups that could tie into a feud with CM Punk might be the NXT stable, Birthright.

With the next generation stable featuring Lexis King (son of Brian Pillman Jr.), Charlie Dempsey (son of William Regal) and Uriah Connors son of Fit Finlay) plus Arianna Grace (daughter of Santino Marella) and Channing ‘Stacks’ Lorenzo still featured on NXT, we could see a surprise invasion angle to target Punk.

With the ability for either King, Dempsey or Connors to challenge Punk, the entire group targeting the ‘Best in the World’ could be a career launching feud for the group on the main roster.

While Birthright have yet to be presented as main event level stars in NXT, a feud with Punk will immediately raise their stock tenfold and provide SmackDown with a fresh group of faces.

2. Drew McIntyre

One major player in WWE who has been absent since WrestleMania 42 is Drew McIntyre.

His WWE character hasn’t been seen since taking a loss to Jacob Fatu in a brutal Unsanctioned Match on Saturday of the two-night event in April 2026.

With his absence reportedly linked to McIntyre’s Hollywood projects including a reboot of Highlander and The Last Druid, both featuring Russell Crowe, perhaps a return could be upcoming.

Certainly able to resurrect their heated rivalry, McIntyre’s could make a shocking return to attack former foe CM Punk.

1. Bron Breakker

One compelling feud that has been left unexplored for CM Punk might be be fending off Bron Breakker in search of his first major title.

While Breakker continues on WWE Raw, there could certainly be a crossover that sees him challenging CM Punk for the WWE Championship on SmackDown.

With The Vision faction soldiering on, a recent addition of Maxxine Dupri has led to a renewed interest in the group’s reign of terror over the Raw roster.

Potentially preparing to pull the trigger on CM Punk versus Bron Breakker, the opportunity to launch Breakker into new career heights could come from the feud.

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• wwe
• cm punk
• SummerSlam

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