CM Punk WWE SmackDown Plans Following Undisputed WWE Championship Win

WWE

Following the July 6 WWE Raw, CM Punk is the Undisputed WWE Champion for the first time in over 13 years.

Now that he has captured the top prize on the blue brand, Punk will now make his way to SmackDown and appear on the July 10 episode.

This show should be very intriguing to see what Punk will do at his new home and who will be gunning for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Here are six potential CM Punk WWE SmackDown plans following his Undisputed WWE Championship win.

6. Rematch With Sami Zayn

On the July 6 edition of Monday Night Raw, CM Punk defeated Sami Zayn to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Thanks to this loss, Zayn’s first reign as a world champion ended only after nine days.

Considering the circumstances around this title change, it feels like Zayn is deserving of a rematch against Punk sooner rather than later.

Punk giving Zayn his title rematch on the July 10 WWE SmackDown would make a ton of sense to conclude this potential rivalry, so ‘The Best In The World’ can move on to whoever is next at SummerSlam 2026.

5. Finally Facing Off With Ricky Saints

During his time in All Elite Wrestling, CM Punk feuded with Ricky Saints (then known as Ricky Starks) over the Real World Championship.

Prior to his abrupt departure from AEW, Punk was embroiled in a rivalry with Saints and scheduled to face him at All Out 2023.

With that match never happening, Punk’s move to SmackDown will be the first time he’s on the same show as Saints in three years.

Punk facing off with Saints would be fitting to close the loop and have a full circle moment.

4. Revisiting Feud With A Returning Drew McIntyre

In 2024, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre were engaged in one of the most intense and heated WWE rivalries in recent memory.

At WWE Bad Blood 2024, Punk defeated McIntyre inside Hell In A Cell in what was one of the most violent and brutal battles to take place in the company’s history.

With Punk moving to Friday Night SmackDown following his win, it will be the first time in nearly two years that he will be on the same brand as McIntyre.

Considering ‘The Scottish Warrior’ never got his rematch after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship in March, McIntyre returning to rekindle his rivalry with Punk would be a logical move for everyone involved.

3. A Challenge From The Returning Randy Orton

Another WWE star who has been out of action since WrestleMania 42 is Randy Orton.

At Mania night one, Orton lost to Cody Rhodes in an Undisputed WWE Championship match. After the bout, Orton laid out Rhodes with a Punt Kick.

Since this loss, ‘The Legend Killer’ has been absent from WWE programming with no signs of his return at this time.

Orton returning on the July 10 SmackDown could open the door for a showdown with the new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk before long.

2. Rekindle Rivalry With GUNTHER

Back at WWE SummerSlam 2025, CM Punk defeated GUNTHER to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

This loss led to GUNTHER being out of action for several months, which in storyline was thanks to a busted nose he suffered during the bout.

‘The Ring General’ has now become part of the Friday Night SmackDown roster and remains a top contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

After being responsible for Cody Rhodes being unable to compete in his scheduled title bout on the July 6 WWE Raw, GUNTHER might feel Punk is Undisputed WWE Champion because of him, leading to a confrontation on the July 10 SmackDown.

1. Set Up WWE SummerSlam Match Against Cody Rhodes

Ahead of the July 6 episode of Monday Night Raw, there were rumors running rampant that WWE wanted to run Cody Rhodes vs CM Punk at SummerSlam 2026.

Now that Punk is the new Undisputed WWE Champion, this opens the door for this long rumored match to take place in Minneapolis this August.

Considering Rhodes earned a title shot that he never received, ‘The American Nightmare’ has a rightful claim to get the first opportunity at Punk.

Rhodes facing off with Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship would make for an absolutely tantalizing headliner for the SummerSlam 2026 premium live event.

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