Overview
- Punk returned to WWE on Raw earlier this week in Chicago and defeated Sami Zayn to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
- Nick Aldis was reinstated as SmackDown general manager on July 10 and introduced Punk as a SmackDown star before officially booking Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium.
- WWE also announced a build match for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18 at Madison Square Garden with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes teaming against GUNTHER and Sami Zayn.
- GUNTHER reacted to being passed over for the SummerSlam title slot by confronting and repeatedly putting Aldis in a sleeper hold on the July 10 SmackDown, setting up immediate on‑screen heat and potential follow‑up angles.
- Industry reporting says NBCUniversal pushed for Punk on SmackDown and that WWE may plan a lengthy title run for him, but that claim is being treated as developing rather than confirmed.