3 Things CM Punk can do on WWE SmackDown before Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV

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Before leaving, Punk even teased his potential match against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Championship and went on an extended hiatus. On the July 6 episode of RAW, everything changed as CM Punk returned to replace injured Cody Rhodes in a title match against Sami Zayn in his hometown.

The Best in the World looked jacked and fully prepared as he promised that if an opportunity fell in his lap, he would grab it, and he did the same. Zayn and Punk had a back-and-forth match, which ended with The Second City Saint emerging as the better man. He pinned the Honorary Uce, ending his underdog title reign in just nine days, and was crowned as the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

On the next SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk had an intense face-off. The Best in the World asked Rhodes for a title match, and the latter replied, “Just say when,” but he was not sure if The Second City Saint would do the same.

Seeing things building between two of the biggest stars, Nick Aldis came out and officially announced a title match between The Best in the World and The Prodigal Son for SummerSlam.

Moreover, on the same show, Aldis also booked a tag team match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther and Sami Zayn for Saturday Night Main Event 2026, and tonight’s episode of SmackDown will serve as the go-home show before SNME.

Here are three things CM Punk can do on the go-home episode of SmackDown before SNME:

#3. The Best in the World teases a heel turn

Heading into SummerSlam, both CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are good guys, making their match a babyface vs. babyface bout, which the company rarely books.

However, we still have a few weeks ahead of the Biggest Party of the Summer, and someone can still turn heel. Rhodes is treated as the golden-babyface, who attracts the younger audience to the brand. Hence, his turning into a bad guy would be less likely.

But Punk turning evil could be a perfect scenario. Fans had already seen The Best in the World’s babyface run, and now, to add some spice, they could finally turn him heel.

On WWE SmackDown, Punk might start showing signs of turning heel, where he could say some mean things to Sami Zayn and his SummerSlam opponent, Cody Rhodes.

He could even take shots at fans for turning on him following his title win. SNME could be the perfect platform where The Second City Saint may backstab Rhodes by turning heel on him, boosting hype for their match.

#2. Punk may punish Zayn

Sami Zayn could return on SmackDown with an entirely new heel persona, as he could attack Cody Rhodes backstage after an argument ahead of their tag team match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

This may not sit well with the Undisputed WWE Champion. He could confront Zayn in the middle of the ring and rip him apart in a promo battle before punishing him for his actions against Rhodes.

This would prompt Gunther to come out and beat down The Second City Saint. Still, Rhodes may rush, and both babyfaces could manage to shove the heels outside the ring, giving fans a glimpse of their tag match at SNME.

#1. Punk adds a shocking stipulation to their tag team match at WWE SNME

The Best in the World is indeed the fighting champion. He could raise the bar for their Tag Team match between Rhodes and Punk vs. Gunther and Zayn, where he could get the General Manager on board to add a stipulation to their tag match. If The Ring General and The Honorary Uce manage to beat him and The American Nightmare this weekend, they will be added to their title match at WWE SummerSlam, making it a fatal four-way match.

That said, all the angles above are speculative, and nothing is confirmed. It will be interesting to see what plans Triple H and his WWE creative team have in store for Punk in the coming weeks.