Adam Pearce officially confirms major CM Punk and Cody Rhodes showdown before WWE SummerSlam

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In addition to the blockbuster face-off, Adam Pearce announced that Trick Williams will address Baron Corbin following the latter’s recent attack. The confrontation comes ahead of their scheduled United States Championship clash at SummerSlam. Pearce also confirmed the final qualifying match for the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match, where Giulia will take on Lash Legend, with the winner facing Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green and Charlotte Flair in a five-way ladder match.

Championship gold will also be on the line during SmackDown. Adam Pearce revealed that WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth will defend their titles against The War Raiders in one of the night’s featured matches.

The General Manager closed his announcement by confirming that Friday’s show will air live from Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT on USA Network in the United States, while international audiences can watch on Netflix in available markets.

“Friday Night SmackDown comes to you from one of my favorite places on planet Earth. Green Bay, Wisconsin. And we are hours from SummerSlam. Let’s untap from Packerland. How about CM Punk? How about Cody Rhodes? How about face to face for the final time before we get to SummerSlam? Plus, after being attacked by Baron Corbin, Trick Williams will address his challenger for the United States Championship in Minneapolis, and Giulia, one-on-one with Lash Legend; the winner goes on to the Ladder match, as we’re gonna determine an interim Women’s Champion, and speaking of champions, the WWE Tag Team Titles will be on the line. Damian Priest and R-Truth will oppose the War Raiders.”

Backstage report reveals current favorites for WWE SummerSlam 2026

WWE has scheduled 12 matches for SummerSlam, set for August 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With multiple championships on the line and several heated rivalries set to reach their climax, a new backstage report has provided an early look at the company’s current creative plans for some of the biggest bouts on the card.

According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, CM Punk and Roman Reigns are currently favored to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship, respectively. The report also stated that Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Gunther, and Chad Gable are viewed as the favorites in their respective matches.

However, not every match has a projected winner. The report noted that the Women’s Ladder Match and Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor are considered too close to call internally, with either side capable of winning.

While the report offers insight into WWE’s current plans, nothing has been finalized. Creative directions often change in the days leading up to a premium live event, meaning the final outcomes could differ once SummerSlam gets underway.

It will be interesting to see what all happens in the go-home edition of SmackDown before the Biggest Party of the Summer.