WWE SUMMERSLAM 2026
AUGUST 1-2, 2026
US BANK STADIUM
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
Watch: ESPN Unlimited (US)/Netflix (Non-US)
SummerSlam 2026 Schedule & Event Page
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Suit Williams: Check out SuitWilliams.com for show reviews, like the AEW Redemption pay-per-view this past weekend and coverage of STARDOM’s ongoing 5 Star Grand Prix. I’ll also be reviewing this show for Voices of Wrestling, check out my past work for the site here!
While WWE managed to avoid an on-screen meltdown like the one they had at WrestleMania in April, they roll into Minneapolis for this year’s SummerSlam event with another stadium show doing undoubtedly disappointing business.
Both nights look to end up around 35,000 tickets distributed (both currently sit at 32,000 per WrestleTix). Year over year, that’s a 30% drop from last year’s Saturday show (50,493, main evented by Punk vs. Gunther with the Rollins cash-in) and a 40% drop from last year’s Sunday show (58,186, main evented by Rhodes vs. Cena).
ESPN is dropping the televised hour of these shows, instead airing three-hour Countdown shows to build up the show on ESPN Unlimited.
Instead of trying to get new names to the top of these cards, WWE runs with the same pat hands they’ve run with since their popularity turned around in 2022. And, as is typical for the pro wrestling fan, the current crop of the WWE Universe has grown bored with the Rhodes/Reigns/Rollins/Punk era. There was real excitement at the prospect of rising names like Bron Breakker, Jacob Fatu, and Oba Femi breaking through and mixing it up with the top stars, eventually replacing them as the headline acts of the promotion. But whether it be due to political gamesmanship by the reigning stars (a theory proposed by Jesse Collings) or promotional malpractice by the savants behind WWE Unreal (season three out now!), those rising stars have been reigned in.
Bron Breakker looks like a man who needs a hug and a deep conversation any time he’s pictured with The Vision sans-Paul Heyman, who dumped the act wholesale to go stand behind Brock Lesnar again.
Jacob Fatu was soundly beaten by Roman Reigns two months in a row after WrestleMania, then literally BOWED to Reigns on Raw as Michael Cole described him as “neutered” and “domesticated.” You couldn’t cool off two acts any more efficiently.
Oba Femi is the only one in a marquee match on these shows, but as I’ll get into later, he’s already seen his true main event push delayed.
I’ve often talked about my complete lack of understanding of what made WWE popular again. They put on boring shows, told repetitive stories, and had lackluster atmospheres outside of the major matches on major shows. What they did have were the big stars. They had the drawing names that got people into the building time after time. But the magic has worn off, and the window to keep the fans from the popularity surge may have already shut.
Think about this: WrestleMania this past April was in Las Vegas for a second year in a row, with many traveling fans deciding against returning to the city. WrestleMania this coming April will be in Saudi Arabia, and despite WWE hosting official Watch Parties in New York, I doubt many fans will be moved by the idea of spending thousands of dollars to watch the show on TV. When WrestleMania returns to North America in 2028, it will have been three years since the typical fan who travels to WrestleMania has done so.
Are the stars they have on top right now (Punk/Rhodes/Reigns/Rollins) enough to get them out in another 18 months, when they lack the juice to get them to Vegas or Minnesota for a SummerSlam?
Moreover, and this is the question that should terrify everyone in that booking room: have they already blown it with the new stars that could get those traveling fans back?
Time can only tell.
For now, let’s take a look at these Summerslam cards.
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Saturday Night
UNDISPUTED WWE TITLE MATCH
CM PUNK (C) VS. CODY RHODES
The main event of the Saturday show is CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Title.
How did we get here? Well, Cody lost the WWE Title to Sami Zayn at Night of Champions in a three-way match including Gunther. Zayn was then set to give Rhodes a rematch on the July 6th episode of Raw, but an attack from Gunther caused Rhodes to be taken out of proceedings. Zayn was still set to defend the title, and because the show was in Chicago, CM Punk showed up to a wrestling show rumored but unannounced and beat Zayn for the title.
Punk moved over to Smackdown full-time after “negotiations” with the USA Network, because Punk is a huge star, you see? Rhodes came to the ring, asked nicely, and got his rematch for the title on this show. They’ve been doing the babyface vs. babyface tension building for the last few weeks, including on the most recent Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden, where Rhodes tossed the title in Punk’s face “accidentally” in a way very reminiscent of the Hangman Page/Samoa Joe feud in AEW last fall.
This feels like chapter one of this story, and if there’s anything you can set your watch to in WWE, it’s chapter one of a Cody Rhodes story having a weird and unsatisfying finish that probably involves a ref bump. I have a running theory that if Cody ever were to turn, he’d only do it back in AEW to extend his run for a few more years. Cody returning to AEW is highly unlikely, so as much as fans may tire of it, I believe a heel turn will be just as improbable. Cody most likely subscribes to the John Cena Theory, which states: “If they’re making noise, it’s fine.”
Punk, on the other hand… Prediction: CM Punk
HELL IN A CELL MATCH
BROCK LESNAR (W/PAUL HEYMAN) VS. OBA FEMI
After losing to Brock Lesnar at Clash in Italy, Oba Femi won the King of the Ring tournament, earning him a shot at Roman Reigns and the World Heavyweight Title at this SummerSlam show. After Brock Lesnar jumped him on a Raw, Oba Femi GAVE UP HIS GUARANTEED TITLE SHOT because he figured Brock Lesnar would distract him and cause him to lose.
Yes, Oba Femi had a guaranteed World Title shot and gave it up because he was afraid of a DISTRACTION FINISH. Titles come and go, he says! But it’s important that he beat Brock Lesnar here in Hell in a Cell because WWE wants him to get over. The plan makes sense when you write it down.
Oba beat Lesnar clean at WrestleMania and forced Lesnar into retirement because he got his ass beat so decisively. This made Oba Femi one of the hottest stars in all of wrestling for a moment. Then, they had Brock come out of retirement for no reason to beat Oba in a rematch. Now, Oba will beat Lesnar clean at Summerslam and force him into retirement because he got his ass beat so decisively. This will make Oba Femi one of the hottest stars in all of wrestling.
Make sense? Prediction: Oba Femi
WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE MATCH
LIV MORGAN (C) VS. IYO SKY
Liv Morgan won the Women’s World Title from Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania. She then entered the Queen of the Ring Tournament, with the grand prize of a shot at the Women’s World Title. Iyo Sky beat Liv Morgan in the final and earned a shot at the Women’s World Title, which Liv Morgan held the entire time and never defended.
Ever since her World Title reign ended, Iyo Sky has basically been reduced to Rhea Ripley’s pet/mascot. She’s regressed into a child, running around and pointing at her head. It’s so weird, and it’s weirder considering how much of her last year was spent being performatively referred to as the best wrestler in the world by Michael Cole. The Iyo thing is done though, and she’s just here to get Liv Morgan a win. The Liv Morgan/Dominik/Judgment Day thing feels so passe and cold compared to where it was a couple of years ago, but what doesn’t in this promotion? Prediction: Liv Morgan
NICK ALDIS VS. GUNTHER
Eight months after retiring John Cena, Gunther is wrestling the now-former SmackDown General Manager and former NWA Champion Nick Aldis. Gunther got into an altercation with Aldis after Night of Champions, leading to Aldis being suspended for a week. (Raw GM Adam Pearce was in charge of both shows that week and sniped the Cody/Sami Zayn match for Raw in Chicago while he was in charge, leading to Punk’s return.) Gunther kept pushing Aldis, leading Aldis to cost Gunther (and Sami Zayn) a chance to be added to the Summerslam World Title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event with a belt shot.
Does Nick Aldis change the math in WWE at all? No. Do I expect him to be lost in the shuffle immediately if he becomes a full-time wrestler? Yes. But he’s a competent professional, and he and Gunther should have a heated, rock-solid pro wrestling match here. On a WWE PLE, I’ll take as many of those as I can get. Prediction: Gunther
LA KNIGHT, ROYCE KEYS & SOLO SIKOA VS. THE BLOODLINE (JACOB FATU, THE USOS)
Of all the people WWE could have given a renewed push to, they chose Solo Sikoa. The Bloodline turned on him (or remained turned on him? Who can keep track?), leading to Sikoa joining up with an extremely reluctant LA Knight and Royce Keys. I’m glad the former Powerhouse Hobbs was smart enough to slide into the Bloodline mix, even if it was on the MFT side of things, as it’s getting him in the mix with people connected to the real top-end stars in the promotion. If he shows out, maybe he can bang his head on the same glass ceiling that LA Knight and Gunther have put dents in for years.
Also, I think the Bloodline are heels now? Maybe? Prediction: LA Knight, Royce Keys, Solo Sikoa
THE BELLA TWINS & PAIGE VS. FATAL INFLUENCE (FALLON HENLEY, JACY JAYNE & LAINEY REID)
Fatal Influence finally got the call-up from NXT to be the mean girls on Smackdown. They beat Paige & Brie Bella for the Women’s Tag Titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Nikki Bella came back to even the odds and set up this trios match. I can’t muster any emotion, positive or negative, towards this. It’s a midcard women’s feud on Smackdown. I’m just glad they got from Point A to Point B without pissing themselves. My guess is that the Bellas will turn on Paige for reasons I won’t care about either. Prediction: Fatal Influence
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Sunday Night
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
ROMAN REIGNS (C) VS. SETH ROLLINS
At WrestleMania 40, Seth Rollins sacrificed his World Heavyweight Championship and what was left of his damaged knee to help Cody Rhodes dethrone Roman Reigns and end his four-year-long WWE Title reign. He did it to end the Bloodline’s reign over all of WWE, to open the door for everyone else, and to humble his former friend, whose God Complex had grown to massive proportions.
Now, just over two years later, Roman Reigns is champion again, walking around with the title belt Seth sacrificed. Now, he’s rebuilt the Bloodline, with The Usos just falling in line again and adding Jacob Fatu to the ranks. Now, they’re running on top of WWE again. After ending his feud with Bron Breakker and the Vision for good with a win inside a steel cage at Night of Champions, and with Oba Femi too scared to challenge Roman for the title lest some music play overhead, Rollins made the challenge to cut this version of the Bloodline off at the pass and shut down any attempts for Roman to rule the company the same way he did before. It’s a great story, referencing the peak of the company’s hot streak while staying relevant to where the promotion is now, to pay off the fans’ devotion.
Unfortunately, it’s not the story WWE told.
Instead, we’re doing more SHIELD lore. Wrestlemania 40 isn’t old enough to be deified by the promotion yet. No, WWE enjoys letting their stories ferment like fine wine, only bringing them back up after at least a decade. Unfortunately, most fans who were into the Shield probably aren’t watching wrestling anymore, since the Shield broke up on June 2, 2014.
To put that in context, the 2014 NBA Finals started three days later. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the San Antonio Spurs in scoring as they beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat 110-95 in Game 1, on their way to a 4-1 series victory. Tim Duncan has been retired for ten years, Tony Parker for seven. LeBron James would return to Cleveland and win an NBA title then later leave Cleveland and go to Los Angeles and win an NBA title with the Lakers.
He’s scored 20,270 points since then, which would be enough on its own to rank 55th all-time.
I was on the summer break prior to my junior year of high school on June 2, 2014.
I turned 29 last Saturday.
WWE reverting to Shield Lore instead of the much fresher, much more relevant to their current audience Bloodline story from Wrestlemania 40 feels like the biggest sign that the current creative team has completely run out of gas. When the team behind WWE Unreal misses a chance to fellate themselves about the greatest story ever told, it’s over.
Even worse is Seth Rollins and his complete and utter failure to be interesting, cool, threatening, or even competent in his efforts to be a top guy. I’ve had harsh criticisms of Rollins over the years, but nothing compared to the things said on WWE television by either Roman Reigns or Rollins himself.
It’s kind of sad watching him continue to try and fit where he clearly doesn’t. He’s a guy floundering on a first date or bombing at an open mic. It’s awkward and uncomfortable, and the saddest part is that he’s the last one to realize it. You’d feel bad for him if he wasn’t a dick about it.
Roman Reigns, the alleged Hall of Fame draw who can’t sell tickets if his life depended on it, and who once again is a heel that just gets treated like a babyface, will retain. The crowd will acknowledge him, although 20,000 fewer fingers in the air will be hard not to notice. The story will continue long after anyone cares. And the needle will continue to move, just not in the direction that anyone wants. Prediction: Roman Reigns
UNDISPUTED WWE TITLE #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH
SAMI ZAYN VS. FINN BALOR
Zayn has been raging about getting screwed out of his title since losing it, so Adam Pearce appeased him by putting him in a #1 contender’s match on this show against Finn Balor, who won a four-way match to earn the other slot in this match. Balor just moved over to Smackdown in the past few months, so he’s due for another fake push. Prediction: Finn Balor
INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE MATCH
PENTA (C) VS. CHAD GABLE
The storyline that began on the first Netflix Raw nineteen months ago comes to a head here, as Chad Gable challenges Penta for the Intercontinental Title, the title Gable has pushed towards for years. Gable’s issues with luchadores spanned back to Penta’s debut in the promotion. That led to Gable donning the El Grande Americano mask and having a blowoff match against Penta in AAA, resulting in one of the most acclaimed WWE matches of the year.
Wait, that was against the other El Grande Americano, Ludwig Kaiser.
But Penta got payback on behalf of all the natural luchadores by…accepting Gable’s sincere apology. Huh. And he’s gonna lose the title to Gable here. Wait a minute. You’re telling me the only mask-wearer to get his heat back on Gable for mocking lucha culture was a taller white guy??? Aww, come on! Prediction: Chad Gable
UNITED STATES TITLE MATCH
TRICK WILLIAMS (C) VS. BARON CORBIN
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes continued their TV feud after Sami Zayn’s short interlude to take the Wrestlemania spot. Unfortunately, their feud will remain on TV, as Hayes has now been benched in favor of BARON CORBIN. Yes, the one who made his main roster debut at WrestleMania 32 a decade ago. Yes, the one who sucked for all those years. Yes, the one who the McMahon family publicly blamed for Raw being terrible when they thought they had The Elite signed.
The big red mark on Trick Williams as a prospect is that he’s not a very good wrestler yet. I’m sure BARON CORBIN will be exactly what he needs. Prediction: Baron Corbin
INTERIM WWE WOMEN’S TITLE LADDER MATCH
CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS. CHELSEA GREEN VS. JADE CARGILL VS. TIFFANY STRATTON VS. WINNER OF LASH LEGEND/GIULIA ON 7/31 SMACKDOWN
They wanna be AEW so badly.
With Rhea Ripley sidelined with a knee injury, WWE is introducing an Interim WWE Women’s Title and letting five people fight for it in a ladder match. Prestige, indeed. Consider this a preview for WWE’s next PLE, Money in the Bank, which isn’t happening until October for some reason? Anyway, I can’t put it into words how much this doesn’t matter. Looking at this line-up, I can’t put it into words how bad this match could end up. Keep an eye out for Charlotte squaring up with Tiffy Time, can’t forget about that. Prediction: Charlotte Flair
HUMAN MONIES ON A POLE MATCH
DANHAUSEN VS. DOMINIK MYSTERIO
Fuck you. Prediction: No.
