For the primary time in over a decade, CM Punk is the reigning WWE Champion, even whether it is his third world title reign since returning to the corporate in 2023.
This one was the least expected within the moment. Three months on from losing the World Heavyweight title to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, Punk got here back because the last minute challenger to Sami Zayn and unseated him just nine days after he won it in the primary place. Now he shall be making his first defense of the title against Cody Rhodes within the foremost event of SummerSlam on Saturday.
The last time Punk defended the grandest prize in sports entertainment, he was losing the title to the Rock at Elimination Chamber 2013, and thus his place within the foremost event of WrestleMania 29. The landscape has very much modified this time around, with a complete roster of various challengers trying to either recapture or hold the title for the primary time of their profession. Zayn was in his first run as champion and is on the hunt for an additional this weekend, facing Finn Balor in a No. 1 contendership match. Balor himself has never held the title, and in truth only held the Universal Championship for someday after winning it at SummerSlam 2016. Rhodes is on the hunt for his fourth run with the title, having already pulled even with the quantity of runs Punk has had.
Except for that, “WWE SmackDown” is stocked with various options never to have held the title. So let’s break down who likely will and who probably needs to be the one to dethrone Punk.
Will: Cody Rhodes
As mentioned, Rhodes is difficult Punk for the title this weekend. And as Rhodes himself would say, he is straightforward to search out, hard to beat.
Whether it occurs this weekend or at a later date, the WWE Championship really does appear to orbit the “Grandson of a Plumber” since he finished his story at WrestleMania 40. Like Thor and Mjolnir, it just seems to come back back to him at every probability.
There may be also Rhodes’ record in relation to the title. Rhodes lost his first attempt at Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, only to return one 12 months later and unseat him. That run ended with John Cena at WrestleMania 41, until Rhodes recaptured the title from him at SummerSlam. Then, that run ended with Drew McIntyre in January, just for him to earn his third title run in March.
Rhodes never got the prospect to rematch Zayn for the title when he beat him and GUNTHER at Night of Champions. But this weekend is that probability. Even when he doesn’t win the title this time around, the law of probability backs him to do it will definitely, and he will definitely keep trying until it does.
Should: GUNTHER
Prior to coming up against Rhodes for the WWE Championship, GUNTHER had been considered one of, if not the, most infallible competitors on the roster.
Rhodes beat GUNTHER to retain the title at Clash in Italy, on the other hand with Zayn as their special guest referee on “WWE SmackDown,” after which GUNTHER got his one and only win over Rhodes in a rematch that very same night — albeit via disqualification when Zayn kicked him in the pinnacle. Zayn then beat GUNTHER and Rhodes in the next triple threat at Night of Champions, seeing GUNTHER as an alternative give attention to vanquishing Nick Aldis at this weekend’s event.
One would assume that when Aldis is out of the best way, win or lose, GUNTHER shall be rejoining the pursuit of the title. That might put him opposite Punk once more, should he manage to maintain the title by that time. The one and only time that they faced off got here during last 12 months’s SummerSlam event, with Punk getting the win and the World Heavyweight title for all of a couple of minutes before Seth Rollins cashed in Money within the Bank.
That gives a chance for GUNTHER to kill two birds with one stone, breaking his duck to turn into WWE Champion and avenging that defeat at the identical time. Of anyone on the roster, perhaps there is no such thing as a one higher suited to the role of WWE Champion than GUNTHER. It appears like a matter of if somewhat than when. And it feels as if sooner can be higher than later.
GUNTHER is a legitimate monster heel. He retired essentially the most decorated WWE Champion of all time in John Cena, after which slightly over a month later retired one other former WWE Champion in AJ Styles to turn into the “Profession Killer.” That actually makes Punk the prime prey for the “Ring General” — a proud member of the old guard holding the title he wants and really must cement himself as the very best.