The Summer of Punk 2026!

After quite the homecoming in Chicago, CM Punk returns to Friday Night SmackDown in Oklahoma as the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Finn Balor VS Tama Tonga w/ Talla Tonga; Finn wins.
• Royce Keys VS Jimmy Uso; wins.
• Trick Williams w/ Lil Yachty VS Carmelo Hayes; wins.
• Jade Cargill w/ B-Fab & Mia Yim VS Alexa Bliss w/ Charlotte Flair; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SmackDown, live from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.” The fans cheer, and Aldis says before we get into the big business at hand, he wants to address his situation. As many know, he was involved in a physical altercation with Gunther after Night of Champions. And while Aldis would like to say he’s completely justified in his actions, he also takes full responsibility for his part in the incident. He is pleased to report that after mediation, he has been reinstated as SmackDown General Manager. He is ready to work and work for you, the audience. Which brings us to this moment here and now.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion, C M PUNK!” The fans cheer as The Best in the World indeed makes his entrance, and they sing along with Cult of Personality. They even join in with saying, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, holds up the title, and the fans cheer again. Aldis welcomes the champ, they shake hands, and Aldis says welcome aboard, he’s very glad Punk took his call on Monday. The floor is now his. The fans cheer Punk as he takes the mic, and he says, “I always pause before I come out in front of a live audience, and I wonder what the hell I’m gonna say. Three words come to mind: I missed you!” The fans cheer that!

Punk says the last two and a half months, he has been negotiating with WWE, NBC Universal, and the USA Network, all spearheaded by Aldis, to bring Punk to SmackDown. Last Monday night, those negotiations were expedited when he got the call that the Undisputed Championship needed a challenger. Ladies and gentlemen, when opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them. He put his gear on in his house, kissed his beautiful wife on the lips, drove across town to the Allstate Arena, and now he can ask us the question, “Is it great to be alive on a Friday night in Oklahoma City as the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion or what?!”

The fans cheer again, even giving a standing ovation! Punk continues by saying he is not like other wrestlers and not like other champions, If you saw what he did on Monday Night Raw with the World Heavyweight Championship, you know he intends to be that champion Friday nights on SmackDown. That means wrestling on TV, defending this title every chance he gets. Because when you call yourself The Best in the World, he doesn’t do it just to be cocky. He does it to put that pressure on himself! He likes a target on his back. Punk knows that locker room is full of hungry, talented individuals who all want what he has.

So just as they discussed prior to the show starting, he’ll make it real simple. If you think he has what belongs to you, come get it! If you think you have what it takes to wrestle the Best in the World, come wrestle him! He is not hard to find, and he will defend this belt with his blood, sweat and tears, and do it for all the fans! Sami Zayn… Punk heard what you said on social media, and he understands how Sami feels. If Sami wants his shot, he certainly deserves a rematch. Punk will give him that shot. Who else is back there? The fans cheer any sort of name, but Punk picks out Gunther! Gunther might be the one Punk regrets mentioning, but they’re no strangers.

Punk remembers the last time they wrestled. If Gunther thinks he can beat Punk, come and try it. Punk knows he can beat Gunther, so let’s find out. Who else? Who else is there? Seems someone he followed here, because all the best talent goes to SmackDown, Finn Balor! They went to war twice already, once in Finn’s home country, and once in Punk’s hometown. Any time, any place, neutral territory, Punk is your huckleberry. If you think you got what it takes, step up to the plate! Royce Keys! Damian Priest! Trick Williams! But wait! CODY RHODES is here! The fans cheer and sing along with Kingdom as The American Nightmare makes his entrance.

We get the “WHOA~ OH~” and pyro, then Cody high-fives the fans on his way to the ring. We get the second “WHOA~ OH~” and pyro, then Cody steps into the ring. Cody pokes a bit of fun at Punk’s shiner, then gets himself a mic. The fans cheer and Cody asks, “How’s your eye?” Punk says it looks worse than it is, but he knows Cody isn’t here to talk about the eye. Punk asks Cody, whaddya wanna talk about? The fans cheer that, and Cody smirks. Cody admits Punk is right. It’s just funny that the last time they were in this ring, it was the mirror. Cody had the title, his eye was blackened, and Punk said stuff about championship opportunities falling out of the sky.

And that’s what happened on Monday, huh? The title opportunity fell out of the sky and Punk was there to catch it. There are those opportunities, and then… There’s championship matches that have been building for years. The fans like the sound of that! Punk assumes he means Punk VS Cody. Maybe subconsciously, they’ve both been avoiding this. Maybe that’s why Punk didn’t think of him earlier. Punk and Cody are friends, he doesn’t want anything to come in between that. But Punk even thought that when this happened, it’d be the main event of WrestleMania. But they can’t run away from each other any longer. Cody agrees, they can’t.

And Cody again remembers back to the last time in the ring, Cody remembers that when he was champion, he told Punk, “Just say when.” And maybe that’s the situation now. Punk says, “When.” The fans like the sound of that! Cody says, “SummerSlam!” Not as fun for OKC, but still a big move from both champion and challenger. The two shake hands, the fans cheer that, and Aldis says ladies and gentlemen, it’s official! The main event of SummerSlam, CM Punk VS Cody Rhodes! Then Punk pulls Cody in close to make sure Cody understands he’s serious. Three weeks remain, how ready will both men be when the Biggest Party of the Summer arrives?

Backstage interview with The Baddies.

Cathy Kelley is with Jade Cargill, B-Fab & Michin, and tonight, Jade will go 1v1 with Alexa Bliss. She even requested this match, so can she give insight as to why? Jade says she’s already dressed and ready to go, she don’t get dressed for nothing. Since Charlotte Flair wants to play games, Jade is gonna kick her little friend’s face in! Charlotte wants to cost Jade titles, so Jade is gonna make Charlotte’s life a living hell! Mia Yim says Charlotte should know better after The Baddies stomped her out. Maybe Charlotte needs as many lessons as it takes until she gets the damn picture. B-Fab says Charlotte will, because Charlotte has a front row seat to Jade snapping Alexa in half like the twig she is.

Jade says as y’all know, she’ll put on a show. But she is not responsible for what happens to Bliss. Put the blame on her “friend,” Charlotte Flair! The Storm has come to OKC, but will Lil’ Miss Bliss be able to ride the lightning?

Finn Balor VS Tama Tonga w/ Talla Tonga!

The Prince thought he could reconnect with his old friend, but the Good Bad Guy is done following and is ready to lead. Will Tama put Finn in the past? Or are things about to get rrreeeeal?

SmackDown returns as Tama makes his entrance, Talla by his side. The bell rings and Finn runs up to trip Tama! Finn rains down fists, Tama gets free, but Finn BOOTS him away! Finn fires off in the corner, the ref counts, but Finn whips corner to corner. Tama reverses, Finn goes up and over, and Finn CHOPS! And CHOPS! Finn whips Tama, Tama reverses, then Tama UPPERCUTS Finn! Tama storms up on Finn now, brings him around, and whips him to ropes. Finn reverses, Tama sunset flips, but Finn rolls through to basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer, and Finn LARIATS Tama up and out! Then Finn builds speed, but Talla trips him up!

The fans boo but Tama CLOBBERS Finn! Tama brings Finn back up, bumps him off buckles, and JUMP NECKBREAKERS! Tama runs to then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Finn while SmackDown goes picture in picture. Tama stalks Finn to ropes, CHOKES him, but stops as the ref counts. Finn sputters, but Tama puts him back on ropes to CHOKE him again! The ref counts again, Tama holds on, so the ref backs him down. Talla YANKS Finn out to scoop and SNAKE EYES off the apron! Finn flounders but Tama goes out the side. Tama runs up to LEAPING LARIAT Finn down!

MFT soaks up the heat, then Tama goes back to the ring. The ring count climbs while Finn slowly rises up, and he leaps into the ring! Tama stomps away on Fin, then rains down fists! Tama stops to then CLUB Finn, and sits him up for more shots to the chest! Tama LARIATS Finn back down! Finn staggers to a corner, Tama snapmares and HEADBUTTS, then he clamps on a chinlock. Finn endures, even as Tama leans on the hold. Finn fights up, but Tama wrangles him back down! Finn still fights up, fights around, but Tama KNEES low! Tama puts Finn in the corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs up, only for Finn to dodge! Roll up, TWO!

Finn keeps moving, but Tama scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Finn toughs it out and shakes his head, but Tama stalks him to the ropes. Tama CLAWS Finn’s back as SmackDown returns to single picture. The ref reprimands but then Finn fires haymakers! Tama BODY BLOWS, then whips, but Finn ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl and clinch! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Both men are down as the fans fire up! Finn rises, the fans cheer, and Finn storms up on Tama. Finn counter punches Tama again and again, then whips. Tama reverses but Finn FLYING FOREARMS! And then he trips Tama to DOUBLE STOMP!

The fans cheer while Tama flounders to a corner. Finn runs up, CHOPS, and he whips corner to corner. Tama reverses, but Finn goes up, only for Tama to catch him! But Finn fights that to a dragon sleeper, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Tama survives but Finn stays focused. The fans rally as Finn hurries to KICK Tama to the ropes. Finn stomps and stomps and stomps, but backs off as the ref counts. Talla protests, Finn runs up, but Tama RAMS low! Tama ROCKS Finn, whips, but Finn reverses to SLING- NO, Tama turns it into a SPINOUT BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Both men are down and the fans fire up!

The fans rally as hard as they can for Finn but Tama hits the STINGER SPLASH! Tama huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs corner to corner again, STINGER SPLASH! Finn sputters but Tama slithers back. Tama runs in again, but Finn SLINGBLADES! Finn then aims while the fans fire up, SHOTGUN! Tama hits buckles then falls to into the drop zone! Finn goes up, Talla distracts, but the ref has him back off. Finn refocuses for the COUP- NO, Tama dodges! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! And then an underhook, PINCHE LOCO! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives and MFT cannot believe it! Tama seethes as he paces, but the fans rally for Finn.

Tama brings Finn up, but Finn cradles! TWO!! Tama escapes, but Finn DUMPS him out of the ring! Finn then FLIES to wipe out MFT! The fans fire up as Finn then hurries to get Tama in the ring! Finn aims again, for a SHOTGUN! Tama is back down, Finn goes back up! The fans fire up again for the COUP DE GRACE! Direct hit and Finn covers, Finn wins!

Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall

Talla is furious, but Finn gets away before Talla can storm into the ring! MFT tried to bully Balor, but he proved why he’s too sweet! Will Finn use this to prove he’s also still The Prince?

Backstage interview with Carmelo Hayes.

Cathy asks H1M that he shot his shot, but Trick Williams & Lil Yachty say Melo still has to earn his shot at the US Championship. Melo says he doesn’t want to interrupt, but there are two words they won’t talk about when talking about Melo: “prove” and “deserve.” All he’s done is prove, and all he does is deserve. Last week, Yachty might be right that Melo comes up short. But what’s Yachty’s excuse? Melo is only human. Yachty makes a great sidekick, because all his top songs have only been features. And Trick, when they say his name, they think aura, superstar, and that’s all valid.

But all the aura in the world won’t outwork someone who has been battle tested, dragged through the mud, and pushed to the side like Melo. He won’t catchphrase you to death like Trick, but #MeloDon’tMiss. That’s NOT a catchphrase, that’s a lifestyle, and his aim has never been more clear. This is his moment to prove to Trick what he already knows: Melo is H1M. Melo heads out, will he #WhoopDatTrick and earn his title match?

R-Truth and Fraxiom are backstage.

And it would seem that Truth lost a bet on the World Cup. USA is out, England and Spain are still in. Nathan Frazer says he’ll put it this way: Americans are better at eating hot dogs, so just leave the real football to the Europeans. Truth pays out to Axiom, Frazer insists England is still bringing the Cup home, but now Erik & Ivar step in. Truth says hola. Erik says he is getting sick of the games! Aldis is here tonight, so go talk to him so the War Raiders can take those tag titles off Truth’s hands. But then Jimmy Uso & Jacob Fatu step in. #BigJim asks for a moment, the War Raiders honor that. But Ivar lets Truth know, their patience is wearing thin.

Jimmy and Truth say sup. Jimmy says he’s looking for somebody. He’s about this tall, flat footed, kinda looks like Rikishi. Oh, you mean Solo? Yes. Well, Rikishi’s kids yeeted on themselves so Solo’s babysitting. Jimmy shakes that off and says if Truth sees Solo, let him know Jimmy’s looking for them. Jacob stops the secret handshake, and he tells Truth if he’s seen Royce Keys. Truth says he’s never seen him a day in his life! But if you see him, hide your chain. Then Damian Priest steps in, he secret handshakes Truth and Jimmy, then says sup to Fatu. Fatu says sup, and Priest says if they’re looking for Royce, Priest has seen him. He’s here.

Truth plays dumb, and Fatu tells #BigJim they’ll just go to the ring. Jimmy & Jacob head out, and Truth asks Priest what he’s doing! Priest says he’s already said that Royce is not his problem. Let that go! Priest leaves again, and Truth finds himself stuck in the middle of everything. Will The Bloodline settle up with both the prodigal son and the Powerhouse in one night?

Nick Aldis is on the phone.

And it’s Sami Zayn! Aldis tells Sami that he understands Sami is on a mental health break as Sami requested, and he gave it to him. That’s why he’s not here tonight. Aldis is here and he is GM again, so he has the authority to make the match of Punk VS Cody at SummerSlam. Now, if you’ll excuse him… Gunther storms into the office. And Der Ring General is just as upset about the title match that was made. Gunther says it is Aldis’ first day back, but he made a really big mistake. Gunther is here now to give Aldis a chance. Gunther could stooge Aldis out to his boss, but he won’t do that, he wants to give Aldis a chance to fix this.

Deep down, they both know that Gunther deserves to be in the ring with the champion! And it doesn’t matter if it’s Cody, Punk, or them both at the same time. Aldis knows and Gunther knows that the title match is where Gunther belongs. So he’ll give Aldis until the end of the night to fix this. Aldis says he’ll take it under consideration. Gunther leaves, but will he really get what he wants again? Or only what he deserves?

Jimmy Uso & Jacob Fatu are in the ring.

Just as they said, they’re out in front of the crowd, and Jimmy has the mic to say let’s just get to business. There’s only one reason why they’re here on SmackDown! Solo, bring your ass on out here! The fans cheer that, but instead of Solo Sikoa, we get Royce Keys! The Powerhouse heads to the ring, steps inside, and Jimmy says, “You don’t look like Solo. What the hell are you doing out here?” Royce says yeah, he knows he’s not Solo. But last week, they mentioned him. This week, they mentioned him. So guess what? He brought Royce to dat ass. But see, guess you’re here to handle that family business, huh?

See, their family business is affecting everyone around here, and it’s starting to affect him. Jimmy says family business or not, this is OTC business! OTC? The man Jimmy runs plays for? The man who ain’t even here? Fatu gets mad now! Fatu steps up while Jimmy smirks, and Fatu tells Royce, they tight. So let’s keep it like that. If Royce says anything else about OTC, please, he’s saying please, don’t go there. The fans are torn, but Royce tells Jacob that it ain’t gotta be like that. Jimmy says you don’t tell them what to do! He said it before, he’ll say it now, Royce ain’t part of this family. Oh, yeah, they said it loud and clear!

But guess what? Blood don’t make you family, loyalty does! And if you talk about family, you know how many family members Royce lost? Jimmy’s family has brother fighting brother, cousin fighting cousin. Royce wishes there were members in his family he could still hug, he could still text, he could still call. You know he ain’t got that! So for the last 14 YEARS, Fatu has been Royce’s brother, and he refuses to let his brother fall. The fans cheer that! Jimmy says out of respect, listen to him loud and clear: Royce is gonna cross a line he can’t come back from. Does he understand? Royce says he didn’t come here to fight tonight.

Biut guess what? Looks like there’s a line right there. Royce steps over it! Jimmy says Royce is crazier than he thought. Jimmy & Jacob will put a beating to Royce! The worst beating The Bloodline’s ever put- Jacob has Jimmy stop! “‘We?’ There ain’t no ‘we’ here, Big Jim. This one’s on you. I’m out.” The Samoan Werewolf steps aside, but Jimmy says aight! Guess #BigJim and Royce crossed the line. Let’s get a ref out here and make this official! Royce crossed a line and there’s no coming back. Jimmy takes a swing, but Royce blocks it! The fans cheer as Royce smiles, and short arm LARIATS Jimmy down! Then he LARIATS Jimmy up and out!

The ref finally arrives and Royce is ready to fight! Will Royce send The Bloodline back to Roman emptyhanded? Or will Jimmy manage to tear down the Powerhouse?

Royce Keys VS Jimmy Uso!

SmackDown returns, the bell rings, and the two circle. They tie up, Jimmy waistlocks then headlocks, but Royce powers up and out. Royce RUNS Jimmy over, then has him in the corner. Royce JABS, JABS, JABS again and again, then stops as the ref counts. Royce whips corner to corner, Jimmy bounces off buckles, and Royce LARIATS! Jimmy is slow to stand up, Royce scoops him, but Jimmy slips free. Jimmy mule kicks, pops ‘n’ locks, then UPPERCUTS! Royce wobbles, Jimmy reels him in, and Jimmy flexes, only for Royce to suplex first! And he holds Jimmy up before the SLAM! The fans fire up, Royce covers, ONE!!

Jimmy toughs it out but he also bails out. Royce goes out the side, runs in around the way, but Jimmy sends him into the steel steps! Jimmy drags Royce up, puts him in the ring, then climbs a corner. Royce stands, Jimmy CROSSBODIES him back down! Cover, TWO! Jimmy clamps on with a chinlock but Royce endures. The fans rally, Royce fights up, and Royce fires body shots. Jimmy kicks, Royce blocks, but the DRAGON WHIP hits! Jimmy runs but Royce CLOBBERS him! Royce rises, brings Jimmy up and whips him, but Jimmy grabs ropes. Royce runs up, Jimmy DUMPS him out, then Jimmy DIVES! Direct hit and Royce hits the desk!

The fans cheer as Jimmy gets Royce back up, and he THROWS Royce over the desk! Jimmy says YEET while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns as Royce rains down fists on Jimmy, then RIPCORDS for a POWERSLAM! Not the easiest but Royce still covers, TWO! Jimmy survives, but the straps come down! The fans fire up for Royce but Jimmy bails out. Royce pursues, but Jimmy swings! Royce catches Jimmy, WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM on the desk! The fans want more, so Royce obliges! WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM on the desk! Royce refreshes the count, then he drags Jimmy up. Royce scoops, takes aim, but Jimmy slips free to POST Royce! Jimmy hauls Royce into the ring, stumbles back, and asks for a breather. But SOLO SIKOA is there!

The fans are torn as Solo taps his brother on the shoulder. Jimmy turns around, Solo ROCKS him! But then Jacob rushes back out here! The fans fire up as Fatu and Solo storm up on each other and start throwing hands! The fans cheer Fatu but Solo gets the edge! SAMOANO- NO! TONGAN DEATH GRIP! Then Fatu THROWS Solo over the barriers! Royce is shocked, but Jimmy loads up! SPEAR from Big Jim!! Cover, JIMMY WINS!

Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall

Royce let The Bloodline’s business cost him again, but Fatu keeps on Solo! Fatu stomps away on Solo in the corner, but Royce storms up! Royce spins Fatu around, argues with Fatu about what just happened, and Fatu isn’t sure what to say. The fans are on Fatu’s side, though, as he SUPERKICKS Royce! And SENTONS on top! The fans are fired up as Jimmy then slides a chair into the ring! Fatu takes the chair, and he puts it around Solo’s neck! Fatu runs corner to corner, but then stops short! Fatu tells Solo that he better listen! This Monday, Solo better be on Raw for the family! Because next time, Fatu will not stop!

The ultimatum has been issued, will Solo finally return home? Or will he choose to be destroyed over falling in line?