Randy Orton made a shocking return to WWE SummerSlam 2026, hitting an RKO on Cody Rhodes before CM Punk was able to capitalize with a fifth GTS. Randy Orton as a heel will add some much-needed balance to the WWE roster, but Orton is a legend who was cheered upon his return and will be cheered as a heel.
Suddenly, WWE has a heel problem.
Cody Rhodes and CM Punk told a very good story in what is becoming a stale formula of babyfaces battling for world titles in big matches. Rhodes faced WWE legend Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 Night 1, who was cheered so much as a babyface leading up to the event WWE paired him with Pat McAfee in a polarizing decision.
CM Punk returned to a rousing ovation in his hometown of Chicago to regain the WWE Championship with a win over Sami Zayn, who held the title for just nine days. Punk faced fellow babyface Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania Night 1, and Reigns will take on fellow babyface in the main event of SummerSlam Night 2.
As good as all these matches are and are likely to be, WWE is in need of major heels, especially with former heel Solo Sikoa now rising up the ranks as a surprise breakout babyface. Even Sami Zayn’s catchphrase as a heel is “the last real good guy.”
The “can they coexist” formula was spammed during an otherwise highly anticipated dream match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, who received a custom Street Fighter-themed entrance. Rhodes donned a mask inspired by Guile, whom he’ll be portraying in the Street Fighter movie on October 16.
CM Punk Def. Cody Rhodes As Randy Orton Returns
- Cody Rhodes walked out with a helmet and entrance inspired by Guile of Street Fighter. CM Punk walked out with no music, but a loud ovation instead. Wearing a Minnesota North Stars bomber jacket, Punk led Minneapolis in an “it’s clobberin’ time!” battlecry before Cult of Personality blasted through US Bank Stadium.
- Fans were split for the two top babyfaces who exchanged a pair of tense lockups. Rhodes and Punk then exchanged chops before Punk scored with an awkward flying headscissors. Punk attacked Rhodes’ left arm, setting him up for a possible Anaconda Vice.
- US Bank Stadium competed in dueling chants for Punk and Rhodes as Rhodes claimed the advantage with a headlock takeover. Punk went to the outside with a suicide dive on Punk. Punk answered with a flying clothesline off the barricade and went right back to work on Cody’s arm.
- Punk barely connected with a flying kick, tweaking his knee. Now it was Rhodes’ turn to exploit a babyface injury. Punk struggled to get Rhodes up for the GTS with his bad knee, and Rhodes returned to grounding Punk by targeting his knee.
- Punk temporarily got Cody up for the GTS, but Rhodes fought out of it and ran into a big boot from Punk. There were dueling chants for Punk and Rhodes as Punk limped to the top rope. Punk fought Rhodes off the top rope and hits flying elbow for a two-count.
- Cody Rhodes fought out of a GTS with well-placed elbows to the jaw and a Cody Cutter. A frustrated Rhodes kept attacking Punk’s knee, even pulling down Punk’s kneepad. Rhodes hit a super Cody Cutter for another nearfall.
- Rhodes went for the Figure Four, but Punk fought out and tried a GTS. Cody countered with a Figure Four. Fans chanted for CM Punk Rhodes held the hold in the center of the ring. Punk ultimately forced the rope break.
- CM Punk crossed over into the Anaconda Vice, but Cody forced a rope break. Rhodes tried a spinning Alabama Slam, but Punk countered with an Anaconda Vice. Cody bridged out of a pinfall attempt and hit a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall.
- Punk tried an ugly moonsault and missed, leading to a Cody kickout at two. Punk followed up with a GTS using his bad knee. Punk’s injured knee gave Cody enough time to recover and kickout of the pin attempt. CM Punk ripped apart the Spanish announce table. There was a stalemate trying to put one another through a table, and upon reentering the ring, Punk hit a second GTS. Cody grabbed the bottom rope at two.
- Punk set Cody up on the table and willed his way to the top rope. Punk came crashing through the table feet-first, re-injuring his already hurt knee. Fans chanted “this is awesome” as Rhodes slowly dragged Punk back into the ring. Cody went for a Cody Cutter, but Punk ducked and Rhodes accidentally hit Charles Robinson. Punk hit a third GTS, then a fourth. Cody answered with a Cross Rhodes that sent the referee out of the ring.
- Randy Orton hit the ring and scored with an RKO on Cody Rhodes. Punk hit a fifths GTS for the win.