Here are five questions after the July 10 edition of WWE SmackDown, which featured new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk’s arrival to the blue brand.
1. Was There A More Creative Path To Get To Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk?
Yes, there was.
But WWE’s decision to put the title on Punk on Raw was calculated (and executed well for a weekly episodic television show), as was wasting no time letting any on-the-fence ticket buyers know that Cody vs. Punk is officially on for SummerSlam.
With the reports of the company’s disappointment with ticket sales for the two-night event, the goal was to get the match on the card right from the opening segment. Now give them your money!
2. What’s The Plan For Sami Zayn At SummerSlam?
We do know that Zayn will team with Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event to take on Punk and Cody.
Gunther’s road to SummerSlam is clear (we’ll get to that shortly), but Zayn’s is not. It seems possible that Zayn will be left off the card entirely, which could be intentional to fuel his character’s downward spiral even more.
I’m intrigued by the social media theory that Kevin Owens will return soon to align with Zayn in his battle against Punk and Cody, but that would be a post-SummerSlam development.
3. How Will WWE Fans React To Gunther vs. Nick Aldis?
Because WWE is doing that match.
If there was any doubt that Aldis is returning to the ring for his first match since 2023, it was made obvious with the closing segment on SmackDown. Gunther destroyed the general manager in impressive fashion, and he furthered his argument that Aldis was a failure as a professional wrestler.
With no obvious opponent for Gunther at SummerSlam, it appears he’s going to get back to doing what he did best in 2025 and early 2026, and that’s retire another superstar. The fan reaction should be fascinating.
4. What’s The Endgame With Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline?
Jacob Fatu laid it all on the table for Solo Sikoa. He has to show up to Raw to speak to Roman Reigns, and if he doesn’t, there will be consequences.
The ultimate goal for this whole thing? I’m not sure. What I do know is that they have made Solo a compelling figure. It would seem that an unlikely pairing of Solo and LA Knight vs. The Usos could be in the works for SummerSlam, but Solo returning to The Bloodline is likely inevitable at this point.
It’s just a matter of how they get there.
5. Can Baron Corbin Be A WWE Return Success Story?
The former United States Champion is back after his WWE exit in November 2024.
He took aim at Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes, so he at least has a goal that he wants to achieve. The biggest question is, can Corbin have a significant impact in this version of WWE? It’s one that has brought up a flurry of talent from NXT in recent months, some of whom are already lacking any creative direction. SmackDown has also shifted back to two hours.
Corbin has always been a Triple H guy, and that should give him a boost on a crowded SmackDown roster.
What did you think of this week’s WWE SmackDown? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading!