WWE SummerSlam 2026: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True

5. Cody Rhodes Restores Humdrum Status Quo

Golden boy Cody Rhodes has made a lot of noise during the build towards SummerSlam about winning his fourth WWE Title from frosty "friend" CM Punk. It took Cody a long while to reach that mountaintop (WrestleMania 40, a full 2 years after his return to the company), but he's now in the main event club.

In fact, he's a VIP with exclusive access whenever he pleases. There's no denying that Rhodes is a wonderful performer who deserves gushing praise for sustaining his babyface run even in the face of speckled booing here or there, but...sticking the big belt right back on him and going back to the status quo on SmackDown sounds boring as fudge (baloney and mustard sold separately).

CM Punk is hardly some super-fresh act himself, but he represents change on the blue brand at least. There'd be next to no call for yet another slice of Cody standing mid-ring in a suit with a beaming smile and microphone in hand as he single-handedly builds towards his next PLE clash by asking, "What do you want to talk about?".

We've been there, done that, and it needs a lengthy breather.

Rhodes regaining the WWE Title would put Smackers in a sleeper that even Gunther would be envious of. It simply cannot happen. Punk has to win out, Cody has to turn heel somewhere along the line, and we need to get something different from the final few months of 2026 on Friday nights. It's time, 'American Nightmare' fans. It's time.