Randy Orton puts his fangs into Cody Rhodes, costs him WWE title against CM Punk at SummerSlam

Cody Rhodes’ past came backmost to haunt him connected Saturday nighttime astatine SummerSlam.

Rhodes was successful the midst of challenging CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship successful 1 of the last matches of the nighttime astatine U.S. Bank Stadium successful Minneapolis. Rhodes and Punk were putting connected an epic show lone those 2 could deliver.

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Randy Orton delivers an RKO to Cody Rhodes during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Aug. 1, 2026, successful Minneapolis, Minn. (WWE via Getty Images)

Punk and Rhodes went counter-for-counter, trying to get an vantage connected 1 different arsenic they looked to beryllium the 1 holding the loop astatine the extremity of the match.

But neither could person prepared for a snake successful the grass.

Rhodes took retired the referee erstwhile helium was trying to deed a Cody Cutter from the apical rope. The assemblage started to buzz arsenic Randy Orton came done and got into the ring. "The Viper" deed Rhodes with an RKO retired of nowhere.

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Randy Orton looks connected during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Aug. 1, 2026, successful Minneapolis, Minn. (WWE via Getty Images)

Punk took vantage and deed Rhodes with a Go to Sleep and pinned Rhodes for the win.

Orton had been retired of enactment since helium mislaid to Rhodes astatine WrestleMania 42. Orton near with the precocious manus arsenic helium punted Rhodes successful the caput earlier helium near the ring. Rhodes was near bruised and battered that nighttime but was inactive the champion.

This time, Rhodes is leaving Minnesota stunned and without a championship.

Punk, connected the different hand, called retired astir everyone connected the SmackDown roster who could perchance measurement up to him arsenic a champion. Gunther could beryllium a anticipation aft helium defeated Nick Aldis during the night. Trick Williams was besides mentioned arsenic a imaginable contender.

CM Punk celebrates his triumph during SummerSlam astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Aug. 1, 2026, successful Minneapolis, Minn. (WWE via Getty Images)

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However, a No. 1 contender volition beryllium decided connected Night 2 of SummerSlam. Sami Zayn, who mislaid the rubric to Punk, volition spell up against Finn Balor.