WWE Is Secretly Planning a Blockbuster CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes Feud, and It Could Happen Sooner Than You Think
Let’s be honest. CM Punk has been untouchable lately. The Second City Saint has spent most of 2025 as one of the top babyfaces in WWE, but right now, he is taking a well-deserved breather. The reason? A creative shake-up and the current world title picture.
But do not expect Punk to stay on the sidelines forever. In fact, the WWE universe might be on the verge of something massive.
According to Cory Hayes of False Finish, the working plan at some point is to finally put CM Punk in the ring with the face of the company, Cody Rhodes. This isn’t just wishful thinking either. Hayes noted that the seeds for this mega-feud were actually planted during Punk’s last appearance on WWE programming.
When asked if Punk would eventually move to SmackDown to make this happen, the reporter stayed vague on the brand switch, but he made one thing crystal clear: the Rhodes vs. Punk match is absolutely in the long-term plans.
So, when could this happen?
As of today, Punk is not scheduled to appear until the Night of Champions. After that, the door swings wide open. If Cody Rhodes manages to survive the powerhouse that is Gunther at the Clash in Italy, do not be surprised if Punk’s music hits and he sets his sights directly on the American Nightmare for SummerSlam 2026.
That would be the Biggest Party of the Summer, headlined by two of the biggest talkers and fighters in wrestling history.
And while we wait for that dream match, Punk is keeping busy in the real fight world. He was recently spotted at the MVP MMA 1 event in California, supporting his friend Ronda Rousey. Before Rousey’s quick clash with Gina Carano, someone asked Punk for his prediction.
The Best in the World smiled and said, “I would be remissed to not go with Ronda Rousey. She’s gonna march forward, she’s gonna clinch, she’s gonna throw, and she’s gonna armbar.”
Then, showing his human side, Punk added a hilarious shout-out: “Oh yeah, I wanna say hi to my beautiful wife, April. Honey, I’ll be home in 20 minutes.”
April, of course, is AJ Lee’s real name. And here is the wild part: Punk perfectly predicted the future. The fight ended in just 17 seconds with Rousey locking in an armbar for the tapout. Punk was right about the fight, and fans are hoping he is also right about his own timeline for returning to crush Cody Rhodes.
