CM Punk wins WWE title on Raw as Gunther attacks Cody Rhodes
CM Punk returned to WWE on the July 6 edition of Monday Night Raw in Chicago and defeated Sami Zayn to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody Rhodes was unable to compete after Gunther attacked him in the opening segment, clearing the path for Punk to replace Rhodes and end Zayn's brief title reign.
The headline result from WWE's Championship Monday show resets the top of the card just weeks before SummerSlam. For readers following major live-entertainment and streaming shifts in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage, Punk's return is the kind of shock that drives subscriptions and social buzz.
Key Takeaways
- CM Punk beat Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
- Gunther's attack on Cody Rhodes in the cold open removed Rhodes from the scheduled title match.
- The Vision regained the World Tag Team Championship from The Street Profits.
- Sol Ruca retained the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Raquel Rodriguez.
- Seth Rollins opened Raw addressing his SummerSlam World Heavyweight title match with Roman Reigns.
What happened on WWE Raw July 6, 2026?
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce had branded the episode Championship Monday, with three title matches on the card at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Sami Zayn was set to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes, nine days after beating Rhodes and Gunther at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.
Instead, Gunther kicked off the show with a brutal surprise attack on Rhodes during the cold open. Rhodes could not compete, and CM Punk stepped in as his replacement in the main event. Punk conquered Zayn to capture the title in his hometown, according to WWE's official results page.
Why did CM Punk replace Cody Rhodes?
The storyline pivot began when Gunther assaulted Rhodes before the advertised championship bout. With Rhodes ruled out, WWE inserted Punk into the match against Zayn. Yahoo Sports reported that Punk returned in strong physical shape after adding muscle during his post-WrestleMania absence.
The finish echoed a famous wrestling switch, with Forbes comparing Punk swooping in for the WWE Title to Hulk Hogan's moment at WrestleMania IX. Zayn's reign, which had sparked hope for a fresh direction atop WWE, ended after little more than a week on top.
What else changed on Championship Monday?
Beyond the main event, two other advertised title bouts produced new champions or retained gold. The Vision's Bron Breakker and Austin Theory reclaimed the World Tag Team Championship from The Street Profits. WWE said Logan Paul introduced brass knuckles into the match before Maxxine Dupri hit a low blow on Angelo Dawkins, allowing Theory to pin Dawkins.
Sol Ruca retained the Women's Intercontinental Championship over Raquel Rodriguez after IYO SKY neutralized Women's World Champion Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. Seth Rollins opened the broadcast discussing his upcoming World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Oba Femi also confronted Paul Heyman about his upcoming Hell in a Cell match against Brock Lesnar.
What does this mean for SummerSlam?
Sports Illustrated had billed the July 6 Raw as a key stop for the Undisputed WWE Championship picture with SummerSlam approaching. Punk's win instantly makes him the focal point of that division, while Rhodes is left seeking a rematch after being cost the match.
Rollins versus Reigns was already building toward SummerSlam before Raw, according to WWE. Punk's coronation adds another marquee world-title thread alongside Oba Femi's Hell in a Cell bout with Lesnar and raises the stakes for whatever WWE books next on SmackDown and Raw.