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Chicago wrestler CM Punk reclaims undisputed WWE championship

PUBLISHED Jul 8, 2026, 1:29 PM ET

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In Chicago on Monday night, CM Punk made a dramatic return to WWE’s “Monday Night Raw,” replacing an injured Cody Rhodes in the main event and defeating Sami Zayn to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship. Zayn, who had finally won the title just nine days earlier after a 24‑year career climb, reacted backstage with an emotional promo questioning how Punk received an immediate title opportunity after months away. His brief reign followed a triple-threat match at Night of Champions involving Rhodes and Gunther. With less than a month until SummerSlam in Minneapolis, Punk is now positioned as the defending champion.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Night of Champions, recent past Zayn wins triple-threat championship
Night of Champions, recent past Rhodes miscalculates Zayn, gets pinned
Last week Rhodes beats Jey Uso, top contender
Last week Gunther injures Rhodes before rematch
Monday night Punk returns on Raw, Chicago crowd
Monday night Punk replaces Rhodes, faces Zayn
Monday night Punk defeats Zayn, claims undisputed title
Next month Punk expected champion entering SummerSlam

News Intelligence

If you're a WWE fan, this is big. CM Punk's return shakes up the game. His win over Zayn means a fresh storyline for SummerSlam. It's a chance to see a seasoned champ defend his title. Keep an eye on the WWE Network for updates.