WWE SummerSlam has a WrestleMania flair. For the second year, SummerSlam takes place over two nights. The additional day requires more matches and more big names. This year’s card already has meat on the bones with names like Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar.

Reigns defends the world heavyweight title against a name he can’t seem to shake. Seth Rollins has been Reigns’ chief ally and mortal enemy for 14 years. The ex-Shield allies tangle again for one of WWE’s top prizes. There’s also the rubber match between Lesnar and Oba Femi. The only thing that can confine such behemoths is Hell in a Cell.

CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes is a more recent addition to the list. Punk is the new undisputed WWE champion, and Rhodes is owed a title match. The three matches rounding out the confirmed card include the women’s world champion and men’s intercontinental champion.

Take a look below at the confirmed matches for SummerSlam and take a glance at the crystal ball of what may come. The event streams live on ESPN Unlimited on Aug 2 and 3, with the main card starting at 6 p.m. ET.

2026 WWE SummerSlam matches

Undisputed WWE Championship — CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: WWE teased this match the night after WrestleMania 42. Three months later, they meet for SmackDown’s top prize. Both men were world champions heading into Mania, but only Rhodes left Las Vegas with his title. Rhodes offered Punk a title shot anytime, but they’ve since swapped places. Punk defeated Sami Zayn for the undisputed title. He was never the planned challenger. Punk made his surprise return, replacing Rhodes after Gunther laid him out. Rhodes deserved the title shot he never got, making this booking a no-brainer. 

World Heavyweight Championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins: Could Reigns and Rollins meet for the final time at SummerSlam? That was Rollins’ suggestion ahead of their world title match. Reigns and Rollins cut their teeth in The Shield before becoming cornerstones of the modern era. They meet once again at what has definitively become the promotion’s second biggest show of the year.

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (Hell in a Cell match): Apparently, some things are more important than world titles. Femi won the King of the Ring tournament at Night of Champions, earning him a world title shot at SummerSlam. However, Femi forewent that opportunity in pursuit of a bigger fish. Femi and Lesnar are tied one each in their series, which took place across WrestleMania and Clash in Italy. They will collide for the third, and seemingly final, time at SummerSlam, confined inside Hell in a Cell.

Women’s World Championship — Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky: Familiar faces meet in a new setting. Last month, Morgan and Sky met in the Queen of the Ring tournament finals. They had different objectives in mind that evening. Sky looked to earn a world title shot, while Morgan sought to conquer both brands. Sky won that evening, and cleverly chose to challenge the world champion that she had just beaten. Now, Morgan must forget her conqueror ambitions and defend her throne.

Intercontinental Championship — Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable: Gable keeps momentum after the El Grande Americano saga in AAA. Gable won a seven-man gauntlet — also featuring Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Ethan Page, Je’Von Evans, Joe Hendry and Rusev — to earn a shot at Penta. Once lucha libre’s biggest denouncer, Gable has developed a deep respect for Penta’s style.

The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) vs. LA Knight, Royce Keys and Solo Sikoa: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That motif is the glue upon which Knight, Keys and Sikoa’s loose alliance hinges. All three men have issues with The Bloodline, leading to a six-man tag team match against Fatu and The Usos.

Interim WWE Women’s Championship — Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA (Ladder match): WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley is sidelined with a torn meniscus. WWE believes she’s close to a return, but the uncertain timeline inspired this interim title match. It’s the first time the company has ever booked an interim main roster title match. The winner will eventually unify titles with Ripley.

2026 WWE SummerSlam predictions

Gunther vs. Sami Zayn or Nick Aldis: “The Ring General” has multiple directions to go ahead of SummerSlam. He and SmackDown general manager Aldis were indefinitely suspended after getting physical on Raw. That sparked rumors that Aldis, a former NWA world heavyweight champion, was preparing for his WWE in-ring debut. After attacking Rhodes, Gunther warned Zayn that they had unfinished business. 

United States Championship — Trick Williams (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Baron Corbin: There’s a three-man race in the U.S. title picture. Hayes challenged for the title on July 10, but the ending was inconclusive after a returning Corbin struck down both men. If the program continues beyond SmackDown, the three may meet in a triple threat match.

Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria: Bayley and Valkyria are telling a tale as old as time. After failing to capture the WWE women’s tag team titles, Valkyria turned on her mentor. The natural progression is a match between master and pupil. WWE might save the feud for TV, but it’s a suitable inclusion in SummerSlam’s robust two-day schedule.