Written by Tyler Yasembousky
Since 1988, SummerSlam has been WWE’s signature summer event. This year, the event will take place over two nights —Saturday, August 1 and Sunday August 2—from the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
SummerSlam 2026 features a number of high profile matches, including the heavily hyped Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk, the long-running Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns feud, and the (hopeful) conclusion to Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi’s rivalry … in Hell in a Cell.
SummerSlam 2026 will air in the U.S. on the ESPN app.
SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 (Saturday August 1)
Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan © vs. “The Genius of the Sky” Io Skye
Thoughts: Liv has been champion 100 days…she’s had zero title defenses in that time. Her title reign has been booked HORRENDOUSLY. And the most confusing part is if you watch Unreal Season 3, it’s Triple H talking about how Liv’s gonna be the next huge star, potentially bigger than anyone in the company’s history.
But then, in reality, he had nothing prepared or ready for her. His only plan was to get her the title and then what? With that said, I do hope Liv loses to Iyo just for the hilarious stat line of 100 days as champion and losing on her first defense. I think it works for her character too, for people to throw that in her face, which drives Liv nuts; she starts taking it out on Raquel and Roxy. There’s some good story here. I don’t trust WWE to actually make something interesting happen from this, they haven’t cared about this division, so why start now?
Prediction: Liv retains and faces Stephanie again.
Hell in a Cell: “The Beast” Brock Lesnar vs. “The Ruler” Oba Femi
Thoughts: I wanted this feud. Oba is the perfect guy for Brock to put over on his way out. The feud itself has been meh at best for me, as it’s been too much talking and too little actual fighting. These two should have been attacking each other week after week messing up RAW and making Pearce furious and that’s how it leads to HIAC. Instead, the heel challenged the baby face to HIAC? I legitimately don’t think that’s ever happened before. Because … it shouldn’t happen.
Prediction: Oba wins; Brock retires for good.
Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk © vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
Thoughts: Why are we doing this now? With no proper build! This should be a WrestleMania main event. It could have been last year’s main event and it certainly could be this year. But yeah, let’s do it at SummerSlam two weeks out with no real storyline.
Cody can’t win the belt back already unless he’s turning heel. Which I don’t think he is. I think we may see Punk cheat to win potentially though.
Prediction: CM Punk retains and beats Cody
Six Woman Tag Match: Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Laney Reid) vs. The Bellas and Paige
Thoughts: I gotta be honest, I do not care about this feud even slightly. Just let Paige be a solo wrestler again please.
Prediction: Fatal Influence wins, The Bellas turn on Paige
Six Man Tag Match: The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu and The Usos) vs. LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys
Thoughts: I also don’t care about this feud either. The Bloodline is doing nothing for me. It’s been four years, man. How could anyone care about this any more?
Prediction: Bloodline wins lol
“The Ring General” Gunther vs. Nick Aldis
Thoughts: I’m a mark for in-ring action, so this is the match I’m looking forward to seeing the most at SummerSlam. Aldis is a former TNA and NWA World Champion. Dude is so underrated it’s crazy. Gunther might be one of the best wrestlers alive. So this is gonna be fantastic.
Prediction: Gunther wins but Nick looks great in defeat
SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 (Sunday August 2)
World Heavyweight Championship: “The OTC” Roman Reigns vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Thoughts: I really wanna care about this feud because of their history but we’ve been there and done that. Over and over and over again.
Prediction: Roman wins. Please just have these two kiss already. I mean, that’s what’s really going on, right?
Men’s International Title Match: Penta © vs. Chad Gable
Thoughts: This is the match I’m looking forward to the most for Night 2. Chad HAS TO WIN. PENTA has been an incredible Intercontinental Champion but it’s time for Gable to get his moment. I expect this to be a back and forth war.
Prediction: Chad wins and becomes champion
Winner Keeps the $100,000 Danhausen Stole: “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. “Very Nice, Very Evil” Danhausen
Thoughts: Boy that segment on RAW was complete dog crap wasn’t it. I was embarrassed just watching it. I like both guys but I’ve hated this.
Prediction: Danhausen wins
#1 Contender for the U.S. Title Match: Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn
Thoughts: Speaking of thrown together, this match came out of nowhere. Legitimately just booked for the sake of getting both guys on the show. With that said, both are incredible wrestlers. So it should be good.
Prediction: Balor wins, Sami spirals more.
Men’s US Title Match: Trick Williams © vs. Baron Corbin
Thoughts: Poor Carmelo Hayes man. He missed out on a WM match, now a SummerSlam match with Trick. I don’t know what the heck they are waiting for – the story writes itself. Instead Baron Corbin gets to cut the line?
Prediction: Trick wins, but don’t be shocked if Corbin wins either
Five-Way Ladder Match for the Interim Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green vs. Jade Cargill vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia or Lash Legend
Thoughts: Why isn’t this for the actual women’s title? Rhea has been hurt and off television for over a month. Remember when that was an actual rule—if you had to defend the title within a month or you’d be stripped? Those were the good old days. Those were the good old days.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair wins
