We are officially on the road to Minneapolis, and the two-night card for SummerSlam 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium is shaping up to be an absolute minefield for WWE's creative team. We have reached that pivotal point of the summer where the storylines started at WrestleMania are either starting to bear fruit or beginning to smell like milk left out in the sun. The fans are hungry, the matches are massive, and the pressure is higher than it has been in years.
Let's be completely honest: some of these championships have been held for far too long by people who are running out of steam. We need changes, we need drama, and we need booking that does not play it safe. Here is exactly how every championship match should go down, with zero sugarcoating and all the heat you can handle.
The SmackDown Power Struggle
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (Undisputed WWE Championship)
Let's start with Cody Rhodes, a champion whose babyface act is finally starting to grow some gray hairs. His run at the top has been a massive success, but the clean-cut, flag-waving routine is starting to feel a bit too polished for its own good. Randy Orton, on the other hand, is still the most dangerous predator in this industry when he actually wants to be, and his recent heel turn was a work of art.
The RKO on Cody after their tag match in Chicago was executed with the kind of cold-blooded precision that only a veteran like Orton can deliver. It was not just a heel turn; it was a reminder that Orton is the final boss of psychological warfare in WWE. This match is going to be a slow, methodical beating where Orton systematically dismantles Cody's shoulder and mocks the crowd at every turn.
Orton needs to win this match to shake up the entire blue brand. Cody has held the gold for an incredible run, but a loss here will actually revitalize his character by giving him a mountain to climb again. Expect Orton to counter a Disaster Kick mid-air into an RKO, pinning Cody at the 21 minutes and 42 seconds mark to become a 15-time world champion.
LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes (United States Championship)
LA Knight has been a fun United States Champion, but the clock is ticking on his reign. He is still getting massive pops, but his matches have started to look like carbon copies of each other. Carmelo Hayes is the young, hungry star who needs a championship to solidify his spot on the main roster.
Hayes has the speed, the charisma, and the absolute arrogance that makes for a perfect midcard champion. This match should be a fast-paced sprint that highlights the contrast between Knight's power and Hayes' athleticism. Knight will hit the Blunt Force Trauma, but Hayes will get his foot on the bottom rope at the last second.
Hayes will then use a low blow while the referee is distracted, hit the Nothing But Net leg drop, and steal the championship. It is time to build for the future, and Hayes holding the United States title is the smartest way to do it.
Raw's Heavyweights and the End of a Saga
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (World Heavyweight Championship)
The feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre has been the best thing on television for the last two years. Every single promo has felt real, and the hatred between them is the most believable thing in wrestling. Now, Punk is holding the World Heavyweight Championship, and Drew is coming to end the saga once and for all, for the third time in their rivalry.
Let's address the elephant in the ring: CM Punk is now 47 years old, and his body is clearly struggling to keep up with his mind. He moves like a guy who just spent four hours trying to assemble flat-pack furniture, and every time he takes a German suplex, we all hold our breath. While his promo work is still elite, his in-ring speed has fallen off a cliff, and his matches are a physical struggle to watch.
McIntyre is in the absolute prime of his career and deserves a dominant run with the championship in front of live crowds. Having Punk retain would be a massive mistake that would stall the momentum of the entire Raw brand. Drew will block a Go To Sleep, hit a Glasgow Kiss, and follow it up with a devastating Claymore Kick to win the title.
Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov (Intercontinental Championship)
Bron Breakker has been an absolute wrecking ball with the Intercontinental Championship, running through opponents like a freight train. Ilja Dragunov is his opponent, and this match is going to be a car crash in the best possible way. These two have incredible chemistry from their time in NXT, and they will bring that same intensity to the big stage.
While Breakker has been dominant, Dragunov is the perfect underdog to finally dethrone him. Dragunov plays the resilient warrior better than anyone, and a win here would immediately elevate him to main-event status. After surviving multiple spears, Dragunov will hit a series of H-Bombs followed by the Torpedo Moscow to win the title and free Breakker for the main event scene.
The Women's Division Crossroads
Tiffany Stratton vs. Bianca Belair (WWE Women's Championship)
Tiffany Stratton is the best heel WWE has produced in years. Her cash-in was perfect, and her character work is incredibly entertaining. Challenger Bianca Belair is a spectacular athlete, but her 'invincible superhero' gimmick has become incredibly stale after months without any real character development.
If WWE is smart, they will keep the title on Stratton. Dropping it back to Bianca would feel like a massive regression and would kill all the momentum Stratton has built. Tiffany will retain after hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, cementing her status as the top star on the brand.
Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan (Women's World Championship)
Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan have been fighting over the Women's World Championship and Dominik Mysterio's loyalty for what feels like eternity. While the drama was fun at first, the constant interference from the Judgment Day has become incredibly repetitive. If I see Dominik drop a steel chair into the ring while the referee is conveniently distracted one more time, I might throw my television out the window.
Rhea Ripley is a once-in-a-generation star who does not need to be dragged down by this soap opera anymore. She needs to win the championship back, dismantle the Judgment Day, and move on to fresh opponents. Ripley will win the match after hitting a brutal Riptide on Liv, ending this feud and letting Rhea stand alone at the top of the mountain where she belongs.
Taking the Jump into the Future
SummerSlam 2026 has the potential to be a historic night, but only if WWE is willing to take risks. We do not need safe booking, we do not need predictable retention of titles, and we certainly do not need more interference-laden finishes. It is time to reward the performers who are in their prime and to pivot away from the acts that are starting to show their age.
If the creative team plays their cards right, we could be looking at a new golden era for the company. If they play it safe, we will just be waiting for the draft to save us from another year of stagnation.
