Cody Rhodes Wins No. 1 Contender Match, Sets July 7 Raw Title Bout With Sami Zayn

Q: Will CM Punk’s rumored Chicago return derail Cody Rhodes’ championship quest against Sami Zayn on Monday Night Raw?

Possibly, but there is no firm evidence yet that CM Punk will directly derail Cody Rhodes’ title match with Sami Zayn on Raw. What is confirmed is that Rhodes earned the No. 1 contender spot by beating Jey Uso at the SmackDown tapings, and he is now set to face Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Chicago’s Allstate Arena. It is also confirmed that Punk, who has been off WWE TV since the Raw after WrestleMania 42, is pushing hard for a return, and Chicago would be a natural place for WWE to bring him back given his hometown connection and the arena’s history of explosive crowds. The reason the rumor matters is the existing storyline overlap. Punk previously teased a future clash with Rhodes, and outside reports say WWE has discussed Punk vs. Rhodes as a possible major program, potentially for SummerSlam. That makes it plausible that a Punk appearance could interrupt the title match, distract Rhodes, or shift the spotlight away from Zayn’s reign. Still, nothing in the available reporting confirms Punk is booked for Monday, much less that he will interfere in the championship bout. WWE could just as easily use a Chicago return to set up a post-match angle, preserving the Rhodes-Zayn result while launching Punk’s next feud. So the most accurate read is that Punk’s rumored return is a credible wildcard, not a confirmed derailment. If he appears, Rhodes’ title quest could be affected; until WWE confirms the return, that remains speculation rather than fact.

3 articles · Updated · 411mania.com · Jun 30

Cody Rhodes secured the No. 1 contender spot at Monday’s SmackDown taping, booking an Undisputed WWE Championship match against Sami Zayn on next week’s Raw.
The result emerged through taping spoilers after Rhodes was listed to face Jey Uso for the shot, with the planned finish showing Rhodes advancing to the title bout.
July 7 Raw is set for Chicago’s Allstate Arena, where a possible CM Punk return remains unconfirmed after reports he has pushed hard to get back on WWE TV.
Next week’s SmackDown in Oklahoma City also set up a non-title match between United States Champion Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes.