WWE Raw Sets 3 Title Defenses for July 6 Championship Monday

Q: Did CM Punk's rumored return in Chicago derail the WWE Championship match?

Yes. CM Punk’s return in Chicago did not merely add buzz to the show; it changed the WWE Championship main event. The advertised match for Raw’s “Championship Monday” was Sami Zayn defending the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. But according to the additional reporting, Rhodes was attacked backstage by Gunther before the bout and was ruled medically unable to compete. That forced WWE officials to alter the main event. Punk then made his return in his hometown and was inserted as Zayn’s replacement challenger. Reports in the provided material say he went on to defeat Zayn and leave Chicago as the new WWE Champion. In that sense, the rumored return effectively derailed the originally scheduled Zayn-Rhodes title match, even if the immediate cause was Rhodes being taken out of action. The broader context also supports that Punk’s involvement was more than a one-night surprise. Pre-show speculation had already linked him to the WWE title picture and even to possible SummerSlam plans involving Cody Rhodes. So while Punk did not personally cause the original match to fall apart, his return became the decisive factor in how the championship scene was reshaped on Raw.

Q: Why did Oba Femi forfeit his guaranteed SummerSlam title shot for a match against Brock Lesnar?

Oba Femi gave up the guaranteed SummerSlam title shot because, in storyline, he chose revenge over championship timing. After winning King of the Ring, Femi was attacked by Brock Lesnar following verbal shots between them, and with their feud tied 1-1, he pushed for a decisive third match. Lesnar then raised the stakes to Hell in a Cell, and Femi accepted, saying he could pursue a world title later. That explanation fits what Femi addressed on the July 6 “Championship Monday” Raw in Chicago, where he spoke about stepping aside from the title opportunity Seth Rollins ultimately claimed for his SummerSlam match with Roman Reigns. WWE framed Femi’s decision as a personal one: settling unfinished business with Lesnar mattered more to him than cashing in the guaranteed shot immediately. Reports also point to a clear booking reason behind the angle. According to Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, WWE wants to delay Femi’s major title coronation and continue building him as a dominant long-term star. The idea is that his biggest championship win is being saved for a larger stage, potentially WrestleMania 43, rather than SummerSlam. So the short answer is that Femi’s choice served both the story and the company’s long-term plans: he wanted revenge on Lesnar now, while WWE wanted to postpone his defining world-title moment.

2 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jul 5

Three championship matches are now official for WWE Raw on July 6 in Chicago, with Adam Pearce branding the show "Championship Monday" four weeks before SummerSlam.
Sami Zayn will defend the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes after Rhodes earned a rematch by beating Jey Uso in a No. 1 contender match.
Sol Ruca puts the Women's Intercontinental title on the line against Raquel Rodriguez, while the Street Profits defend the World Tag Team titles against Austin Theory and Bron Breakker in a rematch.
Seth Rollins is set to open the Netflix broadcast after seizing a World Heavyweight title shot against Roman Reigns, and Oba Femi will explain why he chose Brock Lesnar in Hell in a Cell over a guaranteed SummerSlam world-title match.
The stacked card positions Raw as a key setup show for SummerSlam, with speculation also swirling around a possible CM Punk appearance in his hometown of Chicago.