Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that WWE officials’ original plans for the card of this August’s SummerSlam 2026 event was for the top matches to be CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan for the WWE Women’s World Championship.
Meltzer reported that Rhea Ripley’s injury did not affect the plans for SKY’s match at SummerSlam.
The other notable matches that were originally planned and have either been confirmed or yet to be confirmed are Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match, Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill, Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams for the WWE United States Championship, Gunter vs. Royce Keys, and Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) vs. Scream Mode (Paige & Brie Bella) for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In regards to Ripley, Meltzer reported that his sources confirmed that WWE officials’ original plans were for her to defend her WWE Women’s Championship against either Jacy Jayne or Alexa Bliss prior to her injury.
This year’s SummerSlam event takes place on August 1-2 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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