CM Punk made a surprise return to WWE's "Monday Night Raw" in Chicago on July 6, 2026, defeating Sami Zayn to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion. The victory marks Punk's return to major championship contention after a previous reign that ended with a loss to Roman Reigns.
The night's planned main event saw Sami Zayn set to defend his title against Cody Rhodes. However, an attack by Gunther on "Monday Night Raw" left Rhodes injured and unable to compete, leading WWE officials to rule him out of the match. With Rhodes sidelined, WWE General Manager Adam Pearce informed Zayn that he would still defend the championship.
The crowd in Chicago erupted with anticipation as the challenger for Zayn's title remained unknown. CM Punk's entrance was met with a massive ovation, and he quickly accepted the championship opportunity.
During the match, both competitors showcased strong performances. Zayn, demonstrating why he was champion, fought back from being thrown out of the ring. Punk countered with a series of offensive maneuvers, including an elbow drop from the top rope and an attempted Anaconda Vice submission hold. Zayn narrowly escaped the submission and nearly secured a pinfall with a roll-up.
The match saw back-and-forth action, with both wrestlers hitting their signature moves. Zayn landed a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Punk kicked out. Later, Punk reversed Zayn's attempted "Go to Sleep" finisher and utilized a suplex into the corner, a move often associated with Zayn. Punk ultimately secured the win after hitting Zayn with a "Helluva Kick" followed by his "Go to Sleep" finisher, pinning Zayn to end his nine-day championship reign.
With this victory, CM Punk is now positioned to enter SummerSlam as the Undisputed WWE Champion. His opponent for the event has yet to be determined.