CM Punk and Cody Rhodes already had plenty at stake heading into Saturday Night’s Main Event. Now, WWE has raised the stakes even further.
A major announcement on SmackDown has added new implications for the blockbuster tag team match. The announcement potentially reshapes the Undisputed WWE Championship picture at SummerSlam.
The development came during the opening segment of Friday night’s show after Gunther confronted management over his recent treatment on SmackDown.
WWE reveals SummerSlam title match stipulation for SNME main event
With Nick Aldis absent after Gunther’s attack last week, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce appeared as acting SmackDown General Manager. Pearce informed Gunther that if he and Sami Zayn defeat CM Punk and Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event, both men will be added to the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.
That means what is currently scheduled as Punk versus Rhodes would become a Fatal Four-Way featuring Gunther and Zayn.
Pearce also told Gunther that Aldis had planned to reveal the stipulation the previous week, but never had the chance after being attacked. He added that Aldis personally pushed for the tag team match to remain in place despite the assault.
The announcement gives Gunther and Zayn a direct path back into the championship picture. Gunther has repeatedly voiced his frustration over missing out on another title opportunity. Zayn also receives a golden opportunity after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Punk on the July 6 edition of Raw, just nine days after defeating Rhodes for the title in a Triple Threat Match that also involved Gunther at Night of Champions.
After learning about the stipulation, Gunther celebrated inside the ring before Cody Rhodes interrupted him. Rhodes immediately attacked The Ring General and brawled him out of the ring before asking Pearce to make a singles match between them official for later that night.
Saturday Night’s Main Event will now carry even greater consequences. Rather than serving as a preview of SummerSlam, the tag match could completely rewrite the championship landscape. As WWE heads toward its biggest party of the summer, one victory could turn a one-on-one showdown into a four-way collision.
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