According to PWInsider, word backstage at SummerSlam is that Kevin Owens is very close to returning to in-ring action. He has been on a hiatus since early 2025 due to a neck injury.
The belief backstage is that Owens will be a part of the SmackDown brand when he returns. He is currently in Minneapolis for SummerSlam 2026.

Update On Kevin Owens’ Return

PWInsider has revealed the following match order for tonight&#8217;s SummerSlam Saturday PLE:
1. Women&#8217;s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. &#8220;Queen of the Ring&#8221; IYO SKY
2. The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu and The Usos) vs. LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys
3. Gunther vs. Nick Aldis
4. The Bella Twins and Paige vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne and WWE Women&#8217;s Tag Team Champions Fallon Henley &amp; Lainey Reid)
5. Undisputed WWE Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
6. Hell in a Cell Match: Brock Lesnar vs. &#8220;King of the Ring&#8221; Oba Femi

Match Order For SummerSlam Saturday

As previously noted, the chairs at SummerSlam listed CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship as a Street Fight.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-209171" src="https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs.jpeg" alt="CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes is listed as a Street Fight on SummerSlam chairs" width="675" height="1200" srcset="https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs.jpeg 675w, https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs-576x1024.jpeg 576w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" />
However, that won&#8217;t be the case.
PWInsider is reporting that this match won&#8217;t be a Street Fight, and that the text on the chairs is an error.

Stipulation Shot Down For WWE Title Match At SummerSlam

According to PWInsider, Liv Morgan will defend the Women&#8217;s World Championship against &#8220;Queen of the Ring&#8221; IYO SKY in the opening match at SummerSlam Saturday tonight.
Morgan appeared on ESPN First Take to promote SummerSlam 2026 and ESPN decided to show a graphic that stated that Liv has 0 televised title defenses in her 100+ day title reign.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
ESPN did Liv Morgan dirty <a href="https://t.co/tY1nAoegaT">pic.twitter.com/tY1nAoegaT</a>
&mdash; WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) <a href="https://x.com/WrestleFeedApp/status/2083367043852877932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Morgan had the following to say about her lack of title defenses:
&#8220;All these girls were too scared to come after me, as they should be. These girls are scared, but they&#8217;re not dumb. I&#8217;m that iconic that I&#8217;ve been champion 100+ days and don&#8217;t need to prove myself by defending this championship.&#8221;

Opening Match For SummerSlam Saturday Revealed

WWE&#8217;s decision to introduce an Interim WWE Women&#8217;s Champion while Rhea Ripley recovers from injury has sparked plenty of debate among fans, with many questioning why the company didn&#8217;t simply vacate the title.
However, according to Fightful Select, the reaction backstage has been far more positive than the online discussion.
During a recent Q&#038;A, Fightful was asked whether there had been any negative response within WWE to the company creating an interim championship rather than stripping Ripley of the title and crowning a new champion outright.
Fightful noted that they have not heard of any significant criticism behind the scenes. There has reportedly been no eye-rolling or negative reaction from the roster regarding the decision.
Instead, the move is said to be viewed as WWE trying something different. While the concept of an interim champion has often been met with jokes and criticism from fans whenever it has been used in combat sports, WWE talent were generally happy about the opportunity created by the upcoming championship match.
An Interim WWE Women&#8217;s Champion will be crowned in a five-way ladder match at SummerSlam: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend.

WWE Roster’s Reaction To WWE Introducing Interim Title At SummerSlam

PWInsider has revealed the referees for SummerSlam Saturday:
&#8211; Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi — Hell in a Cell Match: Chad Patton
&#8211; Cody Rhodes (c) vs. CM Punk — Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Charles Robinson
&#8211; Gunther vs. Nick Aldis: Dan Engler
&#8211; Liv Morgan (c) vs. IYO SKY — Women&#8217;s World Championship Match: Jessika Carr
&#8211; The Bloodline vs. LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys: Darryl Sharma
&#8211; The Bella Twins and Paige vs. Fatal Influence: Daphne LaShaun

6 Referees For SummerSlam Saturday Revealed

The chairs at SummerSlam Saturday show that the Undisputed WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes is listed as a Street Fight:
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-209171" src="https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs.jpeg" alt="CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes is listed as a Street Fight on SummerSlam chairs" width="675" height="1200" srcset="https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs.jpeg 675w, https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://proapp.wwfoldschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CM-Punk-vs.-Cody-Rhodes-is-listed-as-a-Street-Fight-on-SummerSlam-chairs-576x1024.jpeg 576w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" />
As of this writing, WWE hasn&#8217;t officially announced this stipulation.
UPDATE: PWInsider is reporting that this match won&#8217;t be a Street Fight, and that the text on the chairs is an error.

Update On Kevin Owens’ Return

Match Order For SummerSlam Saturday

Stipulation Shot Down For WWE Title Match At SummerSlam

Opening Match For SummerSlam Saturday Revealed

WWE Roster’s Reaction To WWE Introducing Interim Title At SummerSlam

6 Referees For SummerSlam Saturday Revealed

Possible Change To Undisputed WWE Title Match At SummerSlam (Photo)