New WWE SummerSlam 2026 Match Card Predictions After Night of Champions

With the 2026 King and Queen of the Ring crowned, WWE is officially en route to SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.

Night of Champions gave longtime fans the best feel-good ending of the year so far, as Sami Zayn secured his first WWE world championship win. This was the refreshing change of pace the brand needed because it had grown stagnant following WrestleMania season. 

The only title change of the night showed us that the company could still catch even the most knowledgeable fans off guard. Hopefully, the Biggest Party of the Summer has surprises in store for the second most significant premium live event of the year. 

Iyo Sky already confirmed that she intends to challenge Liv Morgan for the women's world championship. However, Zayn's win could change the speculation surrounding Oba Femi's upcoming opponent.

WWE still has a month to assemble the lineup for the two-night event, and so much could change before August. Nonetheless, these are our updated SummerSlam card predictions.

Gunther vs. Nick Aldis

This prediction may seem like a stretch, but it's not that far-fetched following Gunther's backstage altercation with Nick Aldis. 

After Night of Champions, The Ring General confronted SmackDown's general manager about the outcome of the main event. The two ultimately got into a scuffle after the Austrian wrestler claimed Aldis was jealous of his success. 

The 39-year-old hasn't competed in a match since 2023, but it can't be a coincidence that Gunther called him a failed wrestler. That's obviously not true because the two-time NWA world heavyweight champion enjoyed a 20-year career, including a run with TNA, before he joined WWE as an authority figure. 

This development could lead Aldis to lace up his boots one more time for his WWE in-ring debut. It's not the most exciting matchup for Gunther, but it does fit his career-killer gimmick. 

Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill 

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Tension has been building between Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill all year, but it reached its breaking point during the Queen of the Ring tournament. 

The Queen won the first round match, costing her latest rival the chance to become a two-time winner. In return, Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin attacked Flair before her semifinals match, leaving her at a severe disadvantage against Liv Morgan.

Nevertheless, Flair exacted revenge on the trio at Night of Champions and helped Tiffany Stratton retain the women's United States title. Although the two seemed destined to face each other at WrestleMania, SummerSlam could be the destination for their first one-on-one match.

It's unclear when Rhea Ripley will return from her injury, but this feud could also culminate in a triple-threat match for the WWE Women's Championship. 

The Usos vs The Street Profits

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The Street Profits aligned with Seth Rollins to take down The Vision, which could pit them against The Bloodline.

The Visionary may need the new world tag team champions' help again to even the odds against the popular Samoan stable. This could reignite their 2022 feud with The Usos, who lost the titles on March 30 to Logan Paul and Austin Theory.

Raw could use a high-profile match like this to highlight its tag division again, and The Street Profits already have history with Jey and Jimmy Uso. The Usos' last reign also didn't exactly remind us of their former glory, but a renewed focus on what they do best could be the direction they need right now.

WWE has planted the seeds for some interesting storylines involving Main Event Jey, but this SummerSlam rematch would be a great addition to this year's card

Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk 

CM Punk is reportedly set to return as a member of the SmackDown roster, setting up a long-awaited match with Cody Rhodes. 

It's a bit surprising that two haven't faced each other on The Grandest Stage of Them All yet, but this is the perfect scenario. This gives The American Nightmare a marquee non-title match for SummerSlam and Punk a strong follow-up to his second WrestleMania main event appearance. 

The upcoming two-night event could use as much star power as possible, and this is a blockbuster matchup with or without the world title. It would also allow them to lay the groundwork for a rematch somewhere down the line.

Rhodes vs. Zayn is also a strong possibility, but this option is much more exciting because WWE has teased it so many times already.

Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

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Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns seems like a safe bet after the Night of Champions post-show. 

During his appearance, Rollins said there were two things on his mind when he returned earlier this year. His first objective was to end The Vision, and his second was to regain the world heavyweight championship.

"And the current holder of that championship is none other than Roman Reigns," Rollins said. "However, there is a giant wedge in between myself and Roman Reigns right now, and that man's name is Oba Femi, because Oba's got himself a shot for the title of his choosing at SummerSlam."

Femi could open the next episode of Raw and put all of this speculation to rest when he challenges The Tribal Chief. However, The Ruler still has unfinished business with Lesnar, and Rollins and Reigns will undoubtedly face each other this year.

It's easier to believe that Zayn will be a transitional champion than that WWE would drag both rivalries past SummerSlam.

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar

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Brock Lesnar's hometown will host SummerSlam this year, which means he will more than likely end up on this card. 

The Beast Incarnate has also had many career highlights at The Biggest Party of the Summer. So, it was always hard to imagine he would miss his signature event, even when he seemingly retired at WrestleMania 42. 

After their second encounter at Clash in Italy, everyone expects him to complete the trilogy with Oba Femi. It's not ideal, but don't be surprised if Lesnar defeats Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Saturday Night's Main Event on July 18.

WWE needs a big title match for the special, which takes place at Madison Square Garden. This would also allow Roman Reigns to avoid Femi for a little while longer. It's too soon for them to collide, and the company probably isn't ready to give the newcomer a win of that magnitude yet. 

It makes much more sense for the King of the Ring winner to challenge Lesnar and attempt to retire him in Minneapolis.