Predicting WWE SummerSlam 2026 Winners, Surprise Returns and Bold Booking Calls

WWE presents its annual spectacular, SummerSlam, live from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis this Saturday and Sunday.

The show features a packed lineup across two nights, headlined by two world title matches, an interim championship ladder match and the return of Hell in a Cell for the first time in two years.

What does the card look like, who should fans expect to have their arms raised in victory, and what are some surprise returns and booking calls to expect?

Find out in this preview, including predictions for the entire event.

Non-Title Match Predictions

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics

Oba Femi

The Bella Twins and Paige vs. Fatal Influence

Nikki Bella is back and, though she has lost more than she has won, this does not feel like the time or place for the babyfaces to eat defeat. The former Total Divas castmates win here to extend the rivalry with Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid, and Fallon Henley.

Prediction: The Bella Twins and Paige

No. 1 Contender's Match: Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn

A win for Zayn keeps him in the main event mix, but Balor has as much momentum as he has had in years. Whether it is a battle with fellow former Bullet Club member Cody Rhodes or the rekindling of his rivalry with CM Punk, there are more interesting paths for him as the top contender.

Prediction: Balor

Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio

A match with plenty of hijinx and shenanigans, this could be the most fun contest of the weekend. With that said, Danhausen is a cash cow for WWE, and this is not the match in which he should suffer his first televised defeat, especially considering how cold Mysterio is at this point.

Prediction: Danhausen

LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys vs. The Usos and Jacob Fatu

Expect heavy drama and story in this one, especially with The Bloodline as omnipresent as it is. Knight, Sikoa and Keys need the win more, but expect someone in creative to jump hurdles explaining why Jimmy, Jey, and Fatu should get their arms raised.

Prediction: The Bloodline

Nick Aldis vs. Gunther

Expect a better match than you think. Aldis is a gamer, as evidenced by his fantastic showdown with Cody Rhodes at All In 2019, and Gunther is among the best wrestlers in the world. With that said, if the SmackDown general manager wins, John Cena should come out of retirement and beat everyone on the roster out of spite alone.

Prediction: Gunther

Hell in a Cell: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar

The Beast Incarnate will put Femi over in the concluding match in their rivalry, just as The Undertaker did for him inside Hell in a Cell in 2002. If not, it will be a creative misstep so large even the aforementioned Cena's heel turn of 2025 will cringe. This one is all about firmly establishing The Ruler as a main event draw.

Prediction: Femi

Championship Match Predictions

Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images

United States Championship: Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin

The product of a sneak attack by Corbin after SmackDown went off the air Friday, Trick Willy will defend his title against the returning star in the latest championship clash added to this year's show. Williams is incredibly over, but booking Corbin to lose his first match back is counterproductive.

Prediction: Corbin wins the title

Intercontinental Championship: Penta vs. Chad Gable

Gable's entire redemption story has been geared toward him winning a championship that has eluded him his entire WWE career. Doing so by beating Penta and earning the respect of the top luchador in the company is the most appropriate conclusion.

Prediction: Gable wins the title

Women's World Championship: Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan

Sky defeated Morgan at Night of Champions to win the Queen of the Ring tournament and set this match up. Considering the women's division has been on hold until Stephanie Vaquer returns to set up her inevitable WrestleMania 43 rematch with Morgan, the champion retains here.

Prediction: Morgan retains the title

Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match

Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton have already qualified for the match, while Giulia will square off with Lash Legend to determine the final entrant on Friday's SmackDown.

The creative before WWE women's champion Rhea Ripley suffered a knee injury seemed to be leading to another entry in her rivalry with Flair. If that is the case, The Queen returns to her throne and wins the ladder match. If not, give the title to the beloved Green.

Either way, look for Blake Monroe to interfere and prevent hometown hero Stratton from capturing her second title.

Prediction: Flair wins title No. 15

World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

The entire multi-year story between these two is leading to Reigns proving he is mentally strong enough to overcome the past and exorcise his Rollins demon. A swerve could happen, but this feels like a match The Tribal Chief is destined to win.

Prediction: Reigns retains the title

Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes

It is too early to take the title off Punk. Add to that a rivalry still in its infancy, and there is plenty of reason for The Best in the World to fend off Rhodes and retain the belt in Minneapolis, especially from a long-term booking perspective.

Prediction: Punk retains the title

Bold Booking Decision: Rhodes Gives In To Desperation

Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images

Cody Rhodes has done everything right.

He overcame nepo-baby claims, left WWE on his own terms, promoted All In in a 10,000-seat arena when no one thought it possible, revolutionized the industry by co-founding All Elite Wrestling with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and Tony Khan, and returned to the industry's top promotion as a conquering hero.

He overcame injury, won the men's Royal Rumble match, shook off a crushing defeat at the hands of Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, won a second Rumble, and ended The Tribal Chief's historic run against the odds.

He has stood as WWE's franchise face, a hero to millions and arguably the top babyface in the industry. At the same time, a portion of the audience is growing weary of the "golden boy" always coming out on top.

With the weight of the business on his shoulders and desperation to be champion for the fourth time adding to it, he enters SummerSlam and his main event against CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship with a clear path toward an eagerly anticipated heel turn.

"I need to beat you, Rock. I need it more than you could ever imagine," Steve Austin told his WrestleMania X-Seven opponent before their iconic clash, which ended when ol' Stone Cold accepted the assistance of Mr. McMahon to regain the WWE Championship that had eluded him.

It is that same desperation to be the guy in WWE that fuels Rhodes and should result in him fully embracing the dark side that we got glimpses of in his WrestleMania 42 match against Randy Orton.

This is an edgier Rhodes, a Superstar who has experienced the high of being champion and is not ready to relinquish it, especially to a man who has been so influential in his career.

While some would expect Punk to turn, WWE can take a massive swing at a time when it needs it most with a heel turn that alters the course of Rhodes' immediate future and injects the product with much-needed freshness and excitement.

Surprise Return: Stephanie Vaquer

Rich Wade/WWE Via Getty Images

Stephanie Vaquer recently appeared as part of WWE's presence at Fanatics Fest, perhaps evidence of an impending return.

There would be no bigger stage this summer for the former women's world champion to make her comeback and reignite her rivalry with Liv Morgan than SummerSlam.

While Morgan should retain her title, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez are likely to be in the vicinity, and a post-match beatdown of Iyo Sky could set up La Primera to make the save to a big pop.

If so, expect the fall months to be dedicated to the Chile-born competitor chasing the title she never should have lost at The Showcase of the Immortals.

Potential sleeper candidate: Randy Orton, avenging his WrestleMania loss to Rhodes