Backstage WWE Rumors on Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and More

WWE will present SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis this weekend, and the pro wrestling rumor mill is red-hot with updates on the top stars set for the two-night premium live event.

CM Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in the main event on Saturday, and both men find themselves at the forefront of buzz entering the contest.

What is the latest on champion and challenger? Find out with this collection of insider reports.

Latest on a Cody Rhodes Heel Turn

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Ibou of Self Made Pro reported that any plan to turn former undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes heel will be "completely up to Cody."

The top babyface in the company since his arrival in 2022, and the man whose emotional journey to finish his story produced the highest-grossing run in WWE history, Rhodes has earned significant trust within the company and the right to decide if and when he makes a turn of that magnitude.

Recently, there has been greater fan demand for it as "Cody fatigue" takes hold, but an ill-advised change in character can do months of damage creatively, as we found out last year with John Cena.

Rhodes has shown flashes of an edgier, more desperate side of himself lately, and his "I need to beat you" declaration to current champ CM Punk echoes "Stone Cold" Steve Austin ahead of WrestleMania X-Seven, when Austin shocked fans by aligning himself with Vince McMahon.

Whether history repeats itself will be up to The American Nightmare, and we could get an answer as soon as the main event of Saturday's SummerSlam card.

Original Plans for CM Punk

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Ibou also reported that the original plan for the feud with Rhodes was for Punk to be a heel.

That has clearly not been the case, and as the report stated, should not be expected as The Best in the World has grown too popular.

Punk is the most organically over babyface on the roster, a guy who has equity built up with the audience. The fans appreciate he is real with them, can get them to invest themselves emotionally, and love him for two decades of excellence on the mic and in the ring.

The fact that he never feels played out, even after spending the last two years at or near the top of the card, certainly doesn't hurt.

Punk comes across as the genuine article in a way some others do not, and fans appreciate that element of his presentation. It is no surprise that, in the shiny world of WWE, a tattooed rebel is as beloved as he is.

Triple H's Role in Oba Femi-Brock Lesnar Raw Segment

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Though he was in the middle of the ring for the weigh-in on Raw Monday night, Triple H was still in control of everything that happened, PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported.

The WWE chief content officer even called audibles during the segment, specifically regarding Femi manhandling the police officers.

The report noted that the segment was originally scheduled for later in the show, but there is no indication of why it will now open the event instead.

Oba Femi battles Brock Lesnar in the third match of their trilogy Saturday night at SummerSlam, in just the second Hell in a Cell match to ever take place at the annual summertime spectacular.