The Biggest Questions WWE Must Answer After SummerSlam 2026 Night 1

On the heels of a buzzworthy first night of WWE SummerSlam 2026, which saw Oba Femi defeat Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell and CM Punk retain the Undisputed WWE Championship over Cody Rhodes following interference from Randy Orton, there are a few questions WWE must answer.

What are they and how might they impact the product's future?

Find out in this recap of Saturday's presentation of the summertime spectacular.

How To Sustain Oba Femi's Momentum

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As SummerSlam went off the air, it became incredibly apparent that Oba Femi is the next big thing in WWE. If you don't believe it, listen to the commentary team and his opponent, Brock Lesnar, as they verbally crowned him in the closing moments of the broadcast.

The question facing WWE is how it manages to maintain the undeniable momentum The Ruler has on his side following the biggest win of his career, when it is obvious that the company would love for him to win the Royal Rumble and challenge for either of the top titles at WrestleMania 43.

Piling up meaningful wins against opponents with credibility will be key, but when a large portion of those stars on the Raw brand are Bloodline members, does WWE threaten to tip its hand creatively too soon and leave no drama surrounding the eventual path to the biggest show of the year?

Or is Femi's journey to immortality not linked to the flagship, as we saw CM Punk call him out Saturday night on the ESPN post-show?

Only WWE knows the answers. If they do not, they best figure them out so that the hottest star in the company is not left wandering aimlessly until it is time to start the build to next year's Showcase of the Immortals.

Who Is Next for Liv Morgan?

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The Raw women's division is nowhere near as strong as it was at the beginning of the year. As a result, WWE faces a situation where its Women's World Champion, Liv Morgan, has no obvious next opponent coming off of her first title defense in her 100 days with the gold.

Sol Ruca could be the next contender, and there is a basis for a rivalry after Morgan cost her the Women's Intercontinental Championship against her fellow Judgment Day teammate, Raquel Rodriguez.

Stephanie Vaquer could step up and challenge the woman who defeated her for the gold at WrestleMania. There is no word, though, on whether she is cleared to compete after suffering a shoulder injury sometime around the April event.

Barring a return and sudden babyface turn by Becky Lynch, or an impromptu push for Bayley amid her expiring contract, there are no other obvious opponents to choose from aside from, maybe, her teammate Roxanne Perez. It feels too early in that story to go down that road right now.

The lack of forethought behind the women's division of late is becoming a disappointing and worrisome pattern in WWE and one that must be addressed as the company puts SummerSlam in its rearview mirror. Especially given the strength and quality of Morgan's victory over Sky.

Will We Get A Proper Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Feud?

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The build to Rhodes and Orton's WrestleMania 42 Saturday main event was, to put it bluntly, asinine. The involvement of Pat McAfee and Jellyroll, the interference from TKO's big wigs, and the crowd's unwillingness to accept The Viper as a heel amid Rhodes fatigue undermined the entire program and resulted in one of the most bizarre main events in the Showcase of the Immortals' modern history.

Orton returned to WWE TV for the first time since losing to The American Nightmare on Saturday in Minneapolis, costing him the Undisputed WWE Championship Match against CM Punk.

In a perfect world, WWE is preparing to atone for its creative disaster earlier this year by giving fans the Orton-Rhodes program they deserve. It should be one built on The Legend Killer's former mentorship of his rival, their former friendship, and the heated rivalry that now supersedes the top prize in the company.

Otherwise, there is no reason to revisit the program outside of Rhodes avenging the punt that left him nearly eyeless at the close of WrestleMania.