CM Punk and Cody Rhodes defeated GUNTHER and Sami Zayn in a tag team match at WWE Saturday Night Main Event. The event took place at Madison Square Garden on July 18, 2026. The winners of the match were scheduled to earn a spot in the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.
GUNTHER and Sami Zayn needed the victory to join the title picture at the upcoming pay per view. The match featured strong exchanges between the two teams throughout the contest. In the later stages, GUNTHER gained control after the referee was down. He struck Cody Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. GUNTHER then delivered a powerbomb to Rhodes. A new referee entered the ring and began the count.
At that point, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis appeared at ringside. Aldis pulled the referee out of the ring. He then hit GUNTHER with the WWE Championship belt. This action allowed Punk and Rhodes to recover and secure the pinfall victory.
Nick Aldis had been involved in a prior confrontation with GUNTHER. The incident occurred after WWE Night of Champions. At that event, Sami Zayn defeated GUNTHER and Cody Rhodes in a triple threat match to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. Following the show, GUNTHER confronted Aldis backstage. The two engaged in a physical altercation. As a result, both GUNTHER and Aldis were sent home from WWE programming. Aldis was placed on administrative leave for a period of time.
The interference by Aldis prevented GUNTHER and Sami Zayn from advancing to the SummerSlam title match. CM Punk and Cody Rhodes maintained their positions in the championship picture following the tag team win.