A highly anticipated match is set for SummerSlam as newly crowned Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk prepares to defend his title against Cody Rhodes.

This championship bout marks a significant development, as it pits two prominent figures against each other for the first time in nearly 18 years.

CM Punk's path to the championship came unexpectedly.

On the July 6 edition of Raw, Cody Rhodes was scheduled for a rematch against Sami Zayn, who had previously won the WWE Championship at Night of Champions in a Triple Threat Match involving Rhodes and Gunther.

However, Rhodes was attacked by Gunther, rendering him unable to compete.

In a surprising turn of events, CM Punk emerged to challenge Sami Zayn for the title.

Following a hard-fought contest, Punk, known as "The Second City Saint," defeated Zayn to capture the Undisputed WWE Title.

This victory sets the stage for a new championship rivalry.

Cody Rhodes had earned his position as the No.

1 Contender by defeating “Main Event” Jey Uso on a previous SmackDown episode.

Despite his initial plan to face Zayn, the change in championship ownership means Rhodes will now challenge CM Punk at SummerSlam.

This encounter is being billed as a "dream match" by the promotion.

Both competitors have a storied history in WWE, with a combined five WWE Title reigns between them.

Their upcoming clash at SummerSlam, a special two-night event, will be available for streaming live on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, at 6 ET/3 PT on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan in the United States and on Netflix internationally.