WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 preview, predictions and more

SummerSlam is one of the biggest WWE premium live events of the summer and, for the second straight year, the show will be held across two nights starting on Saturday.

This year’s SummerSlam takes place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis – the home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. The show will begin at 6 p.m. ET on both Saturday and Sunday nights and multiple championships will be defended over the course of the weekend.

WWE fans can watch the show on ESPN Unlimited.

Read below for a preview and prediction for each match.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

==

Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Paige vs. Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley

Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Lainey Reid make their way to the ring during SmackDown at Oakland Arena in Oakland, Calif., on July 24, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

It’s the old school going up against the new school in a six-woman tag team match. The Bellas and Paige will take on Fatal Influence. Reid and Henley captured the women’s tag team titles from Brie Bella and Paige at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Now, with Nikki Bella back in the fold, an epic grudge match is set for SummerSlam.

Prediction: Fatal Influence takes care of The Bellas and Paige.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

==

LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys vs. Jacob Fatu, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso

Solo Sikoa speaks during Monday Night RAW at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on July 27, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

LA Knight is still among the most popular wrestlers on the WWE roster and for the second time, he finds himself in a six-man tag team match on a major premium live event. Instead of teaming with the Usos, he’s going up against them. Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys go up against The Bloodline. Jacob Fatu and The Usos’ attempts to bring Sikoa back to the family have proven feeble thus far. Sikoa has made clear he wants no part of The Bloodline. Knight has been at war with The Bloodline for years while Keys has been dragged into the fight. He knows Fatu better than most and is itching for a fight.

Prediction: The Bloodline takes care of Knight, Sikoa and Keys.

==

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky for the Women’s World Championship

Iyo Sky makes her entrance during Monday Night Raw at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on July 13, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

Liv Morgan told Fox News Digital earlier this year she was "everyone’s dream match." Whether that was true for Iyo Sky has yet to be seen. Morgan gets her first Women’s World Championship title defense against the Queen of the Ring. Sky won the tournament at Night of Champions, defeating Morgan in the final and then choosing her as her target. Morgan has been the champion since defeating Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42. The question will be whether she has any ring rust going into the match against Sky.

Prediction: Iyo Sky returns to the top of the women’s division.

==

Gunther vs. Nick Aldis

Nick Aldis attacks GUNTHER during SmackDown at Oakland Arena in Oakland, Calif., on July 24, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

Nick Aldis was a decorated world champion before injuries forced him toward a different role. He hasn’t appeared in in-ring competition since he was with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), which was then-called Impact Wrestling. But his feud with Gunther will culminate in his first match in nearly three years. Gunther has continuously accused Aldis of dropping the ball when it came to him and putting him off to the side. Gunther maintains he’s the best superstar on SmackDown but hasn’t been treated like it. It all came to a head at Night of Champions when Gunther attacked Aldis backstage. The two have been fighting ever since and Aldis was given the green light to fight Gunther at SummerSlam.

Prediction: Gunther wins a hard-fought match.

==

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar

Oba Femi looks on during Monday Night RAW at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on July 27, 2026. (WWE)

Oba Femi put off his King of the Ring title opportunity to take on Brock Lesnar in the trilogy fight. Lesnar upped the ante when he said the match would take place in a Hell in a Cell. It’s going to be one of the biggest fights of the weekend and could very well steal the show. Femi could very well slay "The Beast" one final time. Lesnar could prove that he still has it and never lost a step.

Prediction: Femi wins and gets into the world title picture.

==

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk speak during SmackDown at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., on July 31, 2026. (WWE via Getty Images)

The tension between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes had been palpable even before WrestleMania 42 when the two champions met in the ring on the go-home SmackDown show. While they were more friends than enemies then, things exploded Friday night when the two men finally exchanged blows. Punk became the champion when he knocked off Sami Zayn for the title and ended his reign after nine days. Rhodes was pinned by Zayn and decided to take his own shot at Punk’s title. Their rivalry finally returns to a WWE ring on Saturday night with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.

Prediction: Punk retains the title