CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes got hot in a hurry

Key Points:

• WWE is addressing criticism about the lack of heat in the CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes storyline by allowing the narrative to develop organically, focusing on their inevitable clash over the WWE Championship.
• After Punk won the WWE Championship from Sami Zayn, who had previously taken the title from Rhodes, WWE cleared the path by removing Zayn and GUNTHER from the picture, setting up a singles match between Punk and Rhodes at SummerSlam.
• The storyline has intensified through both on-screen accidental physical contact and a backstage confrontation shared on social media, highlighting growing tension between the two stars.
• WWE further escalated the feud on their YouTube channel during the SummerSlam Kickoff event, portraying Punk as the provocateur and Rhodes as the principled babyface questioning Punk’s motives.
• This approach marks a shift towards openly exploring the characters' complex history and emotions, with Rhodes expressing long-held frustrations and Punk openly disrespecting him, adding depth to their rivalry.