New details have emerged about what WWE originally had planned for SummerSlam, while another update has added to the continued speculation surrounding CM Punk's prolonged absence from television.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, new King of the Ring Oba Femi turning down a Championship opportunity wasn't just a storyline decision.
The idea was reportedly to avoid giving away one of WWE's biggest potential matches too soon, with officials instead focused on making a future clash between The Ruler and Roman Reigns feel as huge as possible wherever and whenever it eventually happens.
The Women's Championship picture also looked very different before Rhea Ripley's injury derailed creative plans. Before being sidelined, Ripley was reportedly expected to defend her title at SummerSlam against either Jacy Jayne or Alexa Bliss, though WWE was ultimately forced to go in another direction.
Another match said to have been pencilled in for the show would have seen GUNTHER square off with Royce Keys. While the bout never materialised, it appears the company was seriously considering the match as part of its original SummerSlam lineup. What, if anything, the plan is for both men now is a mystery to us.
However, the biggest talking point continues to be CM Punk. The former WWE Champion appeared on the RAW after WrestleMania 42, assuring fans that he wasn't going anywhere. Despite that promise, Punk was later pulled from WWE's European tour and has remained absent from television ever since, with no explanation.
According to Meltzer, the issues between Punk and WWE can be "traced back as starting with the loss of his title at WrestleMania."
Meltzer doesn't specifically say the championship loss itself caused the reported fallout, but notes that whatever issues developed appear to have begun around that time.
Momentum has continued to build toward Punk's eventual return. During a recent appearance providing commentary for an MMA event, the Second City Saint teased that fans could be seeing him back sooner rather than later. At the same time, reports have indicated he's expected to make his WWE return on the July 6 edition of RAW in his hometown of Chicago.
Adding another layer to the story, previous reports claimed WWE's original plans for SummerSlam would have featured Punk challenging Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship, making his absence from the company's biggest show of the summer all the more surprising.
As always, plans in WWE are subject to change, but these latest reports paint a clearer picture of what the company had in mind before injuries and backstage developments forced creative to evolve.