SmackDown 07/10: Gunther Brutally Assaults Nick Aldis After Being Left off WWE Title Picture at SummerSlam

After being laid out by Gunther on SmackDown, it's looking very likely that Nick Aldis will make his in-ring debut at SummerSlam.

SmackDown 07/10: Gunther Brutally Assaults Nick Aldis After Being Left off WWE Title Picture at SummerSlam

Gunther with the Sleeper locked in on Nick Aldis on SmackDown [via- Cageside Seats]

The opening segment of this week’s SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes challenging CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Title at SummerSlam. After Nick Aldis made it official, he got confronted by Gunther backstage. The latter was upset about it and claimed Aldis made a big mistake on his first day back to work from the administrative leave he was on.

‘The Ring General’ said he could easily stooge the SmackDown GM out to the bosses and he’d be fired right away. However, Gunther was not there for that, and he instead wanted to give Aldis a chance to fix everything by the end of the night.

‘The Career Killer’ affirmed that he belonged in the WWE title picture and didn’t care if he had to go through Rhodes, Punk, or even both at the same time. It made Aldis say that he’ll take that under consideration, which put a smile on Gunther’s face. Later on in the night, it was time for Aldis to give an update on Gunther’s warning to be included in the WWE title match at SummerSlam.

Once both were in the ring, Aldis said he’d grant the Austrian his wish of facing Rhodes and Punk. However, it wouldn’t be at SummerSlam. In fact, the SmackDown general manager announced that he’ll put Gunther in the ring with both Rhodes and Punk in a tag team match at the world’s most famous arena at Saturday Night’s Main Event next weekend.

‘The Ring General’ will team up with someone who equally wanted to get his hands on Rhodes and Punk, and it was none other than Sami Zayn. It angered Gunther, who reminded Aldis that he told the Englishman to fix his mistake. Speaking of fixing a mistake, the SmackDown GM owned up to misjudging that Gunther wouldn’t be a major thorn in his side if he signed him to the blue brand.

Aldis then announced that the Rhodes/Punk main event for SummerSlam would remain the same. And he got attacked by Gunther the very next moment. The Vienna-born wrestler snapped and started assaulting Aldis. The erstwhile Walter locked the SmackDown GM in multiple Sleeper holds, with a number of WWE officials scrambling to separate them.

After the show went off air, Cody Rhodes came out to save Aldis from the clutches of Gunther, who hightailed it out of ringside to avoid any physical confrontation with ‘The QB1’. Now that the ‘Ring General’ has made it personal with Nick Aldis, the latter is expected retort with putting on his wrestling boots and making his WWE in-ring debut against ‘The Career Killer’ at SummerSlam.

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SmackDown witnessed the WWE return of Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin made his stunning return to WWE in an absolute shocker in the middle of this week’s SmackDown. The 41-year-old hadn’t been around since late 2024, which was when he first left the company once his contract expired and wasn’t renewed. This Friday, he interfered in the Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams match, and he went after both men.

Baron Corbin targeted Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown
Baron Corbin targeted Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown [via- Wrestle Ops/@X]

Corbin planted them with his End of Days finishing maneuver before setting his sights on the United States Championship. The former US Champion wants to put some gold around his waist immediately after his surprising return to the company. With SummerSlam right around the corner, ‘Trick Willy’ has a certain ‘Lone Wolf’ to worry about.

Moreover, Hayes is also in the mix, and one should also not count Ricky Saints out of it either. The latter recently lost a US title match to Williams at Night of Champions and would want to stay in contention. Although it’s not certain, WWE might be planning a multi-man match for the US title at SummerSlam with Corbin, Hayes, and Saints all gunning to dethrone ‘Mr. Whoop That’.

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