Gunther will face SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis at WWE SummerSlam following another physical confrontation between the two men.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced the match during Sunday’s SummerSlam Kickoff event at Fanatics Fest in New York City.
Gunther interrupted Levesque and complained that Aldis had interfered with his career and SummerSlam plans. He argued that he should be entering the event as Undisputed WWE Champion and demanded to know how Levesque intended to prevent further involvement.
Levesque responded that Gunther had pushed Aldis too far and was now dealing with the consequences.
Aldis then joined them and told Gunther that he could not expect to put his hands on him without receiving a response.
“You must have forgotten who you’re talking to, boy. Because anytime you want to try me, you just let me know.”
Gunther attacked Aldis, who fought back before security separated them. Levesque then said WWE would settle the dispute in the ring and confirmed the SummerSlam match.
You wanna fight?! You got a fight!!
GUNTHER vs. NICK ALDIS at #SummerSlam!!@TripleH pic.twitter.com/Lggj2BTHKJ
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2026
Their issues began following Night of Champions, where Gunther failed to win the Undisputed WWE Championship in a Triple Threat involving Cody Rhodes and eventual winner Sami Zayn. Gunther confronted Aldis during the post-show, called him a “failed wrestler” and pinned him against a wall before officials intervened.
Gunther later attacked Aldis on the July 10 edition of SmackDown, applying multiple sleeper holds after blaming the general manager for excluding him from the SummerSlam title match.
Aldis retaliated at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After Gunther struck Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship and appeared set to win their tag match, Aldis pulled a second referee out of the ring and hit Gunther with the title. CM Punk and Rhodes subsequently defeated Gunther and Zayn, preserving their SummerSlam singles match.
SummerSlam will mark Aldis’ first match for WWE and his first in-ring appearance since 2023. He joined the company as SmackDown general manager in October of that year after a career that included runs as a world champion in TNA and the NWA.
The two-night SummerSlam takes place August 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
