Gunther submitted Nick Aldis in the SmackDown general manager’s WWE in-ring debut at SummerSlam night one.
Aldis tapped out to a sleeper hold after mounting a late comeback against the former World Heavyweight Champion. The match lasted 11:38.
The two opened with a cautious exchange of holds before Gunther left the ring and stood on the commentary desk to taunt his opponent.
Aldis caught Gunther attempting a leapfrog and transitioned into a vertical suplex. However, Gunther later knocked him from the ropes with a chop and drove him into the ring post.
Gunther then exchanged words with Aldis’ wife, Mickie James, and their son, Donovan, at ringside.
Back inside, Aldis responded to Gunther’s chops with strikes of his own and delivered a backbreaker. Gunther escaped an attempted King’s Lynn Cloverleaf and applied a sleeper, but Aldis drove him into the turnbuckles.
Aldis later stopped Gunther on the top rope and brought him down with a superplex. He followed with a running powerslam in tribute to Davey Boy Smith, earning a near fall.
Two diving elbow drops allowed Aldis to apply the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf. Gunther reached the bottom rope to force the break.
Aldis then countered another sleeper attempt with one of his own. Gunther escaped with a Saito suplex and landed a powerbomb, but Aldis kicked out.
Gunther struck Aldis with repeated elbows before returning to the sleeper. Aldis fought back to his feet, but Gunther pulled him down and added a body scissors, forcing the submission.
Gunther left after the match as the crowd applauded Aldis. James and Donovan entered the ring and embraced him while spectators chanted, “You’ve still got it.”
