Triple H rejected Nick Aldis’ resignation and reinstated him as SmackDown general manager after SummerSlam night one.
Aldis spoke to Paul Levesque during the post-show and handed him a letter following his submission loss to Gunther.
The former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion said he had poured his “heart and soul” into serving as SmackDown general manager for the past three years. However, Aldis felt that stepping into the ring against Gunther required him to surrender the position.
“I’m a man of my word,” Aldis said. “In order to try to prove myself in the ring with Gunther, I had to be willing to give that up and relinquish that position.
“I came up short. I did what I had to do. But that’s my letter of resignation.”
Aldis thanked Levesque for the opportunity and described holding the position as an honor and privilege.
Levesque acknowledged that both Aldis and Gunther had crossed a line during their dispute. He said they had settled the matter in the ring and praised Aldis for fighting for what he believed in, regardless of the outcome.
Levesque then declined to accept the resignation.
“You’re reinstated as general manager of SmackDown,” he said. “Lay off of Gunther. Call things down the middle. And let’s get back to work.”
Gunther submitted Aldis with a sleeper hold earlier in the evening at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was Aldis’ first match for WWE.
