Add as a preferred source on Google The go-home SmackDown before WWE SummerSlam opened hot Friday night at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Finn Balor started the show by looking back at SummerSlam 2016, when he won the since-retired Universal Title only to vacate it days later with a shoulder injury. Balor said he’s close to getting back to that spot.
Sami Zayn cut him off and went back to complaining about being left out of CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title at SummerSlam. Zayn noted he beat Rhodes clean and called Punk, who ended his nine-day run with the belt, a fraud and a “number two corporate shill.”
Talk turned to Balor vs. Zayn at SummerSlam, with the winner getting the next title shot. Balor questioned how much of Zayn’s crusade is really about justice.
Zayn went to leave, but GUNTHER hit the ring and jumped both guys from behind. The Ring General laid out Balor and Zayn with clotheslines, then demanded another title shot from Adam Pearce.
GUNTHER got in Pearce’s face as officials tried to restore order. Balor and Zayn came back at him and got dumped again.
That brought out Nick Aldis, who took GUNTHER down on the ramp, dragged him to the ring, and locked in a submission.
Aldis vs. GUNTHER is set for SummerSlam after Aldis stepped away from his SmackDown GM duties to wrestle again.