Add as a preferred source on Google Gunther already has his eyes on the Undisputed WWE Championship. Minutes after beating Nick Aldis on Night 1 of SummerSlam, he called for the SmackDown General Manager to name him CM Punk’s next challenger.
Aldis, who hadn’t wrestled since 2023, was working his first WWE match and gave the Ring General far more than expected before tapping out to a sleeper hold at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. On the post-show, Gunther admitted the match was harder than he thought it would be and said he was impressed when Aldis took his jacket off in the ring, though he shot down the idea that there was ever going to be a fairytale finish.
Aldis had to step down as GM to take the match, and he handed Triple H his letter of resignation backstage afterward. WWE’s Chief Content Officer tore it up on the spot, reinstated him, and told him to get back to work and lay off Gunther.
Gunther had a message for his boss once he heard the news.
“Get back to your job. Make me the number one contender. I’m not afraid of CM Punk because I know I’m better than him.”
The timing is awkward, because WWE has already announced Sami Zayn vs. Finn Bálor for Night 2 on Sunday, Aug. 2, with the winner earning the shot at Punk.
Punk retained Saturday night after Randy Orton returned and dropped Cody Rhodes with an RKO behind the downed referee’s back, allowing the champion to hit the GTS and cover. Gunther has been chasing this title all summer and already came up short once, teaming with Zayn in a loss to Punk and Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event.