Add as a preferred source on Google Gunther and Royce Keys were once in line for a singles match at WWE SummerSlam, even though the current direction of the storyline appears to have changed in recent weeks.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Gunther vs. Keys was part of the card originally planned for the event. SummerSlam will take place on August 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The idea did not come out of nowhere. On the May 15 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Keys interrupted the contract signing between Gunther and Cody Rhodes, attempting to take the Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity for himself. Nick Aldis then booked Gunther vs. Keys, with the winner facing Rhodes at Clash in Italy.
Gunther won that night’s main event, but Keys was protected in defeat, largely because of interference from Solo Sikoa. The finish kept the Austrian on the path toward the world title while also leaving Keys with a meaningful role on SmackDown programming.
🚨 Un match entre Gunther et Royce Keys était dans les plans originaux pour SummerSlam ! (WON) pic.twitter.com/HfarJ69PIm
— 𝗟𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 (@LeTempleDuCatch) July 3, 2026
Keys has been positioned as a force since arriving on the main roster. The wrestler, previously known as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, made his WWE debut in this year’s Royal Rumble and later had his first televised singles match on the April 10 episode of SmackDown, defeating Berto.
However, Gunther’s SummerSlam plans may no longer be the same. After Night of Champions, WWE began indicating a possible rivalry between Gunther and Nick Aldis, who were involved in a heated confrontation during the event’s post-show.
It remains to be seen whether WWE still intends to circle back to Gunther vs. Royce Keys, or whether the match was only part of an early card that was dropped before the official SummerSlam build began.