Nick Aldis relinquishes his job as WWE GM in order to make GUNTHER his b**ch - Cageside Seats

WWE used the opening segment of the July 24 episode of SmackDown to officially lock in Nick Aldis vs GUNTHER for SummerSlam. The match was confirmed during a contract signing, turning a brewing on-screen conflict into one of the headline bouts for next weekend's event.

The key development was Aldis giving up his role as SmackDown general manager so he could step back into the ring. Based on the segment, that was presented as the price he needed to pay in order to make the match happen and secure his return bout against GUNTHER.

That stipulation adds another layer to the story, because Aldis is not just chasing a fight with GUNTHER. He is also sacrificing his authority position to get it. In WWE storyline terms, the move raises the stakes and makes the SummerSlam clash feel bigger than a standard contract signing announcement.

With the paperwork complete, the focus now shifts to SummerSlam on Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Aldis has his return match, GUNTHER has the showdown he agreed to, and SmackDown has a major rivalry fully set for the premium live event.