Nick Aldis returned to WWE SmackDown this week with a major announcement.
During the July 10 episode of SmackDown, Aldis appeared in the ring. Aldis announced that he had been officially reinstated as the central authority figure for the blue brand. Later in the show, he confirmed that CM Punk will defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026.
For those unaware, Aldis had been placed on administrative leave following a heated confrontation with Gunther at Night of Champions. During the PLE’s main event, Sami Zayn defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship.
An irate Gunther confronted Aldis after the match and blamed him for costing him the opportunity to become champion. The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation before WWE officials separated the two men. On the July 6 episode of RAW, Aldis confronted Gunther over his actions. However, Adam Pearce stepped in and managed to defuse the tense atmosphere before it threatened to boil over.
It is worth noting that WWE has reportedly held discussions about a potential Nick Aldis vs. Gunther match at SummerSlam 2026. The bout has not been officially confirmed as of this writing, and whether tonight’s SmackDown appearance leads to the match remains to be seen.
Fans can catch up on WrestleZone’s live coverage of WWE SmackDown here.
Read More: WWE’s Seth Rollins Takes Part in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for Chris Johnson
