This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown kicked off with the new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk who made it clear he wants to be a fighting champion. Punk was confronted by Cody Rhodes who challenged him to a title match at SummerSlam, and Nick Aldis made it official.
Later in the night Nick Aldis was talking to Sami Zayn on the phone when he was confronted by Gunther. The Ring General told Aldis he doesn’t care if he has to face Cody, or Punk, or both, he wants a title match. He gave Aldis until the end of the night to make it right.
During the main event segment Gunther called Aldis out to the ring. Nick Aldis told Gunther that in spite of everything he said to him earlier, he’s going to give him what he wants. Aldis told Gunther he’s going to give him both Cody and CM Punk at Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden. He announced that Gunther will be teaming up with Sami Zayn to face Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
Gunther got heated as Aldis told him that the main event of the SummerSlam will remain the same. The Ring General then proceeded to attack Nick Aldis from behind. He applied the slepper and a number of WWE officials pulled him off. Gunther broke free and hit Aldis with a big boot then locked the sleeper in again.
The former World Heavyweight Champion locked in the sleeper hold multiple times before Cody Rhodes ran out to make the save as SmackDown went off the air.
🚨 JUST ANNOUNCED: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes will team up to battle Gunther & Sami Zayn at #SNME on July 18th at Madison Square Garden!
Gunther is NOT happy about it… pic.twitter.com/18FH5LweHw
— WWE (@WWE) July 11, 2026