5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (10 July - Results & Review)

3. Nick Aldis Wrestling Confirmed?

Gunther’s late in the day attack on the SmackDown GM all but confirms what’s coming at SummerSlam. The 'Ring General' won’t get the Brock Lesnar bout he's always wanted, but he’ll get a feisty brawl vs. Aldis instead. That’s a step down, obviously, but it is a fresh match up and there should be piqued interest in seeing ex-TNA and NWA man Nick do his thing between the ropes.

WWE has multiple paths they could feasibly explore though. Firstly, Aldis vs. Gunther is the clear frontrunner. Second, Nick picks somebody on the roster to take the fight to the Austrian on his behalf. Third, this doesn't actually happen at SummerSlam but is used to sell a bumper edition of SmackDown or fill up a lesser PLE instead. All 3 of those options are workable for the writing team.

Cody's mistimed interjection aside, this was a hot ending to the show that made Gunther look like one of the most callous pieces of crap walking the planet. He didn't get the WWE Title rematch he wanted, and was disgusted that Aldis had already booked CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for SummerSlam. So, he took matters into his own hands by locking Nick in a sleeper and booting him around the ring like a trash bag.

Typically, everyone else trying to get Gunther off Aldis magically lost all upper body strength, but that's part of the fun in segments like this one. All in all, it was a hot closing angle that teases Nick Aldis trading suits for spandex in the future.