Backstage Update: Gunther Expected to Face Former World Champion at SummerSlam

Gunther is reportedly set to face another former world champion at the SummerSlam 2026 pay-per-view in two weeks.

At Saturday Night's Main Event XLV, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis cost Gunther and Sami Zayn in their tag team bout vs. Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. Had Gunther and Zayn won, they would have been added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.

Thanks to assistance from Aldis, Punk will only have to defend against Rhodes at SummerSlam. This year's event will be held on the Aug. 1-2 weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In an update, PWinsider Elite (h/t WrestlingInc.com) reports that a showdown between Gunther and Aldis "is 100% set for" SummerSlam.

Gunther and Aldis have been feuding for several weeks now, with the former attacking his on-screen boss at the end of the July 10 SmackDown show. Rhodes came to Aldis' rescue after the show went off the air.

Aldis won the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship twice and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship once. If he faces Gunther at SummerSlam, it will be a highly anticipated affair between two former world champions.

Confirmed Matches for SummerSlam 2026

There are seven matches confirmed for SummerSlam 2026 thus far, including five championship bouts.

The confirmed matches are: Rhodes vs. Punk, Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan for the Women's World Championship, a five-way ladder match for the WWE Women's Championship (Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton are the only confirmed participants thus far), Penta vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship, Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi and the Usos and Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa, Royce Keys and LA Knight.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published July 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM.