It’s been almost three years since Nick Aldis last stepped into a wrestling ring, ending his storied run in Impact Wrestling with an Eric Young piledriver, but this Saturday on Night 1 of WWE SummerSlam, he faces his biggest challenge yet against Gunther. This isn’t some warm-up match, folks; Aldis, at 38, is going straight for the top on the biggest stage he’s ever wrestled on. And honestly, who saw this coming after all this time?
From “Real World Champion” to Ring General: The Producer Play
Think back to when Aldis last laced up his boots. It was a different world in wrestling. CM Punk was AEW’s “Real World Champion,” Jade Cargill was a free agent, and Trinity “Naomi” Fatu held the Impact world title. Aldis had done it all outside of WWE or AEW, holding the TNA World and Tag Team Titles, becoming a two-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion for a combined 1,309 days, and even capturing the IWGP Tag Team Championship with his longtime partner Doug Williams. So, a jump to WWE made sense. But instead of competing, he joined as a producer, just like his former TNA brethren Bobby Roode, Petey Wilson, and Chris “Abyss” Park. He was tasked with helping put segments and matches together, using his in-ring knowledge to flesh out the shows.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque clearly understood the value of that TNA grind. Aldis told Uncrowned, “If you look at the producers at WWE, there’s a great deal of TNA influence in that. And I’ve always maintained that I think a reason for that is because those of us who were part of TNA had to utilize a bit more of our creative muscle, because we had more limited resources.” They were trying to nip at the heels of WWE, making a compelling product with less, and that resourcefulness is gold when you’re crafting a TV show.
SmackDown GM and the Ultimate Comeback
Aldis’s time as both a competitor and a producer, born out of necessity then growing into a proper position, was the pathway. It led to Levesque making him the General Manager of WWE SmackDown. Aldis recalls reaching out to Triple H, who presented the opportunity to “utilize your knowledge and experience to work behind the scenes as a producer.” Aldis said, “Great. I told Triple H, ‘I want to contribute to WWE in whatever way you see fit.’ That was the way he saw fit. Then the GM spot comes along, and same thing, I accepted gratefully, with no hesitation.” He even turned to his wife, multiple-time WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James, and said, “SmackDown GM.” Her response? “You’ll crush that, like, you’ll be great at that.” Aldis agreed, “Yes, I will.”
This non-performer role for three years sparked a lot of talk about his health, but it turns out the time off was a blessing. That gap allowed Aldis to deal with some lingering injuries, getting healthier than he’d been for most of his professional wrestling life. He admitted, “My back had bothered me on and off for a large portion of my career.” Now, he’s stepping back in the ring, presumably healthier than ever, to face Gunther. This Saturday, on Night 1 of SummerSlam, is the ultimate test. After three years behind the scenes, can Aldis truly make this unexpected comeback matter against one of WWE’s toughest? You know I’ll be watching to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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