Gunther versus Nick Aldis is officially on the WWE SummerSlam 2026 card, and honestly, after Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden, you just knew this was coming. That whole tag team match with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes against Gunther and Sami Zayn exploded when Aldis totally cost Gunther the victory. It set the stage for SummerSlam perfectly, even if SNME was a bit uneventful overall. This isn’t just a match, it’s personal, and the tension has been brewing since their heated altercation backstage at Night of Champions. Now, it’s all going down August 1 and 2 in Minneapolis.
The SummerSlam Card Is Stacked, But One Match Feels Different
This year’s SummerSlam is looking absolutely wild, and honestly, the confirmed card has some seriously high stakes. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship is probably closing Night 2, because come on, that’s the biggest promoted match out there. But don’t sleep on CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship either, that could easily end Night 1 with how anticipated their encounter is. You know Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar in Hell in a Cell is gonna set a brutal tone as Night 1’s opener. We’ve also got Liv Morgan defending her Women’s World Championship against Iyo Sky, a match that got set when Sky became Queen of the Ring and wasted no time challenging Morgan. Plus, Penta vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship and a huge six-man tag with The Usos and Jacob Fatu taking on LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, and Royce Keys were both added on the July 13 edition of Raw. But after SNME, everyone’s buzzing about Gunther and Aldis.
The Women’s Title Scene Just Got Complicated
The WWE Women’s Championship picture got a whole lot more interesting, and complicated, with Raw general manager Adam Pearce declaring on July 17 that Rhea Ripley isn’t cleared to compete. So, yeah, we’re getting an interim WWE Women’s Champion crowned in a five-woman Ladder match at SummerSlam, because why just strip her when you can have a spectacle, right? Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill were the first to qualify on Friday’s SmackDown, meaning that highly anticipated one-on-one showdown between Cargill and Charlotte Flair isn’t happening here. But trust me, Charlotte Flair is absolutely bound to win her qualifier against Nia Jax next Friday. With three open slots left, you gotta wonder who’s gonna step up. Blake Monroe, Giulia, Chelsea Green (she’s got that soft alliance with Stratton), or even Jordynne Grace, who we haven’t seen on SmackDown in months, are all credible options. This ladder match ensures there’s more women’s representation at SummerSlam, which is pretty cool.
SummerSlam is almost here on August 1 and 2 in Minneapolis, and there’s still a ton to figure out with those final three slots for the Women’s Ladder match. You know everyone’s gonna be glued to SmackDown to see who makes it in. This is going to be an absolutely unforgettable weekend!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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