8 Nick Aldis WWE Opponents After GUNTHER

WWE/Nick Aldis

Following weeks of conflict and physical altercations, GUNTHER will now go one-on-one with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis at WWE SummerSlam 2026.

This will mark as Aldis’ first in-ring match in WWE since signing with the company in 2023.

After GUNTHER, Aldis could step back in the ring to face a number of different stars on the WWE roster over the months and years to come.

Here are eight potential Nick Aldis WWE opponents after GUNTHER.

8. Adam Pearce

In late 2023, Nick Aldis made his WWE debut and was named the new Friday Night SmackDown General Manager by Triple H.

Since signing with the promotion, there has been some tension between Aldis and Monday Night Raw GM Adam Pearce.

Over the past few years, Aldis and Pearce have traded barbs and had some kind of conflict at various points over the interactions between the stars on Raw and SmackDown.

Considering the fact Pearce has also never stepped in a WWE ring for a match, Aldis facing GUNTHER at SummerSlam could open the door for a GM battle down the line.

7. Sami Zayn

Despite being sent home and on a leave of absence, Nick Aldis showed up on the July 6 edition of WWE Raw and got himself involved in the General Manager business on the show.

After GUNTHER attacked and took out Cody Rhodes, Adam Pearce was stuck without a replacement against Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship, but Aldis found one in the form of CM Punk.

This led to Punk defeating Zayn for the title in his hometown of Chicago. Then, Aldis interfered and blasted GUNTHER with the gold to cost him and Sami Zayn their match against Rhodes and Punk at the July 18 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Now being an innocent bystander of the feud between GUNTHER and Aldis, this might lead to Zayn challenging the SmackDown GM to a match coming off the heels of the WWE SummerSlam premium live event.

6. The Miz

Since becoming SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis has had to interact with a number of WWE stars who have gotten under his skin.

One of those such names from the WWE roster is The Miz, who has become a regular in Aldis’ GM office.

While he is currently in a vegetative state thanks to being electrocuted by Danhausen, The Miz could awaken and feel Aldis is responsible for what happens to the stars on the blue brand.

The Miz attacking Aldis could be the catalyst for a feud between these two stars who can have an entertaining story together playing off their individual personalities.

5. Bron Breakker

Someone who has become a consistent enemy of any form of authority he comes across is Bron Breakker.

At the start of 2026, Breakker found himself at odds with Monday Night Raw General Manager Adam Pearce.

This led to Breakker putting his hands on Pearce and getting himself suspended as a result. While things never got heated again with the Raw GM, that doesn’t mean Aldis might accept the same treatment and handle it the same way.

Now that Aldis is putting the boots back on, he could get the itch to continue to step in the ring with those who threaten to challenge his or any GM’s authority like Breakker moving forward.

4. Seth Rollins

Ahead of WWE SummerSlam 2026, Nick Aldis has not stepped inside the squared circle for a match since his time in TNA Wrestling before signing with the company in 2023.

Wanting to give him enough confidence, WWE might want to put him in the ring with some of their most trusted stars like GUNTHER following SummerSlam 2026.

When looking at the WWE roster, there might not be anyone who is trusted to be a quality in-ring worker quite on the same level as Seth Rollins.

The former World Heavyweight Champion would make for an excellent opponent for Aldis with their two styles being different enough to mesh well together in the ring.

3. Randy Orton

Before WWE WrestleMania 41, the wrestling world was shocked to hear Kevin Owens would be out of action indefinitely due to a neck injury that required surgery.

Scheduled to face Owens at Mania, Randy Orton was stuck without a match for “The Show of Shows.” Out of frustration, Orton delivered an RKO to Aldis.

This marked the second time “The Legend Killer” had delivered a RKO to Aldis, being the first man to lay his hands on the SmackDown General Manager in WWE.

Following his match with GUNTHER at WWE SummerSlam 2026, Aldis might want to address some unfinished business with Orton on a massive stage.

2. Drew McIntyre

Another WWE star who has been a constant thorn in the side of Nick Aldis in recent years is Drew McIntyre.

“The Scottish Warrior” has always been someone in Aldis’ face and giving him a hard time, while pushing back against his authority since moving back to SmackDown at the start of 2025.

After losing the Undisputed WWE Championship earlier this year and coming up short to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42, McIntyre might want to take out his frustration on the SmackDown General Manager.

McIntyre returning to attack Aldis could set the stage for another big time match for the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion coming off the heels of SummerSlam.

1. Cody Rhodes

There might not be anyone with a more notable history with Nick Aldis on the current WWE roster than Cody Rhodes.

Aldis and Rhodes are most remembered for their memorable bout at the first All In event in 2018 for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship.

They traded NWA’s top prize and put themselves on a higher level along the way, so the connection between Aldis and Rhodes seems undeniable.

If this bout with GUNTHER at SummerSlam 2026 opens the door for more matches, it seems like a no-brainer that Rhodes needs to have a rematch with Aldis one more time in a WWE ring.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• wwe
• nick aldis
• GUNTHER

Share this article with friends