Nick Aldis has spent years waiting for the chance to wrestle another match in WWE. Gunther thinks he’ll only need one night to make sure there isn’t a second.
While plenty of fans have looked at Aldis’ SummerSlam match with the Ring General as the start of an in-ring comeback, Gunther sees it very differently. As far as he’s concerned, Aldis isn’t stepping into the biggest opportunity of his career—he’s stepping into the last match of it.
Speaking to Complex Graps, Gunther admitted he understands why Aldis wanted this match so badly. After all, it’s something the SmackDown General Manager never got to experience during his first run in WWE.
“Well, I always knew that deep down that’s what he wanted.”
But any sympathy ended there. To Gunther, SummerSlam isn’t just another title match. It’s the biggest moment Aldis has ever had as a wrestler, and that alone brings a level of pressure he doesn’t think Aldis has ever experienced.
“So it’s a big moment for him. Biggest moment of his career. Obviously he’s got experience before and stuff, but he never wrestled in WWE. I think most of the wrestlers get affected by the environment that they’re in and by the pressure. I think that’s the biggest test of his career if he can withstand that. And then on top of that, he’s in the ring with me.”
If that sounded harsh, Gunther was only getting started. Later in the interview, the World Heavyweight Champion explained why he hasn’t spent much time studying Aldis’ old matches. In his eyes, he’s the one competing every week at the highest level. Aldis is the one trying to prove he still belongs.
“I’m the one that’s wrestling all the time. I’m in the peak of my career. His career is basically over and I guess it rejuvenates now, but it will be over at SummerSlam again.”
Gunther didn’t stop at predicting a victory. He questioned whether Aldis could do anything in defeat that would convince people he deserves to keep wrestling after SummerSlam.
“Yeah. I mean, what else should I aim for than beating him? I don’t see what he can do in a loss that convinces everybody else that, ‘Yeah, that should be the guy. He should keep wrestling.’ I just don’t think that’s going to be the case. I don’t think I’m going to give him much chance to shine in the whole thing.”
For Gunther, this isn’t some feel-good comeback story years in the making. It’s business.When the conversation turned to the emotional side of Aldis finally getting his WWE match after so many years, Gunther completely rejected the idea that dreams should influence what happens inside the ring.
“It’s like, ‘Oh, he wanted that so much and now he never got it.’ And that’s who cares? Is this a charity or is it what are we doing here? Everybody can play wrestler once. No, that’s not what we’re doing. This is a business and it’s a cutthroat business. I’m not interested in all those feel-good stories and ‘Oh his big dream.’ Yeah, we all have big dreams and every human has big dreams. Doesn’t mean everybody has the right… it’s there for everybody to fulfill them. Either you have what it takes or you don’t.”
As if there was any doubt left about how he expects Saturday to end, Gunther closed the interview with one final message directed straight at Aldis. Don’t get carried away. Don’t mistake this opportunity for a new beginning. And definitely don’t expect it to last.
“Don’t get too excited. I know it’s your big chance. I know it’s the biggest moment of your career. Surprisingly, it’s not one of the top moments of my career. I’m there for you. I give you that one moment of fame… and then on Monday, you can put a suit on again and get back to work.”
If Gunther is right, Nick Aldis won’t be starting a second WWE career at SummerSlam. He’ll be ending it before it ever has the chance to begin.
Do you think Gunther is overlooking Nick Aldis, or will the Ring General prove his prediction right at SummerSlam? Let us know in the comments below.
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