Gunther is one of the biggest stars on WWE's current roster, but his creative direction has been on a roller coaster ride this year. According to a recent report from SelfMadePW, The Ring General was originally slated to face Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2026. This match was planned to be billed as Lesnar's final bout in Minneapolis. The report also stated that WWE was considering a high-profile program for Gunther against Roman Reigns in late spring.
However, all those plans were scrapped! What exactly happened backstage is a well-kept secret, but its domino effect has left massive turmoil on the feuds and storylines. The company's shifting plans have left the former World Heavyweight Champion in a chaotic state for WWE's biggest event of the summer. Despite SummerSlam being just a week away, the Stamford-based promotion has failed to give The Ring General a definite direction.
Let's take a look at five blockbuster SummerSlam matches WWE could book for Gunther:
This is arguably the most exciting option WWE currently has following the recent developments. Gunther got involved in a huge backstage altercation with Nick Aldis at Night of Champions. Just when fans thought things would cool down heading into SummerSlam, the rift escalated like a wildfire. Last week on SmackDown, The Ring General unleashed an unhinged attack on the General Manager, choking Aldis in his submission hold.
WWE has apparently set the stage for a blockbuster collision between the two stars. What happened on SmackDown serves as the perfect catalyst for a marquee match at The Biggest Party of the Summer. Nick Aldis could be forced to shed his corporate suit and make his in-ring return to seek revenge from the Austrian. This is a fresh match, born purely out of rage against management, that has the potential to excite fans for SummerSlam 2026.
Finn Balor is one of the superstars WWE could book Gunther against at SummerSlam 2026. Since arriving on SmackDown, The Prince has been directionless and it appears that he lost his push. Balor desperately needs a blockbuster feud for the annual summer event, which could elevate his stature and restablish him as a top-tier star in WWE.
Meanwhile, The Ring General also needs a credible babyface opponent for SummerSlam. Now that CM Punk and Cody Rhodes have embarked on their own feud and Sami Zayn is acting like a soon-to-be heel, it leaves WWE with no other choice. Finn Balor could therefore be an incredible opponent for Gunther and the two superstars can deliver a banger at the annual event.
Sami Zayn and Gunther have a deep history that makes a collision between them always fun to watch. However, the two superstars are currently on the same page as they both believe they have been robbed. Zayn is set to team up with The Ring General at Saturday Night's Main Event to take on CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. And this tag team match could work as the catalyst for a huge SummerSlam showdown.
Gunther could attack Sami Zayn after possibly losing their tag team matches at SNME and this may pit the two on a collision course against each other. Both superstars could revisit their storied history and embark on a deeply personal feud on SmackDown. This storyline could once again re-establish Zayn as a heroic babyface while solidifying The Ring General as a diabolical heel.
The prospect of a match between Gunther and Ilja Dragunov has always fascinated the main roster fans. The dream could come to fruition at SummerSlam as WWE has a great opportunity to pull the trigger on this blockbuster collision. The Ring General attacked Nick Aldis this week on SmackDown. There is a good possibility that he could call out the GM for a match at SummerSlam, provoking him to return to the ring.
However, Aldis could come out and drop a huge bombshell. The 39-year-old could state that while he wouldn't be able to step into the ring due to his corporate obligations, he knows someone who can teach Gunther a lesson at SummerSlam. The SmackDown GM could introduce Ilja Dragunov as his ultimate weapon to go against The Ring General. A clash between the two former rivals is a perfect marquee attraction for The Biggest Party of the Summer.
The ultimate blockbuster match Gunther could be a part of is the Undisputed WWE Championship bout. Currently, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk are set to battle for the coveted title in a high-profile match at SummerSlam. However, the creative team could unravel a massive twist by putting The Ring General into it. The company could make it a Triple Threat Match.
The reason why Triple H can do that is that Gunther is involved in the Undisputed WWE Championship picture. The 38-year-old has unfinished business and he believes he deserves another shot at the coveted title. Therefore, pulling him out of the title picture abruptly ahead of SummerSlam would make his story feel unresolved. But getting involved in the Undisputed WWE Championship match at the blockbuster summer event would keep him in the spotlight.
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