Tensions escalated on SmackDown as Gunther launched an attack on General Manager Nick Aldis, placing him in a rear naked choke.

The incident followed Aldis's announcement of a tag team match for Saturday Night’s Main Event, which will see Gunther and Sami Zayn face off against Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.

Gunther's frustration reportedly began earlier in the evening, stemming from the opening segment of SmackDown where Cody Rhodes officially challenged CM Punk for SummerSlam.

The Ring General, visibly angered, demanded that Aldis rectify the situation.

However, when Aldis subsequently announced the tag team match for Saturday Night's Main Event, Gunther reacted with a physical assault on the SmackDown GM.

Officials initially separated the two, but Gunther reportedly returned to apply the sleeper hold once more.

The ongoing issues between Gunther and Nick Aldis have been a developing storyline, and this latest confrontation suggests their conflict is far from resolved.

This development is significant as it directly impacts the authority figure of SmackDown and sets a more intense stage for the upcoming tag team match.

Cody Rhodes ultimately intervened to pull Gunther off Aldis as SmackDown went off the air.

Rhodes then challenged Gunther to a one-on-one match, though Gunther reportedly walked away without accepting.

The announced card for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 18 also includes the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles defense by Paige & Nikki Bella against Fatal Influence, and a singles match between Danhausen and JD McDonagh.

Earlier in the week, CM Punk had defeated Sami Zayn for a title on Monday's Raw, ending Zayn's nine-day reign.

Aldis mentioned during SmackDown that Zayn would be taking a mental health break following his title loss.