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00:27The following comes.
00:41The following comes.
01:00He wants to officially end the in-ring career of Nick Aldis.
01:15And this match is presented by the General Insurance.
01:20The General Insurance gives you a break when you need it most.
01:29So Gunther is a dominant wrestler and he feels in his mind like the system has held him back.
01:36On the face of that system is Nick Aldis.
01:41Yeah, a leave of absence is SmackDown General Manager.
02:09And here's a opponent.
02:13From Kingsland, England, weighing in for 250 pounds, the National Treasure, Nick Aldis.
02:27Once a modern-day gladiator, Nick Aldis enters the ring for the first time in nearly three years.
02:35He's a man who's won world championships around the planet.
02:40But tonight, Nick Aldis has the first opportunity to get into the ring in WWE.
02:46And it has been an emotional time, Wade Barrett, for Nick Aldis.
02:51I'll get to that in a second, Michael Cole.
02:53But please, please, this is Nick Aldis making his WWE in-ring debut at SummerSlam
03:02to the Biblical Jews of Oasis.
03:06It's every Englishman's dream.
03:10Congratulations, Nick.
03:12Biblical and infinite Michael Cole.
03:15I've never heard your voice go that high.
03:17But what a reception for Nick Aldis here tonight.
03:20On the Chris VanVleet podcast this week, talked about the torturous pressure that is on him tonight.
03:27He was extremely emotional, saying he finally gets an opportunity,
03:31and he doesn't want to let anyone down.
03:34That it might be my one shot here at WWE.
03:38He said, I had it come to me quickly.
03:40At 21 years old, I wasn't ready for the big time.
03:43He went on to beat Cody Rhodes for the NWEA World Title.
03:47He would beat the likes of Kurt Angle and AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy in his career.
03:52But tonight, Aldis with an uphill climb against Gunther.
03:55Yeah, make no mistake about it.
03:57This is not Michael Scott taking off the suit and stepping in the ring.
04:00This is a world champion level competitor.
04:03But I will add the fact that three years out of the ring
04:06and immediately stepping in at this level
04:09against arguably the best belt-to-belt in the world in Gunther
04:12is potential suicide.
04:18Let's face it, at some point ring rust can indeed become permanent.
04:22So these may be nervy early moments here for Nick Aldis.
04:26Yeah, Aldis under a lot of pressure against the ring general, Gunther,
04:29one of the greatest wrestlers on the planet today.
04:32If you're Aldis, what do you need to do to pull off a miracle?
04:35Well, first of all, before anything else, you need to control that emotion.
04:38I started out with Nick Aldis back in 2004,
04:40had my first ever in-ring match with Nick in a pub in front of 10 people.
04:45These are boyhood dreams that are coming true for Nick Aldis.
04:48But if he's not careful, this rapidly will descend into a farce
04:53and a nightmare for the Englishman.
04:54Wade, you know Nick Aldis perhaps better than anyone
04:57when it comes to being in the ring.
04:59You had your very first match of your career against this man.
05:02Yes, I did, going way, way back right now.
05:05And I'll tell you, Nick stepping into the ring
05:07with this duration of break these had since he's last competing
05:11is almost like me stepping back in the ring.
05:13I would never think to do it because quite simply,
05:16I think it's mission impossible.
05:18But that's off to this start from Aldis.
05:21And Gunther now are going to prematurely celebrate on our announce table.
05:25What do you think of Aldis so far?
05:28Well, it's more Gunther I'm focused on.
05:30I think Gunther is taking Nick Aldis very lightly.
05:36He doesn't want to make a fool of himself.
05:38And Gunther needs to be careful here because clearly, physically at least,
05:42Nick Aldis absolutely looks the part and more.
05:44Well, Gunther forced this, right?
05:46He went after Nick Aldis on a number of occasions,
05:48believes that Aldis was costing him a number of opportunities
05:51at the WWE Championship.
05:53Aldis had to be a man.
05:54He had to finally defend himself.
05:56Whether you agree with his actions or not,
05:59Aldis had to stand up for himself at some point.
06:02Yeah, I did not agree with Nick interfering in the matchup
06:05at Saturday night's main event a couple of weeks ago.
06:07But put that to one side, you are in the hole now, Nick Aldis.
06:11And you have to be very careful that the fun doesn't end
06:15once that battle rings and this could descend very quickly
06:18into a massive humiliation to the...
06:20Oh, and a cheap shot by Gunther.
06:23Nick Aldis now fighting back.
06:25Aldis said to a 1992 SummerSlam Wembley Stadium in London
06:32was the turning point in his life
06:34when he watched Bret Hart and British Bulldog do battle.
06:36In fact, Bret Hart became his idol.
06:38Bret sent him a text this week wishing Nick Aldis luck.
06:41And now the power of Aldis with Gunther.
06:44Oh!
06:45And down!
06:48Aldis into the cover!
06:49Is it enough?
06:50Gunther kicks out at two!
06:52Oh, what a start here from Nick Aldis.
06:54And Aldis now looking for the Kings Lynn Cloverleaf.
06:58Kings Lynn, the town in England that Nick comes from in Norfolk.
07:01He didn't quite get it.
07:02Oh, God, that was nasty.
07:03That chop dropping Aldis to the floor
07:06and stopped that little flurry by Aldis.
07:10Heavy, heavy landing by Nick Aldis there.
07:13Gunther taking all of his frustrations out on the chest of Nick Aldis.
07:19One shot per transgression.
07:22And this could turn into a bloodbath.
07:24Nick Aldis said that this matchup here tonight with Gunther,
07:28he looks at Gunther as a man who's representing opportunities
07:32that he didn't get in his career.
07:34He said Gunther had a lot of people in his corner,
07:38but Aldis did not as he's driven face first into the ring post.
07:45And Gunther now talking trash to Nick Aldis' wife,
07:52the legendary Nicky James, his son Donovan,
07:55looking on here at ringside.
07:58Yeah, and again, that plays into the emotional aspect of this for Nick.
08:01Having your family at ringside,
08:03watching you getting beaten down by the ring general,
08:05but wait up!
08:06And again, looking for that cloverleaf,
08:08and Gunther has another counter.
08:10Well, that's clearly the mission for Nick Aldis.
08:11Slap on that cloverleaf.
08:13That is his pathway to victory,
08:15at least in the mind of Nick Aldis.
08:17But trying to put it on a technical wizard like Gunther
08:22may be very, very difficult.
08:25You know, Wade, we mentioned Nick Aldis not having a match
08:28in nearly three years as you just take a look at this shot.
08:33Oh, it's the ripples across the chest of Aldis.
08:37That tells its own story, even without sound,
08:40and that will completely knock the wind out of anybody.
08:44Oh!
08:44But again, it's one thing to be in ring shape, right?
08:47Having competed in nearly three years,
08:50but then when you put all this pressure and stress on top of that,
08:54well...
08:55Aldis clearly has the size and power to match Gunther,
08:58but with that enforced layoff from the ring,
09:01does he have the endurance,
09:03and does he have the willpower to battle through
09:06the shots Gunther is giving him on this evidence?
09:09The answer is yes.
09:10Aldis with some rights and then some chops.
09:12Whipped it in a corner by Gunther,
09:14and it drops Aldis to his knees.
09:16And I'll tell you right now,
09:17getting back in the ring at this level,
09:19no warm-up matches whatsoever,
09:22no matches against lesser competitors
09:25to make sure your ring shot may have been a bad move.
09:28Sparring partners, right?
09:30Say that again?
09:30Sparring partners.
09:31He's lost sparring partners,
09:32but even in training is one thing.
09:34Doing game speed in front of a life-paying audience,
09:38in front of TV cameras,
09:39get all the pressure.
09:40Sparring only does one so much.
09:43And you're in the ring against a man
09:45who's a two-time world champion.
09:46He won the world title from Damian Priest
09:49here at SummerSlam two years ago.
09:51Aldis ripping Gunther into the corner now.
09:53And now Nick Aldis.
09:54Knee right to the spine,
09:56and Aldis showing some signs of life.
09:58And again, looking to lock in
10:00the kingling...
10:02the king's Lynn Cloverleaf.
10:04That's a mouthful.
10:05And now Sleeper from Gunther.
10:07Oh, this could be good night right now.
10:09This is usually the kiss of death
10:11when Gunther gets this locked in
10:13and rapidly now Aldis is fading.
10:16Yeah, it's AJ Styles and John Cena
10:17all about this.
10:19Aldis now down to one knee.
10:22Gunther, the ring general,
10:24the career killer,
10:25looking to end the dreams
10:26of Nick Aldis tonight.
10:28It's starting to get overwhelmed
10:30at this point.
10:30And the referee taking a very close look,
10:32but Nick not ready to give it up quite yet.
10:35Nick trying to make it to the ropes,
10:36and he drives Gunther
10:37headfirst into the top turnbuckle.
10:39And Aldis now
10:40with a little bit of an opportunity.
10:42The fans are on their feet.
10:44Aldis feeding off this crowd.
10:45And Gunther with a clothesline
10:47stops him in his tracks.
10:48It's just a game-wrecking move.
10:50I don't care how big and tough you are.
10:53One shot.
10:53Wow.
10:53That right hand will stop Gunther
10:55from making it from the top rope.
10:56But now,
10:57what does Nick Aldis have in mind?
10:59Nick's happy to fight this one out
11:01in the trenches.
11:02And a superplex by Aldis.
11:05And Nick's got a chance.
11:07The official Dan Engler
11:09checking on both men.
11:11Take another look at this
11:13back-and-forth action.
11:15Just a
11:16de-cleating clothesline
11:18there from the ring general,
11:19but replied with this superplex
11:21from Nick Aldis,
11:23and both men wiped out.
11:32Do you still have a chance
11:34for the crowd here in Minnesota
11:36directed to Aldis?
11:38I mean,
11:39this has been stunning
11:40from Aldis.
11:41And Aldis now
11:42is taking control.
11:44I can't believe Aldis
11:45has stayed in the fight
11:46as long as he has.
11:48Gunther now
11:48with chopped
11:49trying to drive Aldis
11:50back to the ropes.
11:51Nick Aldis
11:52trying to show signs of life.
11:54Off the ropes now
11:55with a clothesline
11:55dropping Gunther again.
11:57Nick Aldis
11:58fighting back.
11:59Nick has the momentum.
12:00Oh,
12:00just what I was about to say.
12:02Has the momentum
12:03snatched right back
12:04by the ring general.
12:05And Aldis
12:06and now
12:07outwitted
12:08Gunther there.
12:11Gunther back to his feet.
12:13Aldis as well.
12:14Lifting
12:14Gunther up.
12:17Shades of Davey Boy
12:18with a running power slam.
12:20Hooks both legs.
12:21Gunther kicks
12:22at two.
12:24Yeah,
12:24Englishmen of a certain
12:25generation
12:26love that move
12:27more than any.
12:29Thanks,
12:29as you said,
12:30to Davey Boy Smith,
12:31the British Bulldog.
12:33Main events
12:34are a SummerSlam 92
12:35winning the
12:37Intercontinental Championship.
12:39And as I mentioned,
12:39the match that really
12:40made Nick Aldis believe
12:42he wanted to be
12:43a professional wrestler.
12:44And this has just been
12:45stunning from Nick.
12:46Aldis
12:47now scaling the heights
12:48and could put this one away.
12:50Aldis top rope,
12:51nobody home.
12:51Gunther ducked underneath.
12:52Aldis back to his feet.
12:54Gunther misses
12:54with a big boot.
12:55Aldis now with an opportunity
12:56right to the leg.
12:58Can he soften it up
12:59for the cloverleaf?
13:00Nick looks as good as Nick.
13:01Nick's an old good driver
13:02by Nick Aldis.
13:04A version of it anyway.
13:05Didn't get all of it
13:06as he delivered the slam
13:07to Gunther.
13:08And now Aldis
13:09is going to head up
13:09to the top rope now.
13:11And struggling a bit.
13:13You would expect that
13:14in this high stakes matchup.
13:16Elbow from the top.
13:18Shades of the Aldis of old.
13:19And what a bullseye.
13:21And Gunther's in big trouble here.
13:23Nick Aldis may be about
13:24to pull off a miracle
13:26at SummerSlam.
13:27How much does Nick have left?
13:29Can he dig down deep
13:30and put the ring general away?
13:32Elbow to the spine of Gunther
13:34who's now writhing in pain.
13:36Oh, this is the one thing
13:37Gunther did not envision
13:38happening here.
13:39And here he comes.
13:41Kings, Lynn,
13:43Kroverleaf,
13:43center of the ring.
13:45Aldis has won titles
13:47with this move.
13:48Gunther's in trouble.
13:49Gunther has nowhere to go.
13:51Can Aldis pull off a miracle?
13:53Oh, center of the ring
13:54and he's turned it over.
13:55And now Gunther,
13:56look at his face.
13:57Gunther may tap.
13:59Gunther may tap.
14:00How embarrassing this would be
14:02for the career killer.
14:04And he makes it
14:05to the bottom rope.
14:09Oh, tantalizingly close
14:11for Nick Aldis
14:12to pull off
14:13the biggest shock
14:15of the year.
14:16Yeah, but Nick can't be
14:16disappointed here.
14:17He's got to get right back
14:18on the attack.
14:19It's still there
14:19for the taking, Aldis.
14:24Nick Aldis understands
14:26this could be his chance,
14:28his opportunity
14:29for one of the biggest upsets
14:31in WWE history.
14:36Will send Aldis into the turnbuckle.
14:38In the corner now,
14:39the sweeper in.
14:40The sweeper in now.
14:41Nice!
14:42Aldis turns it into
14:43a sweeper of his own.
14:45Gunther, though,
14:45creates separation
14:46off a suplex.
14:49And now Gunther
14:50up, down.
14:52Power bomb.
14:53Stacks him up.
14:55Aldis still at it.
14:56Kick at it too.
14:57Gunther again.
14:58Trying to wear
14:59Aldis down.
15:00And this is that
15:01callous side of Gunther
15:03sleeper up
15:04back in gold.
15:05Yeah, the legs
15:05wrapped around
15:06the body of Nick Aldis.
15:07Gunther's saying
15:08tap, tap out, Nick.
15:09End this.
15:10Aldis floated away.
15:12Nowhere to go.
15:13Wrapped up by this
15:14constrictor
15:15in the middle of the leg.
15:17There's a fire burning
15:18inside Aldis.
15:20Do it, Nick!
15:22Nick Aldis
15:23trying to fight back
15:24to a vertical base
15:25and he does.
15:26Aldis trying to
15:27create space
15:28and again
15:29wrestled back to the mat
15:31by Gunther.
15:32Does Aldis have
15:33anything left?
15:35This is
15:35Nick Aldis
15:36has to tap out.
15:41Here is your winner
15:43by submission.
15:45The Ring General.
15:49Goal!
15:50You have to wonder
15:52if the career killer
15:54killed another career
15:57here tonight.
15:58But what a performance
16:00by Nick Aldis.
16:03Well, the face of Gunther
16:05really says it all.
16:07Gunther thought
16:07this was going to be
16:08a walk in the park,
16:10an exercise
16:11in humiliating
16:13his sometime GM
16:15Nick Aldis.
16:17It ended up
16:18being a fight
16:19for his life
16:20for the Ring General
16:22and won.
16:23He only just won.
16:24Hats up to you
16:26Nick Aldis.
16:27Once again,
16:29Gunther survives
16:30here tonight.
16:32Take another look
16:33back at some of this action.
16:35This was the moment
16:36Nick Aldis
16:37shot Gunther
16:38with a sleeper
16:38of his own
16:39but fighting out
16:40with a Saito suplex
16:41before drilling
16:42Aldis
16:43with this
16:44powerbomb.
16:45And surely
16:46this had to be
16:47game over.
16:48The high stack pin
16:49and somehow
16:49Nick Aldis
16:50digging deep enough
16:51and immediately
16:52back in the clutches
16:53of the Ring General
16:55and locked tight
16:56in the center
16:57of the Ring
16:58the hooks are in
16:59and after a
17:00magnificent fight
17:01and effort
17:02from Nick Aldis
17:03the seemingly
17:04inevitable
17:05happen
17:05the tap out
17:06and victory
17:07for Gunther.
17:09Yes!
17:12Woo!
17:14Nick Aldis
17:16has absolutely
17:17nothing
17:18to be embarrassed
17:19about here tonight.
17:55A proud young man
17:56Donovan
17:57the son of Nick Aldis
17:59and of course
18:00the legendary
18:00Mickie James
18:01his beautiful wife.
18:03Woo!
18:06Woo!
18:09Woo!
18:11Woo!
18:11Woo!
18:14Woo!
18:15Woo!
18:15Woo!
18:15Nick Aldis
18:16longed for this moment.
18:18He longed
18:19for this
18:20opportunity.
18:22He said
18:23I'm not a victim.
18:25Success came
18:26to be early
18:26and I wasn't ready
18:28for the spot
18:29and I wasn't ready
18:30for WWE.
18:35He said
18:36he finally
18:36got an opportunity
18:37to come here
18:38and run
18:39Friday Night Smackdown
18:40as his general manager
18:41and now
18:42a lifelong dream
18:43has come through
18:44for Nick Aldis
18:45to be able
18:47to compete
18:47inside a ring
18:49in WWE.
18:51WWE.
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