All major returns at WWE SummerSlam 2026 in Minnesota
(Courtesy : WWE)
This article is being updated live through both nights of SummerSlam weekend.
WWE SummerSlam 2026 has already delivered one shocking return on Night 1, and with Night 2 still to come on Sunday from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, more surprises could be on the way. This piece will track every major return across the two-night spectacle and will keep updating as Night 2 unfolds.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis stepped away from his desk to face Gunther in his first WWE match in over three years, a rivalry that had been building for months and turned physical when Aldis relinquished his authority role to accept the fight.
Aldis received a massive ovation from the Minneapolis crowd, matching Gunther hold for hold early and nearly forcing a tap out with the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf before Gunther escaped and locked in a Sleeper Hold for the win.
Reports have called the match a “one-off,” but Aldis walking away from his General Manager duties leaves SmackDown’s leadership in question heading into Night 2 and beyond.
Adding to the intrigue, Aldis has since revealed that Randy Orton was one of two people who privately warned him to “stay somewhat ready” for a Gunther match, only for Orton himself to resurface hours later with a shock return in the Punk vs Rhodes main event.
Whether that connection is a coincidence or the start of something bigger is one of the storylines worth watching as SummerSlam heads into its second night.
Night 1 Returns
- Randy Orton
Randy Orton returned to attack Cody Rhodes. In the closing moments of the CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes Undisputed WWE Championship match, Randy Orton made a shock return to WWE television.
With Rhodes stumbling into the ropes after a botched Super Cody Cutter attempt on the referee, Orton ran in and hit him with an RKO, allowing Punk to capitalize with a GTS for the win.
Orton has not been seen on WWE programming since his WrestleMania 42 loss to Rhodes, and this sets up a clear future confrontation between the two.
Night 2 Returns
Night 2 of SummerSlam is yet to take place. This section will be updated as the show airs on Sunday, August 2, with any major returns from Minneapolis.
Did Randy Orton really return at WWE SummerSlam 2026?
Yes, Randy Orton made a shock return during the CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes main event on Night 1, hitting Rhodes with an RKO after he accidentally took out the referee, which allowed Punk to retain the title.
Was Nick Aldis’s match against Gunther his WWE in-ring debut?
Yes, it marked Nick Aldis’s first match for WWE and his first match of any kind in over three years, though he is a former NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
Will there be more surprise returns at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2?
It has not been confirmed yet, as Night 2 is still to take place on Sunday, August 2. This article will be updated with any major returns once the show airs.
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