Heading into SummerSlam against Gunther for his first match since 2023 (something Nick Aldis says wasn’t because he couldn’t get medically cleared, but admits the time away from the ring has allowed his body to properly heal), the former TNA and NWA World champion sat down with Chris Van Vliet for an Insight interview (embedded in its entirety above).
There are several quotes and clips from CVV’s chat with Aldis making the rounds on the wrestle web this week, and I’ve watched most of the interview
and don’t regret the time I spend doing so. One part really grabbed me, and when I took a second to really think about why, it helped crystalize thoughts I’ve been having all week.
It’s toward the end of the episode, after Van Vliet (who is very good at his job) says that “on behalf of all fans” that he’s excited to see Aldis back in the ring. Nick responds, “I — I hope that I… I hope that I don’t let people down.”
CVV tries to assure him that won’t happen, and switches gears to the now-former SmackDown General Manager’s own expectations for the match. Aldis tries not to show his emotions, but not for long, saying:
“It’s my one shot, you know? Sorry, God… first you got Mickie [James, Aldis’ wife who also cried during her Insight interview with Van Vliet], now you got me [laughs]. I’ve been working very hard…
“I just hope that when it’s all said and done that the people appreciate how hard this was and that I gave it everything I had.”
On the surface, seeing how much having his first WWE match at SummerSlam means to a professional wrestler with Aldis’ resume, especially at age 39 after almost three years away from the ring, is powerful stuff.
But as folks who read my exchange with Thomas “SK” Greene in the comments of another post this week, I can also cynical bastard. So even as I was getting caught up in the emotion of Aldis’ answer, a part of my brain was whispering, “he’s also turning on the waterworks to help sell the match”.
At first, I yelled at that voice to shut up and let me go along for the ride regardless of if any percentage of it wasn’t completely earnest. Then I realized I respect Aldis just as much if he consciously turned up the emotion upon hearing CVV’s prompt/question because he knew it would be good for the build to tomorrow night in Minneapolis. That’s experience and skill in action, in what has to be one of the weirdest, most challenges jobs in entertainment.
It’s also why I don’t want to be told that Aldis was working any of that answer, and especially not in the build to the match. Obviously, the behind-the-scenes process is a big part of why I’m still a pro wrestling fan. But so is the “not knowing for sure”, especially while a story is ongoing.
Aldis’ decision to hand over his GM job in order to stand-up to Gunther’s continued insults and disrespect was not something his character made lightly. The answer he gave CVV not only promotes that story, it strengthens and deepens it.
That’s why I love wrestling, regardless of whether or not I ever hear the backstory of Nick Aldis’ chat with CVV on the eve of SummerSlam.
