WWE went old skool on Saturday night time with the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event. The traditional present had not aired since 2008 and the revival befell on the similar venue that hosted the primary Saturday Night’s Main Event — Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. With 4 championship matches, in addition to a grudge match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn, there was loads of motion packed into the two-hour broadcast.
In the night time’s primary occasion, Cody Rhodes outlasted Kevin Owens to retain the undisputed WWE championship, although it wasn’t with out controversy. Owens appeared to have the match received, had been it not for the referee being incapacitated, and it was Rhodes who used a metal chair to get the victory, although it was Owens who launched the overseas object.
The solely title to finish up in new palms was the ladies’s United States championship, with Chelsea Green turning into the inaugural champion with a win over Michin within the event finals.
In the opposite world title matches, Gunther retained the world heavyweight title, defeating Finn Balor and Damian Priest in triple menace motion and Liv Morgan survived a stiff problem from Iyo Sky to stay the ladies’s world champion.
It was a loaded two hours that includes a memorable primary occasion visitor commentary spot from the legendary Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
CBS Sports was with you the complete method by the occasion, offering updates and highlights because the motion goes down within the reside weblog under.
2024 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event outcomes, grades
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn: Zayn instantly took the combat to McIntyre, getting off to a scorching begin that included a springboard moonsault onto McIntyre outdoors the ring. McIntyre was in a position to flip issues round by catching Zayn as he got here off the highest rope with a springboard. This allowed McIntyre to toss Zayn onto the commentary desk. After a business break, McIntyre was totally answerable for the match till Zayn was in a position to counter a couple of strikes and transfer out of the best way to ship McIntyre into the ring put up shoulder-first. McIntyre got here again however ate a sundown flip bomb from the center rope. Zayn countered a Claymore with a boot after which the blue thunder powerbomb for a close to fall. McIntyre ducked out of the ring to keep away from a Helluva Kick after which hit a Claymore as he re-entered the ring to attain the victory. This was a stable opener for the present, showcasing each males and ending with the right winner for the storyline. Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn by way of pinfall. Grade: B
Women’s World Championship — Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky: Sky tried to out-quick Morgan early however was caught by a dropkick. Sky got here proper again with a dropkick of her personal. Sky would hit a springboard moonsault to the surface to ship the present to business. Sky continued to carry momentum, even surviving Morgan’s counters however slipped off the highest rope trying a springboard, permitting Morgan to get again within the match. Sky managed to come back again with a knee to the face and went up prime for a moonsault however Morgan received her ft as much as counter. That opened issues up for Morgan to hit Oblivion to attain the pinfall. As Morgan left, Rhea Ripley got here out of the doorway and got here face-to-face with Morgan for a staredown. Things received clunky down the stretch with a couple of minor botches however the level was to get to Ripley exhibiting up after the match. Liv Morgan def. Iyo Sky by way of pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B-
World Heavyweight Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest: Lots of high-speed jockeying for an early benefit between the three males. After a business break, it was Gunther answerable for the match, the place he shortly put Priest in a Boston crab. Balor tried to cut Gunther however that solely angered the champion till Priest was in a position to hit a double clothesline earlier than no-selling a Gunther chop and delivering a number of of his personal after which taking out Balor with a sequence of strikes. The motion continued to swing between all three males, with Balor hitting Priest and Gunther with slingblades. Priest tossed Balor excessive rope however that allowed Gunther to lock in a sleeper. Priest fought out and hit South of Heaven earlier than Balor reduce him off, hitting a shotgun drop kick and going up prime for Coup de Grace however Gunther crotched him on the highest rope. Priest then was the following to chop issues off with a razor’s edge on Gunther. Priest hit Gunther with Coup de Grace however Priest broke the pin. Priest then hit South of Heaven on Balor however Gunther broke the pin, dragging Priest outdoors and hitting a powerbomb on the ring steps. Back within the ring, Gunther hit Balor with a powerbomb to attain the pin and retain the title. As with each match on the present, issues had been just a little compressed by the point constraints however the three introduced sufficient chaos to make for an gratifying three-way dash. Gunther def. Finn Balor and Damian Priest by way of pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B
Vacant Women’s United States Championship — Chelsea Green vs. Michin: Both girls broke out a little bit of chain wrestling early earlier than a Green counter despatched Michin out of the ring. Michin ended up locking in a modified model of a tarantula. As the referee broke the maintain, he was distracted sufficient to permit Piper Niven — at ringside to assist Green — to slam Michin. Counters flowed backwards and forwards between the 2 after a business break, with Green practically successful the match after a tough rider. Green missed a suicide dive, colliding with Niven earlier than Michin dove onto each girls after which took out Niven with Eat Defeat. Michin then hit Eat Defeat on Green however Green received a foot on the rope to interrupt the pin. Niven climbed onto the ring apron to trigger a distraction and Green flipped from the center rope into the Unprettier to attain the pin and turn out to be the inaugural girls’s United States champion. A wonderful match, lower than the extent of Morgan vs. Sky earlier within the present however WWE delivered the right winner. Chelsea Green def. Michin by way of pinfall to win the title. Grade: B-
Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens: Rhodes was carrying the traditional “winged eagle” belt as he entered the match. Owens ducked out of the ring as quickly because the match began, taking time earlier than getting again within the ring and instantly ducking out once more. This time, Rhodes chased him to ringside and drove Owens’ head into the commentary desk. Owens rolled out once more and Rhodes hit a suicide dive. Rhodes started to promote the ankle that had been attacked by Owens and Chad Gable on Raw, permitting Owens to drop Rhodes on the commentary desk. Back within the ring, Owens stomped and stood on Rhodes’ ankle. Owens would go on to hit a swanton for a two-count. Rhodes started to make his comeback with a bionic elbow and a powerslam. The motion spilled again outdoors the ring, the place Owens hit a superkick and tried to arrange for a powerbomb on the desk, however Rhodes countered with a cutter. Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter because the match went again into the ring, scoring a close to fall. Rhodes hit a twisting fisherman’s buster from the center rope for his personal two-count. Rhodes crashed into referee Charles Robinson, sending him spilling outdoors the ring. Owens then hit a stunner that will have had the match received, however there was no official to make the depend. Once a alternative referee was within the ring, Owens ducked a Cody Cutter, sending Rhodes crashing into the brand new referee. Owens grabbed a chair however missed, permitting Rhodes to hit one other Cody Cutter then Cross Rhodes onto the chair. Robinson recovered and made the three-count for Rhodes to retain. Again, these matches had been delivered in a compressed format, however Rhodes and Owens introduced the products — with Jesse Ventura doing a improbable job on commentary for the match. Owens will once more have legitimate grievances for a way the match performed out, with him scoring a reputable pinfall had been it not for a referee being taken out after which Rhodes being the person who truly used the chair to attain the win. Cody Rhodes def. Kevin Owens by way of pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B+
