WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event returned triumphantly on December 15, 2024, after more than 16 years away from the airwaves, presenting its audience with thrilling matches and memorable moments at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The show opened with Drew McIntyre delivering a powerful performance against Sami Zayn, taking the victory and setting the tone for what would be an action-packed night.
McIntyre wasted no time as the Scottish Warrior jumped right on Zayn, tossing The Honorary Uce onto the announce table with brutal precision. The match showcased Zayn’s resilience, highlighted by his counter to McIntyre’s White Noise attempt, which allowed for an explosive sunset flip powerbomb. But McIntyre's Glasgow Kiss and decisive use of the Claymore kicked off SNME with excitement and concluded with his victory.
The Women's World Championship clash followed, featuring champion Liv Morgan defending her title against No. 1 contender IYO SKY. Despite the match being marred by danger, including Morgan getting bloodied from a knee strike, the champion retained after countering SKY’s Over the Moonsault with her finishing move, Oblivion. Following the match, the tension heightened as Rhea Ripley confronted Morgan, foreshadowing future confrontations.
Gunther also showcased his strength by defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest and Finn Bálor in what turned out to be an electrifying Triple Threat Match. Initially, Priest cleared the ring, but Gunther’s relentless tactics turned the tide as he executed a flawless Powerbomb on Bálor, leaving him standing tall as the champion once again. With this victory, Gunther proved to be not just dominant but increasingly assertive heading toward the new year.
Another historical achievement unfolded as Chelsea Green made waves by becoming the first Women’s United States Champion. After engaging Michin in a back-and-forth struggle, Green executed Unpretty-Her to seize the title, right after suffering from minor mishaps mid-match, including accidentally hitting her partner Piper Niven. This win marks Green’s emergence as a serious contender in the women’s division.
One of the headline matches featured the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes facing Kevin Owens. The anticipation was palpable, but the match was complicated by Rhodes injuring his ankle early on. Despite this setback, he demonstrated grit, channeling his father’s fighting spirit to fend off Owens. After several high-impact moves, including Rhodes’ homage to Randy Orton with the RKO, the match concluded dramatically with Rhodes hitting Cross Rhodes on the steel chair post chaos, maintaining his championship reign.
More than just wrestling, Saturday Night's Main Event captured the nostalgia of fans through its presentation, with retro themes and familiar commentary styles enhancing the viewing experience. Jesse 'The Body' Ventura’s commentary stirred fond memories, adding to the old-school feel of the event. The blue referee uniforms and classic aesthetics allowed viewers to feel transported to the era of wrestling glory.
Despite the warm reception to this nostalgic revival, some critics took note of the event's pacing and storytelling, expressing concern over the lack of significant incidents during matches. Hard-hitting entertainment was overshadowed by predictable outcomes, as all defending champions held onto their belts, leaving fans longing for more storytelling depth moving forward.
Overall, Saturday Night's Main Event marked WWE’s return to classic programming and engaged audiences with exciting matches. While some members of the fan base are eager for more engaging storylines, the event itself served as both a celebration of wrestling history and as potential catapult for stars like Drew McIntyre and Chelsea Green moving forward. Wrestlers' performances signaled rising trajectories, hinting at intriguing battles and developments on the horizon.
The indelible mark left by Saturday Night's Main Event is sure to resonate, setting up the stage for future shows. Drawing on legacy names and fresh faces alike, WWE appears prepared for another exhilarating year.
