Reviews

The John Report: WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 12/14/24 Review

By John Canton • Published 14th December 2024
WWE Saturday Nights Main Event December 14 Review

It’s the return of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event with Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Title against Kevin Owens, and three more title matches as well.

The return of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is here. After WWE signed a new deal with NBC Universal to put SmackDown on USA Network, part of the deal included the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event specials on NBC. The SNME tradition goes back to the first edition back in 1985 at the Nassau Coliseum, which is where this episode is taking place. It’s the 37th SNME special and the first one since August 2, 2008, which featured a Great Khali win over Jimmy Wang Yang on it. At least this SNME return should bring us back to some of the traditions of the 1980s era of WWE, which includes Jesse Ventura being on commentary as well.

It’s the third Saturday in a row where I’m writing a WWE review since there was the Survivor Series PLE two weeks ago and last week’s NXT Deadline PLE as well. This time it’s a TV special on NBC for those of you in the US and for me in Canada watching on a Detroit NBC channel. I know in Europe it’s different with a lot of you watching on WWE’s YouTube channel. The next SNME special is on January 25th, 2025, which will be one week before the Royal Rumble. I am looking forward to this show with five matches and four of them are title matches.

From the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York, this is Saturday Night’s Main Event. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport, friend me on Facebook, or chat with me on the Bluesky App as well. Let’s get to it.

There was an opening video package featuring some classic Saturday Night’s Main Event clips from the history of the event going back to the 1980s and into the 1990s. The classic theme song was used as there was a video package featuring today’s WWE stars as well.

They had the old school entrance area along with the long aisle with the diagonal entrance. Those old colors are there as well. It’s really cool to see. They showed some wrestlers arriving earlier in the day including Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, Liv Morgan with friends, Iyo Sky with her Damage CTRL pals, Damian Priest, Finn Balor with JD McDonagh and GUNTHER as well.

Joe Tessitore was on the stage by the entrance area. He introduced the legendary WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Jesse said it’s been 40 years since he started in WWE and he is back. Jesse had a colorful feather boa as well. Jesse was excited about the Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens match while also taking a shot at the looks of Cody’s late father Dusty Rhodes since Jesse is a classic heel announcer.

Analysis: Welcome back, Jesse. I know he has said in the past that he stopped watching WWE years ago, but I believe he’s been watching in the last few months, so he’s probably caught up to the current product or else they wouldn’t put him on the show.

Pat McAfee made his entrance to do commentary on the show. Pat made his entrance and joined Michael Cole on commentary. It was just Cole and McAfee on commentary while Jesse Ventura will join them later.

Analysis: Welcome back to Pat for this show. Michael and Pat will be on commentary on Netflix on Raw on January 6th.

Drew McIntyre was up first looking serious as usual. Sami Zayn got a good ovation from the fans.

Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre

The referee Danilo Anfibio was wearing a light blue shirt and bowtie like the old school referees. They had red, white, and blue ropes. I love to see that.

Zayn was aggressive right away and knocked Drew out of the ring. Zayn hit a springboard moonsault onto Drew on the floor. Back in the ring, Zayn ducked a charging Drew, who bumped out of the ring. Zayn tried jumping onto Drew, but Drew caught him on the floor. Drew tossed Zayn onto the commentary table. The show went to a break there.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Drew in control with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex across the ring. Zayn got a boot up to stop a charging Drew followed by Zayn hitting a double axhandle off the turnbuckle. Drew charged, Zayn avoided it and Drew hit the turnbuckle. Zayn charged, Drew got a boot up and Drew hit a spinebuster for two. Drew hit a sitout Powerbomb for two. Drew set up for a move off the middle ropes, but Zayn countered it with a sunset flip Powerbomb for two. Zayn went for a lift, Drew got out of it and Drew headbutted Zayn to knock him down. Drew charged, but Zayn hit him with a boot to the head and Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two, which is normal for that great nearfall move. The fans were chanting “this is awesome” for them. Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick, Drew left the ring. When Zayn left the ring, Drew went back in, Zayn was back in after him and Drew hit a Claymore Kick for the pinfall win at 10:05.

Winner by pinfall: Drew McIntyre

Analysis: ***1/2 These guys are great and they were given enough time to have a competitive match. Drew could have won convincingly and that would have been fine, but I’m glad that Zayn got plenty of offense. Drew outsmarted Zayn for that finish since Zayn went after him on the floor and Drew went back into the ring to create some space leading to the Claymore Kick for the win. Drew lost his last match against CM Punk at Bad Blood, so it was important for him to get a win here.

There was some backstage walking shown of IYO SKY with Damage CTRL while Liv Morgan was with The Judgment Day. That Morgan-Sky match was up next.

(Commercial)

A quick graphic was shown to remind us that WWE Monday Night Raw is moving to Netflix on January 6th.

There were some WWE legends shown at ringside including WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana, Rich Hering and Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart, who has appeared on 24 Saturday Night’s Main Event shows in the past according to Cole. Hering was a long-time WWE employee who won the Warrior Award in 2021.

IYO SKY made her entrance joined by Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai & Kairi Sane. Sky went to the ring alone leading to a video package about the Morgan/Sky match. Sky earned the title shot after winning a battle royal.

Liv Morgan made her entrance as the Women’s World Champion. Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio were with Liv, but they ended up staying in the back for the match.

Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY

There was a nice dropkick by Sky early on. Cole noted that Liv hasn’t lost a singles match since March. Liv tried a move off the apron, but Sky kicked Liv down. Sky hit an impressive springboard moonsault onto Liv on the floor. That led to a break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Sky hitting multiple dropkicks to knock Liv out of the ring again. Sky hit a suicide dive onto Liv on the floor. Back in the ring, Sky hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Sky charged with running knees, Liv avoided it and Liv hit the Backstabber double knees. Liv jumped off the turnbuckle with the double knee Codebreaker attack for two. Liv likes the knee offense. Sky came back with a German Suplex two times in a row followed by a third German Suplex by Sky for two. There were “Let’s Go Iyo” chants for Sky. Sky went up top, Morgan pushed her and Sky pulled on the arm on the top rope. Sky slipped off the top and Morgan hit double knees again for two. I don’t think that skip was on purpose, but they recovered well. Sky did an inside cradle. Sky grabbed Morgan in a Crossface submission, Liv got out of it and Sky hit a knee to the jaw. Sky hit the running double knee attack against the turnbuckle. Sky went up top and jumped off with a moonsault, but Liv got the boots up. Liv hit the Oblivion off the ropes for the pinfall win at 9:05. Morgan was bleeding from the nose.

Winner by pinfall: Liv Morgan

Analysis: *** It was a pretty good match with Sky on offense for a lot of the match. Morgan took some nice bumps throughout the match. Morgan got the boots up to block a moonsault and the Oblivion by Liv finished it off. A clean and decisive win for the heel champion.

There was a replay of Sky hitting Morgan with a knee to the nose, so that may have caused the bloody nose that Morgan had.

Liv Morgan celebrated the win with Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio. Before Liv could make it backstage, Rhea Ripley appeared for a staredown with Morgan. Liv held up her title in Ripley’s face. The scene cut away at that point.

Analysis: I think they might do the Ripley-Morgan Women’s World Title match at the Raw Netflix premiere on January 6th. I think Ripley might win the title on that night too.

A graphic went up showing the Tale of the Tape between Gunther, Damian Priest and Finn Balor. That match is next.

(Commercial)

Finn Balor made his entrance as one-half of the World Tag Team Champions with JD McDonagh. They have been champions for 173 days and will defend those titles against the War Raiders on Monday’s Raw. JD left for the backstage area. Damian Priest was up next as Cole taunted Priest because Cole’s New York Mets signed Juan Soto instead of Priest’s New York Yankees. Priest is a New Yorker, so he was a hometown favorite in this match. The World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER was up last and he was booed by the fans.

World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER vs. Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor

The first fall wins in a WWE triple threat match. There are no countouts and no disqualifications.

Gunther and Priest exchanged strikes while Balor slipped out of the ring until it was time to try a rollup. Priest elbowed Gunther to the apron. Priest kicked Gunther off the apron to the floor. Priest hit a somersault dive over the top onto Gunther on the floor. I don’t think Priest got as far as he wanted on that leap, but his legs hit Gunther to knock him down, so it worked.

(Commercial)

Priest was in the ring with Balor, but then Gunther got back in there with a big boot to each of his opponents. Gunther decked Priest with a chop followed by Gunther applying a Boston Crab on Priest. Balor was back in to chop Gunther, so Gunther came back with a chop of his own. Balor hit a Pele Kick to Gunther and Priest ran the ropes leading to a double clothesline. Priest nailed Gunther with chops and a forearm. Priest elbowed Balor in the jaw. Priest hit running corner splashes on Balor and Gunther. Priest did a bit of a top rope ropewalk leading to cross body block on Gunther. Priest knocked down Balor for a two count. Priest teased a Razor’s Edge on Balor, but Gunther broke it up with a kick to Priest. Balor got back into it with a Slingblade on Priest. Balor also hit Slingblade on Gunther. Priest kicked Balor, who pinned Gunther for two. Priest tossed a charging Balor out of the ring. Gunther applied a sleeper on Priest on the mat. Priest powered out of that and Priest hit South of Heaven on Gunther. Balor was back in with a reverse DDT/elbow combo. Balor dropkicked Priest into the turnbuckle. Balor went up top, but Gunther tripped up Balor there. Gunther went after Balor on the turnbuckle, Priest hit Gunther in the back and Priest hit a Razor’s Edge on Gunther. Balor jumped off the top with Coup de Grace on Gunther for two because Priest broke up the pin. Balor countered a Priest move with a sunset flip for two. Priest hit South of Heaven on Balor, but Gunther broke it up by grabbing Priest by the hair. Gunther applied a sleeper on Priest followed by a brief sleeper. Gunther gave Priest a Powerbomb onto the steel steps. Back in the ring, Gunther hit a dropkick to send Balor into the turnbuckle. Gunther hit a stiff Powerbomb on Balor and leaned forward pin for the pinfall win. It went 11:05.

Winner by pinfall: GUNTHER

Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a great match. The story going in was that Gunther might have been losing confidence, but he won this match decisively by taking care of Priest with the Powerbomb on the steps followed by the Powerbomb on Balor for the win. They did some good nearfalls near the end with Priest hitting South of Heaven and Balor hitting Coup de Grace, but those pin attempts were broken up by the third guy. I’m not surprised by the result because I expected Gunther to retain the title.

Kevin Owens was shown preparing for his match in the main event.

The SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was shown walking backstage with the Women’s US Title to crown the first-ever winner of that title.

(Commercial)

There was a shot of Joe Tessitore and Jesse Ventura talking on the stage by the entrance area. Jesse said he loved Liv Morgan after continuing to fight after taking a shot to the head. Jesse said Dominique (or Dominik) knows how to pick women. Jesse said that WWE is hotter today than it was 40 years ago and he put over the fans for being great. The fans cheered.

Chelsea Green made her entrance joined by Piper Niven for the US Women’s Title Tournament Finals. My fellow Canadian Green’s ring gear and hat had pictures of herself on them. Michin was up next and she got a mild applause as the babyface in the match. Michin beat Green in a Dumpster Match a few months ago.

Women’s United States Championship Tournament Finals: Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven) vs. Michin

Michin got an armdrag and then Green slapped Michin in the face. Michin got a hold of Green on the apron and stretched her body against the ropes. Green was in the ring, so Niven grabbed Michin and hit a sidewalk slam on the floor. They went to break there.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Michin countered a move with a Powerbomb. Michin hit two German Suplexes in a row. Michin jumped off the ropes with a Tornado DDT for a two count. Green blocked Eat Defeat and Green ran the ropes leading to the Rough Ryder move that her husband Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder) uses for a two count. Green went for an attack on the apron, but Michin avoided it and Green dove onto Niven on the floor. Michin jumped onto Green with a cannonball on the floor. Michin hit Eat Defeat on Niven on the floor. Green kicked Michin and went for her finish, but Michin avoided it. Michin hit Eat Defeat and it didn’t look like it was perfectly done, so Michin covered for a two count because Green got her foot on the bottom rope. The fans chanted “Chelsea” for Green even though she’s a heel. Niven was on the apron, so Michin dropkicked her down. Green was on the top rope, Green flipped over Michin and Green hit the Unpretty-her for the pinfall win! Green got the pinfall win at 8:08. The fans cheered.

Winner by pinfall: Chelsea Green

Analysis: **3/4 It was a basic match. I think it would have been better if Green beat a bigger name in the finals of the tournament. Beating Bayley in the semifinals felt like a bigger deal than beating Michin in the finals. Michin had a few moments of offense although I doubt many people watching this thought she would win. Green benefitted from Niven being there, which is not a shock. I like how Green hit that finishing move. That was a creative finish.

Chelsea Green celebrated as the new WWE Women’s United States Champion. The fans cheered for Green even though she’s a heel. Green has a strong character, so the fans have gotten behind her. Nick Aldis was in the ring to put the Women’s US Title on Green. Piper Niven picked up Green and put her on her shoulder. There was pyro going off in the background.

Analysis: It was a nice, albeit brief celebration for Chelsea Green. I would have liked a quick promo from Green saying she was the greatest champion in WWE or something like that, which would draw laughs since she just won the title. I’m happy for my fellow Canadian Chelsea. She deserves it.

The Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens main event match was next.

(Commercial)

There’s a WWE Raw Netflix Kickoff show on WWE’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, December 18th at 2 p.m. ET at the WWE HQ in Stamford, CT.

They showed WWE Hall of Famers Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Koko B Ware at ringside.

Jesse “The Body” Ventura joined Michael Cole and Pat McAfee on commentary for the main event match. Ventura congratulated them for being in these cushy jobs and Jesse said he paved the way for them to do this. Pat did a telestrator analysis of Ventura’s outfit. Jesse joked that his snakeskin jacket is Jake “The Snake” Roberts old snake Damien. Jesse was laughing about it.

A video package aired about the Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens rivalry with the WWE Championship on the line. It was a great video recapping KO’s heel turn against Cody and Randy Orton.

Kevin Owens made his entrance as the challenger. On his way to the ring, KO was trying to avoid the fans who were touching his arms. Owens had a shirt that said “Canadian Dream” on it as a nod to Dusty Rhodes being the “American Dream” in his career.

(Commercial)

The next Saturday Night’s Main Event is in San Antonio on January 25th. It’s one week before the 2025 Royal Rumble.

Cody Rhodes was up next as the Undisputed WWE Champion. The fans in Long Island were loud for Cody as usual while singing along with the “Kingdom” song. Cody was wearing the Winged Eagle WWE Championship. It is what Triple H told Cody that he could wear for one night only. It is cool seeing the classic Winged Eagle version of the WWE Title again.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Ring announcer Lilian Garcia did the championship introductions while both wrestlers were in the ring. Owens was seated on the turnbuckle while Cody was hyping up the crowd. The great Charles Robinson was the referee for this match.

As soon as the bell rang, Owens bailed to the floor. Jesse sided with Owens in the storyline, which was not a shock since Jesse always supported the heels. Cody went after Owens on the floor with some punches and Cody sent Owens into the commentary table. Cody hit a suicide dive onto Owens on the floor and Cody sold the left ankle injury. Back in the ring, Cody hit a front suplex on Owens. Owens was on the floor again, Owens tackled him into the ring post and then Owens sent Cody into the commentary table. Owens gave Cody a belly-to-back suplex onto the commentary table. Owens said “hi Randy” to the injured Randy Orton since that’s an Orton move. They went to a picture-in-picture break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with the two men battling by the turnbuckle and Owens knocked Cody off the turnbuckle. Owens hit a Swanton Bomb off the top onto Cody for a two count. Owens worked over Owens with a Dusty combo of punches, but Cody stopped the last one and Cody did his own Dusty combo. Cody hit a powerslam. Cody hit a springboard Disaster Kick for two. Cody went for a Cody Cutter off the top, but Owens left the ring. Owens got a hold of Cody on the floor and cleared the commentary table. Cody gave Orton an RKO on the commentary table, but it didn’t break the table. Back in the ring, Cody jumped off the top with a Cody Cutter for a two count. They battled by the turnbuckle, Cody tried to superplex Owens and we know Ownes always counters that, so Owens hit a twisting Fisherman’s Buster off the middle turnbuckle for a two count. Good spot. The fans were chanting “this is awesome” for them. Cody wanted Cross Rhodes, Owens got out of that and shoved Cody into referee Robinson, who bumped to the floor. Owens hit a Stunner on Cody and covered, but there was no referee to count the pin. Referee Eddie Orengo ran down to the ring and Owens covered Cody for two because Cody got his left shoulder up. Cody countered a Popup Powerbomb attempt, Cody went for a Disaster Kick, Owens ducked it and Cody hit the referee Eddie Orengo to knock him down. Owens brought a steel chair into the ring, Cody avoided it and Cody hit a Cody Cutter off the ropes. Cody hit Cross Rhodes onto the steel chair. Referee Charles Robinson was back up to count the one…two…and three. Cody Rhodes gets the pinfall win. It went 12:03.

Winner by pinfall: Cody Rhodes

Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was a great match that felt like an old-school, classic WWE Title match complete with the ref bump and false finish that will give Owens something to complain about. Cody cheated to win by hitting the Cross Rhodes on the chair, but Owens is the one who brought the chair into the ring and Cody was smart enough to use it to his advantage. I liked the match and I think it would have been even better if they got five more minutes.

After the match, Jesse Ventura correctly stated that Cody Rhodes was the guy that used the chair and he was the one that won the match. Jesse said Cole claimed it was taking advantage, but Jesse called it cheating. Cole reminded us that Owens brought the chair into the ring in the first place.

Cody Rhodes celebrated with the WWE Championship. Jesse Ventura said it was his pleasure to work with them. Kevin Owens was visibly frustrated in the aisle. Cody continued to celebrate with the WWE Title. Jesse said that Cody teamed up so well with that chair. Cody continued to celebrate. That was the end of the show right at the 10 p.m. ET hour so it was a two hour show.

Analysis: I thought there might be some post-match attack by Kevin Owens or perhaps somebody else, but there was none of that. It was Cody’s time to celebrate to end the show on a happy note.

UPDATE: After the show was over, Kevin Owens hit a Package Piledriver on Cody Rhodes. Cody left on a stretcher to sell it while Owens took the Winged Eagle WWE Title. About an hour after the show was over, WWE posted a video of KO’s attack and Cody leaving on the stretcher.

There is also this video of Triple H confronting Kevin Owens about the attack on Cody and getting into a shoving match.

Analysis: It’s a great way to get massive heat on Kevin Owens as the biggest heel in WWE for doing the cheap attack. Owens can complain about how he had the match won, but the referee wasn’t there to make the count. The Package Piledriver was done safely, but Cody selling it like a big deal and doing a stretcher job puts it over as a deadly move. Also, Triple H confronting Owens should get people talking because Hunter getting physical like that is rare in his post-wrestling career. All of it is a smart way to get more heat on Owens and keep his feud with Rhodes going. It’s not over because Cody won this match on this show. The story will continue for sure after all of this post-show content. Great job by WWE filming it and getting it out there on socials too.

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Three Stars of the Show

  1. Cody Rhodes
  2. Chelsea Green – It wasn’t the best match, but I’m happy for her winning her first singles title in WWE.
  3. Drew McIntyre/Gunther

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Final Thoughts on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

I’ll rate this show a 7.5 out of 10.

I enjoyed it. This was like watching a two-hour PPV full of action with commercials in there. Every match went at least two segments, so nothing was too short. It was a predictable show because all three champions retained their titles, Chelsea Green won as expected and Drew McIntyre winning was an obvious result as well.

It was cool seeing Jesse “The Body” Ventura on the show again after all these years. There were a few moments where Jesse got some names wrong a bit, but he’s old and hasn’t done this in a while. I think we can forgive him.

I would have liked to see a promo segment or perhaps some backstage segments just to break things up a little. They could get more people on the show that way too. They really didn’t do any big angles or have any moments that are going to blow fans away. I liked the nostalgic look and that’s cool to see, but I thought there might be some bigger angles on the show. Instead, it was just match after match without much in between. I was hoping for more in terms of storylines. That’s all I mean by those comments and wanting a bit more. It’s fine, though. It’s not like it was a bad show. I liked the matches for the most part, especially the opener and the main event.

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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors & Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport