Reviews

The John Report: WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 05/24/25 Review

By John Canton • Published May 24, 2025 19:45 EDT
WWE Saturday Nights Main Event May 24 TJRWrestling

It’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event with CM Punk teaming with Sami Zayn against Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, Jey Uso facing Logan Paul, and more.

This is the second Saturday Night’s Main Event show of the year and the third one since the SNME shows returned late last year. It is on NBC and Peacock for those of you in the US. In Canada, I get a Detroit NBC channel, but I’m watching on WWE’s YouTube channel because that’s where they put it for non-US fans.

It’s the first of three WWE nights in a row at the Yuengling Center in Tampa. They are doing SNME tonight, NXT Battleground on Sunday, and Raw on Monday. There was going to be NXT Tuesday night as well, but slow ticket sales canceled that plan. This show has a hard out at two hours, including commercials, which means it’s shorter than Raw and Smackdown, which is fine with me.

From the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, this is Saturday Night’s Main Event. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

The classic Saturday Night’s Main Event song played as Joe Tessitore welcomed us to the show. Some pre-show walking was shown of Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Chelsea Green with Secret Hervice, Zelina Vega, R-Truth, Logan Paul and Jey Uso.

There was an opening video package looking like a 1980s/1990s broadcast of Saturday Night’s Main Event. That led into a video of the current WWE stars wrestling on this show. The classic “Obsession” song was playing again.

Jesse “The Body” Ventura spoke to Joe Tessitore at the table by the stage. Ventura said that with McIntyre and Priest, somebody has to win the match inside the cage. Ventura said you might walk in looking pretty and look out awful damn ugly. Ventura commented on Jey Uso-Logan Paul, wondering if Mike Tyson would take a dive again. That was it for them for now.

The commentary team was Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. The ring announcer was Lilian Garcia.

To start the show, it was tag team action as Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker made their entrance, joined by Paul Heyman. I thought this match might be the main event, but we got it in the opening match.

Sami Zayn was first up for his team and he got a good ovation while the fans sang his song. There was a huge pop for CM Punk as the fans chanted his name before he got out there and they sang his “Cult of Personality” song. It is Punk’s first match since WrestleMania over one month ago.

CM Punk & Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker (w/Paul Heyman)

The faces sent Rollins out of the ring and a double clothesline sent Bron out of the ring as well. Zayn started against Rollins, who put Zayn against the ropes and Bron did a cheap shot to knock Zayn down. Bron tagged in to send Zayn onto the commentary table. Bron jumped off the apron and clotheslined Zayn onto the table, so they went crashing over the table to the floor.

(Commercial)

This is what is on screen during commercials on the YouTube version of the show that I’m watching.

Bron was in control of Zayn with shoulder tackles. There was a sign in the crowd that said, “We R Awful People.” You are, but at least you can admit it. Bron hit a suplex and did some Steiner-style push ups. Rollins was back in, Zayn sent Bron out of the ring and Punk got the tag. Punk hit Rollins with elbows and a jumping side kick. Punk hit a neckbreaker. Punk went for the AA, he kicked Rollins in the ribs and Punk hit a Code Red on Rollins for two. That’s not a move Punk usually does, so good job by him doing something different. Punk hit a bulldog/clothesline on both opponents. Punk went up top and hit an elbow drop on Rollins for two. Bron saved Rollins from a move by Punk, Rollins got a hold of Punk and Rollins hit a Pedigree for two because Zayn made the save. Zayn sent Bron out of the ring. Zayn hit a top rope moonsault onto Bron the floor. They went to another break less than ten minutes into the match.

(Commercial)

Punk and Rollins exchanged punches as the two legal men in the match. Punk went for the GTS, Rollins slipped out of it, Punk avoided the stomp and Punk-Rollins did a double clothesline spot. Zayn got the tag against Bron, Zayn chopped Bron in the chest and Zayn hit a Tornado DDT off the ropes. Rollins grabbed Zayn’s foot, so Punk dove onto Rollins on the floor. Zayn gave Bron and Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckle. Heyman grabbed Zayn’s leg, the referee Shawn Bennett saw it and didn’t eject Heyman for it. Bronson Reed showed up at ringside and gave Punk a Spear through the barricade at ringside. Zayn was staring at Reed and was stunned by it. Breakker gave Zayn a Spear for the pinfall win after about 14 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker

Analysis: ***1/4 A pretty good tag team match that was more about the Bronson Reed appearance to help Rollins and Breakker get the win. Reed has been out since last November with a broken foot/ankle, so it’s good to see him back in action. I figured this would be a good spot to have somebody join the Rollins/Breakker team, and that’s what happened.

After the match, Bronson Reed went into the ring and had a staredown with Bron Breakker. Seth Rollins stepped in front of Bron and hugged Reed, so Reed is part of this group. CM Punk went into the ring to go after the group, but Reed was there to hit a senton splash on Punk. Reed went up to and hit a Tsunami splash on Punk. The fans popped big for the Tsunami. Rollins posed with Reed, Breakker and Heyman.

Analysis: This is what I wrote about Reed in my Raw review on May 12: “I don’t know if they will have somebody join them, but I think Bronson Reed would be a perfect fit since he will probably be back soon. I’m just saying it would make sense if it were somebody like him, but they could go with other options.” I know Reed and Rollins were rivals in the past, but plenty of rivals have become allies in pro wrestling history. They can say they earned respect because of their feud. I like Reed in this group. The group needs a name, but I like the people in it and I think they will be a dominant heel group for most of the next year and beyond.

Chelsea Green was interviewed by Cathy Kelley backstage. Green said she was going to become the Women’s US Champion again. Green sounded like she was losing her voice, so Cole was happy about that.

The entrance of Chelsea Green took place for her match against Zelina Vega.

(Commercial)

Women’s United States Championship: Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven & Alba Fyre)

This is Vega’s first title defense. Green hit a running forearm attack early on. Vega came back with a headscissors takedown. Vega hit a knee smash to knock Green out of the ring. Green got a hold of Vega on the apron and Green gave Vega a Powerbomb on the floor. Back in the ring, Green got a two count. Green slapped Vega in the face and did a head slam into the mat. Green grabbed a chinlock. Vega hit a jawbreaker, so Green came back with a boot to the face. Green tried a splash off the ropes, but Vega moved and Vega kicked Green. Vega hit two clotheslines, along with a belly-to-back suplex. Vega hit a running double knee attack. Green avoided a move, then she did a spinning slam and Vega managed to hit a backstabber. Vega went for the 619 kick that didn’t look clean and Vega still kicked Green in the nose. Fyre distracted the referee, so Niven tripped up Vega on the turnbuckle and McAfee made a “Doudrop” reference. Vega got a hold of Green on the turnbuckle and Vega hit a Code Red off the top rope for the pinfall win. Green was bleeding from the nose because of that botched 619 kick. It went about six minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Zelina Vega

Analysis: **1/4 A shorter match with some sloppy moments. The champion retains her title, as I figured would happen because it didn’t make sense to put the title on Green again. That 619 attempt was ugly, and it busted open Green’s nose. The finish was good since it was a Code Red off the top and executed correctly.

The John Cena match against R-Truth was up next.

A commercial aired for SummerSlam on two nights in New Jersey on August 2nd and August 3rd.

(Commercial)

The WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart was at ringside. Jimmy doesn’t look that much older than when he was a regular on TV 30 years ago. There was also WWE Hall of Famer Bushwhacker Luke at ringside.

A new match was announced at Worlds Collide: El Hijo Del Vikingo vs. Chad Gable. Vikingo was at ringside, so the fans cheered for him.

Analysis: That will be an incredible match between Vikingo and Gable.

There was a video package about John Cena’s heel turn as part of his retirement tour. It included highlights of Cena winning the WWE Title for a record-breaking 17th time from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. Cena used a belt shot to win that night and he used a belt shot to beat Randy Orton at Backlash too. They showed this video on SmackDown last night too.

A commercial aired for WWE Unreal on Netflix. It’s coming this summer.

(Commercial)

A commercial aired announcing that the NXT Great American Bash, Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution (women’s only PLE) are coming on July 12 and July 13. They will all be in Atlanta.

Analysis: I’m so glad that the women’s only Evolution PLE is coming back. It took seven years for them to do it again. I’m happy for the ladies. There should be some awesome matches at that show. It sounds like GAB and SNME will be taking place on the same night, but I could be wrong about that. We’ll find out more soon.

The Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena made his entrance wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers orange creamsicle style “Last Time Is Now” shirt. There were a lot of boos, but some people were cheering too. Cena lived in Tampa for most of the last 20 years. When Cena got into the ring, he called for his music to stop. Cena made Garcia announce him as the Greatest of All Time and the Last Real Champion, John Cena.

R-Truth made his entrance to John Cena’s music. Truth was wearing his own version of a Cena shirt because Truth is great like that.

John Cena vs. R-Truth (Ron Cena?)

This is not for Cena’s WWE Title. While Truth was posing, Cena clotheslined Truth and the referee called for the bell. That’s not really nice when the referee called for a bell after Truth took a clothesline. The fans chanted, “Let’s Go Cena/Cena sucks” for the champion. Cena sent Truth hard into the turnbuckle. The fans chanted, “You Can’t Wrestle” and others chanted “Yes You Can” in support of Cena. Cena hit two shoulder tackles and the spinning suplex. Cena connected with the Five Knuckle Shuffle fist drop. Cena picked up Truth, but Truth broke free and hit two shoulder tackles. Truth hit his own spinning slam. Truth hit his own version of the Five Knuckle Shuffle fist drop. Truth gave Cena the Attitude Adjustment for just a two count. Truth applied the STF, so Cena got to the ropes to force a break. Cena went to the floor, Truth went after him, and Cena sent Truth into the ring post. Cena put Truth into the ring. Cena grabbed the WWE Title, he teased hitting Truth and then Cena stopped himself. Cena gave the title to referee Jason Ayers, the referee put the title out of the ring, Cena did a low blow kick and Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment for the pinfall win after five minutes.

Winner by pinfall: John Cena

Analysis: ** An easy win for John Cena, as expected, since R-Truth doesn’t win much in this era. Truth did get that nearfall after the AA, but other than that, it was all Cena. I’m not surprised by the low blow spot since Cena has done cheap finishes for all of his heel matches. It’s cheap heat, but it works.

After the match, Cena’s music played and Cena called for his music to stop playing, so it stopped. Cena hit Truth in the head with the WWE Title and Cena left the ring. Cena walked to the back while the fans booed him.

Analysis: I thought Cody Rhodes might return here, but there was no sign of him. If Cena attacked Truth more after the match then it would have made sense for Cody to come back. Nope.

A video package aired about the long Drew McIntyre-Damian Priest feud to set up their Steel Cage Match.

The steel cage was lowered around the ring for the McIntyre-Priest match up next.

A commercial aired for WWE NXT Battleground on Sunday night.

(Commercial)

The World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso was shown walking backstage when the WWE Champion John Cena approached him. Jey said that the last time he saw Cena he was beating Cena to win the Royal Rumble. Cena talked about the possibility of Logan Paul winning the World Heavyweight Title, which would mean a YouTuber would be holding the World Title. Cena said it’s almost like that would ruin wrestling. Cena said he’ll be watching.

Analysis: I find it funny when people interact and we have to pretend like they haven’t seen eachother in nearly three months. Anyway, Cena’s promo was a way to put pressure on Jey Uso to win his match.

They showed WWE legends Lelani Kai and Tatanka at ringside.

The WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura joined commentary for this match.

Steel Cage Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest

You can win this match by pinfall, submission, leaving through the door, or climbing over the cage to the floor.

Drew attacked Priest before he got in the cage, but Priest fought back and the match began. Drew tried sending Priest into the cage, Priest blocked it, Drew hit some chops and Priest hit a flatliner. Priest hit a superkick. Drew did an eye gouge, but Priest came back with a boot to the face. Drew sent Priest into the cage. Drew picked up Priest and sent Priest into the cage like a dart. They went to a break there.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Drew battling Priest on the top rope. Drew knocked Priest down. Drew jumped off the top rope, Priest avoided that and hit a jumping kick. Priest hit South of Heaven for just a two count. Priest tried to climb out of the cage, but Drew went after him and Drew hit a superplex from the top of the cage. That was very impressive for two big dudes like these two. Drew hit a Claymore Kick for just a two count. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Priest and Drew exchanged strikes. Priest kicked Drew in the body a few times, Priest hit a forearm smash and a running elbow smash. Priest avoided a Drew move and Priest got a two count. Drew hit his own version of a South of Heaven sitout Chokeslam for a two count. Jesse complained about the he referee’s slow count, which is classic Jesse commentary. Drew picked up a steel chair that he put into the ring before the match. Drew did a chair jab to the ribs and two chair shots to the back. Drew set up Priest’s head against a steel chair that was against the turnbuckle, Drew went for a Claymore Kick, Priest moved and Drew kicked the chair. Priest hit Drew in the body with the chair. Priest jabbed the top of the chair into Drew’s throat. Priest hit a South of Heaven. Priest put a chair under Drew’s head and Priest had another chair. Priest did a Conchairto chair smash to the head as Cole mentioned that Priest did that to his mentor Edge a few years ago. Priest walked out of the door and down a few steps. Priest walked to the floor to win the match. It went 14 minutes.

Jesse complained about how you can win it by walking out the door. Cole tried to explain that’s how the rules work. Jesse said that Priest walked out like a coward.

Winner by escaping the cage: Damian Priest

Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was an excellent Steel Cage Match. It felt like a fight from the moment it started, and it ended emphatically with Priest doing the dreaded Conchairto for the win. I thought the spot where Drew suplexed Priest off the top of the cage was awesome. When Priest kicked out of the Claymore Kick, I thought that would lead to Priest winning. Drew won at WrestleMania and I thought the feud ended there, but here we are a month later and Priest got this decisive win, so that’s probably the end of this rivalry.

After the match, Drew McIntyre tried to get back up while some referees and security guys tried to help Drew out of the ring. There were EMTs trying to help Drew, but Drew shoved them off.

Analysis: It was reported by PWInsider Elite that Drew is going on an extended break due to some injury, so that’s why Priest won so decisively.

The Jey Uso-Logan Paul main event was next.

(Commercial)

The US Express duo of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham were at ringside. They are WWE Hall of Famers. Happy birthday yesterday to Mike’s late, great son Bray Wyatt, whose real name is Windham after Uncle Barry.

Jesse Ventura spoke at the table with Joe Tessitore. Ventura said he was most impressed by Bronson Reed’s return and Reed destroying CM Punk.

A video package aired about the Jey Uso-Logan Paul match.

The World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso made his entrance from the upper deck part of the arena. The fans were going crazy Yeeting with Jey. Cole mentioned it was 15 years ago tonight when The Usos debuted on WWE Monday Night Raw. It’s been an incredible journey for Jey and his family. Jey was Yeeting with a kid, who absolutely loved it. They went to a break.

(Commercial)

World Heavyweight Championship: Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul

There were about 11 minutes left until the top of the hour. Jey knocked Paul down with a shoulder tackle. Paul jumped over Jey and Jey hit an uppercut punch. Paul elbowed Jey and Paul hit a boot to the face. Paul hit a Blockbuster off the turnbuckle. Jey was on the floor, so Paul did a slingshot dive over the top to knock down Jey with a cross body block.

(Commercial)

Jey was in control with a running hip attack against the turnbuckle for a two count. Jey jumped off the top, Paul got his knees up to block and Paul got an inside cradle for two. Paul put Jey on his shoulders and Paul hit a rolling senton. Paul went for a Lionsault, but Jey got his knees up to block. Jey hit a popup Samoan Drop for a two count. Paul pulled the middle turnbuckle pad off. Jey clotheslined Paul out of the ring. Jey went for a suicide dive, but Paul blocked it with an elbow smash. Paul sent Jey into the turnbuckle. Paul went for the leaping lariat, but Jey hit a superkick for two. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Jey charged, Paul sent Jey shoulder/head first into the exposed turnbuckle. Paul hit a powerful punch for a two count. The fans chanted, “F**k you Logan” as Jey hit a superkick. Jey went up and hit an Uso Splash for two because John Cena pulled the referee out of the ring.

John Cena went into the ring and punched Jey a few times. Cena choked Jey with his headband. Cody Rhodes made his triumphant return and he got a huge pop. Cody went into the ring and hit an uppercut punch to Cena. Cody hit Cross Rhodes on Cena. Paul tried to attack Cody with brass knuckles, but Cody avoided it and Jey hit a Spear on Paul. Jey went up top and hit an Uso Splash for the pinfall win. The match was still going on? Sure. It went about 10 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jey Uso

Analysis: ***1/4 The ending was chaotic, but I liked the match they put together and the pacing of it. They worked at a fast pace. Cena pulling the referee out of the ring should have led to a DQ, but instead, the match kept going. Cody made the save, and Jey was able to get the win. Jey retaining was the obvious result.

Cody Rhodes did a promo saying that John Cena has ruined enough. Cody said that he’s back and he’s ready to fight. Cody said that Cena’s got a partner in Logan Paul, Cody’s got a partner in Jey Uso and Cody said we’ll see you at Money in the Bank. Cole shouted that it was two weeks away. End show.

Analysis: Welcome back, Cody. There will be a big tag team match for Money in the Bank in two weeks. I like it. The fans liked it. It is a good way to end the show on a happy note. There was a rumor about Travis Scott joining the Cena-Paul team and maybe Jimmy Uso joining the Cody-Jey team, but I would just prefer a regular tag team match with Scott not in the match. Just saying.

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Three Stars of the Show

  1. Bronson Reed – Welcome back.
  2. Damian Preist/Drew McIntyre
  3. Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker

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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 was entertained by the show. Past SNME events have been uneventful, but this one had some cool moments and big returns. It was a newsworthy show since Bronson Reed came back to join the Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman group. The group needs a name, but I certainly like how strong they are.

Cody Rhodes also made his return after missing over one month. After Cody helped Jey Uso fend off Logan Paul and Cody took care of John Cena, it set up Cody challenging the heels to a tag team match at Money in the Bank. It was a strong way to end the show.

There wasn’t any one match that blew me away in terms of greatness, but I thought the Damian Preist/Drew McIntyre match was the best of the night. There were two other shorter matches and then two more matches were pretty good.

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Thanks for reading. You can contact me using any of the methods below.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport