It’s the final exam for the year, so let’s get into the Saturday Night’s Main Event 2024 report card because the grades are in!
Also Read: WrestleMania Plans For Cody Rhodes?
In General:
It’s my report card, so I am throwing this here first. The overall look and feel did it for me. WWE embraced the retro. They saw a gap in the calendar, didn’t want to shove a PLE in there, and revived a classic.
But they didn’t just revive the name. Oh no, not just that. We had the old-school referee gear. The old ring ropes. You saw the old school entrance guard rails (that look like bike racks!). For the presentation, WWE gets an A++.
Match One: Drew McIntyre defeats Sami Zayn
Solid ten-minute opening match that didn’t feel like an opener. This is a hot new feud, and the match reflected it. Plenty to like about both Superstars. Drew takes the win with a Claymore, and I am perfectly fine with this outcome. McIntyre needs wins, the company needs some dominant heels, and he can be one.
Liked this a lot, and this is certainly not the end of things between them. Match grade: B+
Match Two: Liv Morgan retains the Women’s World Championship over IYO SKY
I looked up and down the card and figured Liv had a decent chance of leaving Long Island without her gold. Whether they’d have IYO win, or give us a Tiffy cash-in, this one seemed ripe for a big moment.
Turns out I was wrong. We did have a slip or two (unless SKY falling on her springboard attempt was planned), but overall, lots of enjoyable action. Liv gets the win after nailing Oblivion. Match grade: B
Match Three: GUNTHER retains against Damian Priest and Finn Balor
As with most any triple threat, this one was a train wreck. In a good way, of course, with a lot of action. In the end, Balor gets pinned by the Ring General, and GUNTHER retains. I feel like there’s a lot more to the story here, but I think mostly we will get more of Balor and Priest after this.
If I had to guess, WWE will take GUNTHER to a new challenger in January, but it’s only a guess and I am probably wrong. Match grade: B
Match Four: Chelsea Green defeats Michin to become the 1st Women’s United States Champion
Heading into this, we were in good shape. Old WWE booking, under Vince McMahon? We’d have gotten two former champions like Bayley and Bianca Belair in the finals. Nothing at all against either woman, but they aren’t who this belt was created for.
Having two women in the finals in Michin and Chelsea Green who have done a lot, but never held singles gold in WWE? That was big. Right, call on the finalists. Interestingly, WWE fans in Long Island were cheering for Chelsea, and they got their wish. Green pinned Michin to make WWE history. Were the chants all coming from Matt Cardona’s family? Would have been nice to spot the former Long Island Iced-Z, but this match grade? Still an A+ for me. Definitely a high point for this Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Also Read: Could Matt Cardona Finally Return To WWE?
Match Five: Cody Rhodes retains against Kevin Owens
This one was deserving of the main event. While the two have battled recently and were friendly, this was quite the opposite. Owens maintains he’s right, Cody is wrong, and that KO is not the bad guy here.
But, Cody has the belt, and for this evening, it was the glorious winged eagle, the best WWE title belt ever perhaps. Please let it stay!
Typical back and forth. Both Superstars got their fair share. The ending came fast after a few referees had been taken out. Owens teased using a chair, but it was Rhodes using the weapon in the end, securing the win.
May have just been meant to divert, but it surely felt a little like Rhodes winning was a touch heel-ish. And there have been plenty who’ve suspected that Rhodes will finish things with a heel turn at some point in 2025.
Match grade? A-
Up next? Another Saturday Night’s Main Event has been announced for January, and I would imagine we will see more in 2025.
