Cody Rhodes defends gifted “winged eagle” belt at WWE Saturday Night Main Event

On Saturday Night WWE brought back a timeless classic in WWE Saturday Night Main Event. The WWE hasn’t aired this event since 2008. With all the networking changes that are on the horizon for 2025. Saturday was the perfect time to go old school. Jesse “The Body” Ventura was a special guest commentator. Along with the throwback feel, the event was held at the same venue that hosted the first Saturday Night's Main Event -- Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Four championship matches, as well as a grudge match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn took place. 

Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn: McIntyre has been on a revenge tour trying to rid everyone close to Roman Reigns. Zayn took the fight to McIntyre from the opening bell. McIntyre was able to turn things around by catching Zayn as he came off the top rope with a springboard. This allowed McIntyre to toss Zayn onto the commentary desk. McIntyre was fully in control of the match until Zayn was able to counter a few moves and move out of the way to send McIntyre into the ring post shoulder-first. McIntyre ducked out of the ring to avoid a Helluva Kick and then hit Claymore as he re-entered the ring to score the victory. 

Women's World Championship -- Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky: Sky got out to a quick start over Morgan early but was caught by a dropkick. Sky rebounded with a dropkick of her own. Sky would hit a springboard moonsault to the outside to send the show to commercial. Sky continued to hold momentum, even surviving Morgan's counters but slipped off the top rope attempting a springboard, allowing Morgan to get back in the match. Sky managed to come back with a knee to the face and went up top for a moonsault but Morgan got her feet up to counter. That opened things up for Morgan to hit Oblivion to score the pinfall. As Morgan left, Rhea Ripley came out of the entrance and came face-to-face with Morgan for a staredown. To signal that rivalry is far from over.

World Heavyweight Championship Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest:  The action was fierce between all three men, with Balor hitting Priest and Gunther with sling blades. Priest tossed Balor over the top rope but that allowed Gunther to lock in a sleeper. Priest fought out and hit South of Heaven before Balor cut him off, hitting a shotgun drop kick and going up top for Coup de Grace. Priest hit South of Heaven on Balor but Gunther broke the pin, dragging Priest outside and hitting a powerbomb on the ring steps. Back in the ring, Gunther hit Balor with a powerbomb to score the pin and retain the title. 

Vacant Women's United States Championship Chelsea Green vs. Michin: Piper Niven was a huge ringside support for Green as her interference helped propel Green. Counters flowed back and forth between the two, with Green nearly winning the match after a rough rider. Green missed a suicide dive, colliding with Niven before Michin dove onto both women and then took out Niven with Eat Defeat. Michin then hit Eat Defeat on Green but Green got a foot on the rope to break the pin. Niven climbed onto the ring apron to cause a distraction and Green flipped from the middle rope into the Unprettier to score the pin and become the inaugural women's United States champion. Green has been one of WWE’s most valuable rehires. It was cool to see her being rewarded.

Undisputed WWE Championship Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens- Rhodes came to the ring with the gifted “winged eagle” championship belt. The narrative of this match was simple: Owens felt betrayed by Rhodes for partnering with Roman Reigns. The storytelling of this match left a lot on the table for a potential rematch because it could be spun that the heelish tactics Owens tried to use Rhodes was able to capitalize off of. Rhodes crashed into referee Charles Robinson, sending him spilling outside the ring. Owens then hit a stunner that would have had the match won, but there was no official to make the count. Once a replacement referee was in the ring, Owens ducked a Cody Cutter, sending Rhodes crashing into the new referee. Owens grabbed a chair but missed, allowing Rhodes to hit another Cody Cutter then Cross Rhodes onto the chair. Robinson recovered and made the three-count for Rhodes to retain. Owens will express his valid grievances for how the match played out, with him scoring a legitimate pinfall were it not for a referee being taken out and then Rhodes being the man who actually used the chair to score the win.