WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event
December 14, 2024
Uniondale, New York (Nassau Coliseum)
Commentary: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Joe Tessitore, and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Joe Tessitore welcomes us to the show and puts over the return of the classic Saturday Night’s Main Event. It’s a retro feel with new age stars.
Video: Jesse “The Body” Ventura narrates a video with classic clips from past Saturday Night’s Main Event shows.
We go live into the Nassau Coliseum to see a big pyrotechnics display. There is a classic set-up with the multi-colored entrance famous from classic WWF shows.
Pre-Show Arrivals
Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is shown arriving at the arena. Kevin Owens, his opponent, is also shown arriving. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and IYO SKY are shown arriving on split-screen. Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, and World Heavyweight Champion Gunther are in the building. They will compete in a Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Joe Tessitore is on a platform away from the ring, much like the set-up from years past. WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura, clad in feathered boas, emerges. Tessitore is wearing a red bowtie in tribute to “Mean” Gene Okerlund. Ventura and Tessitore talk about the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Pat McAfee makes his entrance to do commentary alongside Michael Cole. McAfee says we’re paying tribute to the past.
Replay: Two weeks ago on Raw, Drew McIntyre returned and attacked Sami Zayn. Last Monday on Raw, McIntyre again blindsided Zayn.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn takes off his shirt and charges McIntyre, punching away at him. McIntyre throws him off and takes his ring jacket off. Zayn pops up and punches him again, but McIntyre chops him down. A “Sami Uso” chant picks up. The referee is wearing the classic baby blue shirt with a black bowtie. McIntyre backs Zayn to the corner and chops him before removing his leather kilt. Zayn ducks a chop and chops away at McIntyre’s chest before doing the classic ten punches in the corner. Zayn punches way past ten before hitting a clothesline over the top rope. Zayn goes to the apron and kicks him back. Zayn then wipes McIntyre out with a slingshot moonsault block to the floor!
Zayn gets McIntyre in the ring. McIntyre greets him with some chops and sends him into the ropes, but Zayn hangs on. McIntyre charges, but Zayn pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Zayn goes for a plancha, but McIntyre catches him and slings him over the commentary table.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, we see McIntyre taking it to Zayn with chops. Zayn fights back, but McIntyre backs him to the corner and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. McIntyre mounts Zayn and punches away at him. McIntyre sends Zayn into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. McIntyre angrily charges, but Zayn elbows him back. McIntyre charges again, but Zayn connects with a boot to the face, followed by a diving ax handle off the second rope. McIntyre furiously charges, but he hits the ring post shoulder-first when Zayn moves. Zayn sets up for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre boots him back before hitting a Double-A spinebuster. McIntyre catches him with a jackknife pin for a two-count. McIntyre immediately follows up with a sitout powerbomb for a near fall!
McIntyre sneers at Zayn. Another “Sami Uso” chant picks up. McIntyre lifts Zayn onto his shoulders and climbs to the second rope. McIntyre sets up for Super White Noise, but Zayn counters with a sunset flip powerbomb! 1… 2… McIntyre kicks out! A “Sami” chant picks up. Zayn goes for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but McIntyre blocks it. Zayn powers him up, but McIntyre fights out of it. McIntyre connects with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre sizes Zayn up for a Claymore Kick, but Zayn boots him in the face and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb! 1… 2… McIntyre barely kicks out!
The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Zayn gets to his feet and fires the crowd up. Zayn goes for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre gets out of the ring. Zayn chases him out of the ring, so McIntyre gets in. As Zayn gets in the ring, McIntyre crushes him with a Claymore Kick for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Backstage Segment
IYO SKY walks backstage with her Damage CTRL cohorts Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane.
Elsewhere backstage, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan is walking with Raquel Rodriguez and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio.
-Commercial Break-
Raw is coming to Netflix on January 6, 2025.
WWE Hall of Famer Tito Santana is at ringside. WWE Hall of Famer Rich Hering, one of the key people in the early WWE, is beside him. WWE Hall of Famer “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart, looking exactly like he did in the 80s, is at ringside with his trademark megaphone.
IYO SKY enters with Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane by her side, but they soon head to the back. Sky will be doing this alone tonight.
Video: There is a retro-style recap of the feud between Liv Morgan and IYO SKY.
Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan enters with Raquel Rodriguez and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, but they let her walk down the aisleway alone.
Women’s World Championship
IYO SKY vs. Liv Morgan (c)
Charles Robinson, clad in classic referee attire, is wearing the Ref Cam tonight.
The bell rings, and Morgan quickly takes Sky down. Sky kips up and challenges her. Sky hits the ropes and does some handsprings, but Morgan dropkicks her down. Morgan connects with a running back elbow and rolls away, but Sky floors her with a dropkick. Sky connects with a flapjack for a two-count. Sky sends Morgan to the corner and charges, but Morgan twists away. Sky joins her on the apron and attacks her. Sky goes for a German Suplex on the apron, but Morgan elbows her away. Morgan goes for a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor, but Sky holds the ropes. Sky kicks Morgan back and hits an Asai Moonsault!
-Commercial Break-
We return from the break to see Sky double-stomp Morgan’s midsection. Sky connects with a pair of clotheslines, followed by a dropkick. Sky does a double kip-up. Morgan rolls out of the ring, and Sky catches her with a tope suicida. Sky gets her in the ring and hits a springboard missile dropkick for a two-count. Sky goes for the Bullet Train attack in the corner, but Morgan moves and hits a backstabber. Morgan follows up with a codebreaker off the second rope for a near fall.
Morgan charges, but Sky boots her back. Sky connects with a German Suplex before rolling through the bridge and hitting a second German Suplex. Sky rolls through the bridge and hits a third German Suplex with a bridge for a near fall. That was cool. Sky heads to the top rope, but Morgan cuts her off. Sky knocks her back and goes for a springboard, but she slips. Morgan immediately catches her with a codebreaker for a two-count. Morgan slaps herself in the face a few times to get fired up. Sky catches her with an inside cradle for a two-count. Morgan stuns her with a step-up enzuigiri, but Sky quickly takes her down with a crossface. Morgan rolls through, but Sky knees her HARD in the face. Sky connects with a Bullet Train attack. Sky goes to the top rope for an Over the Moonsault, but Morgan gets the feet up! Morgan catches her with Ob-Liv-ion for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and still Women’s World Champion: Liv Morgan
Morgan’s nose is bleeding from the vicious knee from Sky moments ago. Morgan celebrates with Mysterio and Rodriguez.
“THIS IS MY BRUTALITY!”
Rhea Ripley walks out to confront Morgan. Ripley stares at Morgan, and Morgan raises the Women’s World Championship up. They stare coldly at each other.
They show a graphic for the Tale of the Tape between World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, Damian Priest, and Finn Bálor. The Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship is next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Elimination Chamber, the last John Cena will participate in, is coming on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
World Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh head to the ring. McDonagh goes to the back to let Bálor compete alone in the Triple Threat Match.
Replay: Last Monday on Raw, Finn Bálor and the Judgment Day viciously attacked World Heavyweight Champion Gunther and Damian Priest.
World Heavyweight Championship
Triple Threat Match
World Tag Team Champion Finn Bálor vs. Damian Priest vs. “The Ring General” Gunther (c)
The bell rings, and Priest goes right after Bálor. Bálor gets away and attacks Gunther. Priest goes for Bálor, but Bálor escapes. Gunther attacks Priest, and Bálor rolls Gunther up for a two-count. Priest and Gunther punch at Bálor before Gunther boots Priest in the face. Priest knocks Gunther to the apron and kicks him to the floor. Priest hits the ropes and wipes out Gunther with a somersault senton that nearly came up short.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Priest attacks Bálor. Priest knocks Bálor to the corner and charges, but Gunther cuts him off with a big boot. Gunther then boots Bálor in the mouth. Gunther is fired up. Priest fights back at Gunther with kicks. Gunther blocks a kick and chops him down before applying a Boston Crab. Bálor chops Gunther, but that only upsets him. Bálor hits the ropes, but Gunther chops him. Bálor ducks a second chop and hits a Pelé Kick. Priest then wipes them both out with a double clothesline. Priest gets fired up, so Gunther chops him. Priest responds to Gunther with some stiff chops and a punch. Priest unloads on Bálor with some strikes to take him down. Priest goes back and forth hitting Bálor and Gunther with running back elbows. Gunther drops Priest on the apron, but Priest blocks a chop. Priest wrenches Gunther’s arm and climbs to the top rope before walking the top rope a la The Undertaker. Priest hits Gunther with a cross-body block before popping up and hitting Bálor with a flatliner for a near fall!
Priest sets up for a Razor’s Edge on Bálor, but Gunther kicks him to break it up. Gunther goes to hit Priest with a Powerbomb, but Priest gets out. Priest sets Gunther up, but Bálor takes him out with a Sling Blade. Gunther sends Bálor into the ropes, but Bálor ducks a clothesline and hits a Sling Blade. Bálor charges for a Woo Dropkick, but Gunther counters with a Sleeper Hold. Priest boots Gunther down, and Bálor rolls Gunther up for a near fall. Bálor charges, but Priest sends him over the top rope. Gunther locks Priest in a Sleeper Hold and elbows him in the side of the head a few times before cinching it in. Priest gets fired up and powers up before hitting Gunther with a snapmare. Priest goes for South of Heaven, but Gunther chops him. Priest gets fired up and hits Gunther with South of Heaven. Bálor quickly grabs Priest and hits a falling elbow drop. Bálor sizes Priest up and hits a Woo Dropkick. Bálor heads to the top rope, but Gunther crotches him up there. Gunther climbs the ropes and looks down at Priest. Gunther goes for a superplex on Bálor, but Priest clubs the back and hits Gunther with a Razor’s Edge. Bálor immediately hits a Coup de Grâce and covers, but Priest breaks it up! Priest powers Bálor up for a Razor’s Edge, but Bálor counters into a roll-up for a near fall. Priest floors Bálor with a South of Heaven, but Gunther breaks the pin up by pulling Gunther out of the ring by the hair.
Gunther applies a Sleeper Hold on Priest at ringside before hitting a VICIOUS POWERBOMB onto the steep steps! Gunther gets in the ring and hits Bálor with a Tyrannosaurus Dropkick. Gunther immediately follows up with a Powerbomb on Bálor for the win!
Winner by Pinfall and still World Heavyweight Champion: Gunther
Backstage Segment
Kevin Owens is shown warming up backstage.
We see the office of SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. He emerges carrying the Women’s United States Championship. The first-ever champion will be crowned next. Will it be Michin or Chelsea Green?
-Commercial Break-
Joe Tessitore and Jesse “The Body” Ventura break down the action we’ve seen on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Ventura loves Liv Morgan and puts over that shot to the face from IYO SKY. Tessitore asks how tonight compares to the first show from 1985. Ventura says wrestling is bigger than ever and puts the crowd over.
Chelsea Green makes her way to the ring in ring attire decorated with her face.
Women’s United States Championship
Chelsea Green w/ Piper Niven vs. Michin
The winner will be the first-ever Women’s United States Champion.
Jessika Carr will referee this historic match. The bell rings, and Michin avoids a big boot. Green ducks a kick and talks trash. Michin hits a snapmare and applies a rear chin lock. Green twists out, but Michin hits an arm drag. Michin hits another arm drag. Green avoids a third and slaps her in the face before sending her out of the ring. Piper Niven lurks nearby. Michin punches Green as she attempts a tope suicida. Michin then applies a modified tarantula over the second rope. Green gets away and distracts the referee. Niven grabs Michin and slams her HARD on the floor!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Green charge for a Rough Ryder, but Michin counters with a powerbomb. Michin connects with a release German Suplex. Michin hits a second one and connects with a tornado DDT for a two-count. Michin sets up for Eat Defeat, but Green gets out and tries for Un-Pretty-Her. Michin escapes, but Green catches her with a Rough Ryder for a near fall. Green goes to dive at Michin from the apron, but Michin moves. Niven catches Green and falls over a bit. Michin wipes out Green and Niven with a cannonball off the apron. Michin then hits Niven with Eat Defeat on the floor.
Michin is fired up and gets in the ring. Green goes for Un-Pretty-Her, but Michin rolls her up for a two-count. Michin hits Eat Defeat, but she doesn’t get all of it. Michin covers 1… 2…, but Green gets a foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. A “Chelsea” chant fires up. Michin lifts Green and puts her on the top rope. Michin rocks her with some slaps to the face. Niven gets on the apron to distract her. Green knocks Michin back. Michin knocks Niven off the apron. Green slaps Michin and flips off the second rope into the Un-Pretty-Her to become the inaugural Women’s United States Champion!
Winner by Pinfall and new Women’s United States Champion: Chelsea Green
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis gives Chelsea Green the Women’s United States Championship. Piper Niven puts Green on her shoulder. Pyrotechnics go off to celebrate the inaugural Women’s United States Champion.
Coming up next, Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens.
-Commercial Break-
Raw is coming to Netflix on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The Raw on Netflix Kickoff Show is coming on Wednesday at 2 p.m. from WWE Headquarters.
WWE Hall of Famers Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Koko B. Ware are at ringside.
Jesse “The Body” Ventura will be on commentary for the main event. Ventura wants to congratulate Cole and McAfee. They’re sitting in these cushy jobs, and Ventura paved the way for them.
Pat McAfee uses the telestrator to put over Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s outfit to start the show. Ventura says the snakeskin vest came from Damien, Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ legendary python.
Video: Undisputed WWE Championship match
Kevin Owens makes his entrance. He’ll fight Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship next.
-Commercial Break-
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes is wearing the classic WWF Winged Eagle Championship, first used by Hulk Hogan in 1988 and last seen in 1998 with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. This title will be used for one night only. Ventura laments that he never wore the title.
Undisputed WWE Championship
Kevin Owens vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c)
The bell rings to start the match, and Owens immediately gets out of the ring. Owens saunters around the ring and looks at the Undisputed WWE Championship. Owens slowly gets in the ring but drops down and gets out when Rhodes charges. Rhodes follows him out of the ring and attacks Owens. Rhodes backs him into the apron and slams him off the table. Rhodes gets him in the ring, but Owens quickly gets out. Rhodes hits a tope suicida and grabs his injured ankle.
Rhodes gets Owens in the ring and drops down for an uppercut. Rhodes goes for a vertical suplex, but Owens fights it. Rhodes fights back and hits a front suplex. Owens rolls out of the ring to recover. Rhodes follows him out, and Owens tackles him spine-first into the ring post. Owens slams Rhodes off the commentary table and hits a back suplex on the commentary table, a la Randy Orton! Owens looks into the camera and says, “Hi, Randy!”
-Commercial Break-
Picture-in-Picture Commercial Break: Owens slings Rhodes into the ring post before putting him in the ring. Owens stomps the hand and attacks the injured ankle using the ropes. Owens kicks Rhodes in the back of the knee and steps on the injured ankle. Owens takes Rhodes down and jumps on the ankle. Owens applies a toehold, but Rhodes kicks him away. Owens quickly kicks Rhodes in the face before hitting a senton splash for a two-count. Owens connects with a back elbow before doing the Stardust taunt and telling the crowd to “Suck it.” Owens spikes Rhodes with a DDT for a near fall. Owens grabs Rhodes for a back suplex, but Rhodes flips through and drops down for an uppercut. Rhodes puts Owens on the top rope and does a Stardust cartwheel. The cartwheel injures his ankle further. Rhodes punches Owens and goes to the ropes.
Back from the final break of the evening, Owens shoves Rhodes to the side to crotch him on the top rope. Owens connects with a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Owens looks down at Rhodes and sizes him up. Owens hits some stinging left jabs and goes for a Bionic Elbow, but Rhodes fights him off. Rhodes hits some jabs and connects with a Bionic Elbow. Rhodes connects with a running shoulder tackle. Rhodes slingshots over Owens and hits a snap powerslam. Rhodes gets the crowd going, and Ventura shouts, “What’s he waiting for?” Rhodes connects with a Disaster Kick for a near fall. Rhodes gets up and sizes Owens up for a Cody Cutter, but Owens rolls out of the ring. Rhodes puts the brakes on the Cody Cutter.
Owens superkicks Rhodes as he comes to ringside. Owens clears off the commentary table and pulls Rhodes up. Rhodes takes Owens out with an RKO on the table! The table doesn’t break. Rhodes gets Owens in the ring and scales the ropes for a Cody Cutter! 1… 2… Owens barely kicks out. Ventura is shocked Owens kicked out. Owens rolls to the ropes, which Ventura likes. Rhodes puts Owens on the top rope and punches him. Rhodes climbs the ropes and hits a head-butt. Owens starts to fight back and hits a fisherman’s buster for a near fall! Ventura says the referee slow-counted Owens.
The crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Owens waits for Rhodes to get up and goes for a Stunner, but Rhodes fights out. Rhodes goes for Cross Rhodes, but Owens gets out and shoves Rhodes into the referee, knocking Charles Robinson out of the ring. Owens connects with a Stunner and covers, but the referee is down. Referee Eddie Orengo runs down and counts 1… 2…, but Rhodes kicks out! Owens is furious and gets in Orengo’s face. Owens goes for a Pop-up Powerbomb, but Rhodes gets away and hits a superkick. Rhodes goes for a Disaster Kick but accidentally takes out Orengo when Owens moves! Owens sends Rhodes into the ring post shoulder-first.
Owens goes to ringside and grabs a steel chair. Owens gets in the ring and swings, but Rhodes ducks. Rhodes connects with a Cody Cutter and hits a Cross Rhodes onto the chair! Robinson gets to his feet and counts from ringside to award the match to Rhodes.
Winner by Pinfall and still Undisputed WWE Champion: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
Jesse “The Body” Ventura says Kevin Owens may have brought the chair into the ring, but Cody Rhodes is the one who wound up using it. Ventura looks forward to the next Saturday Night’s Main Event in San Antonio.
Rhodes celebrates with the classic Winged Eagle Championship to end the show.
As noted by Mike Tedesco in his live coverage of the show, Rhodes was able to retain the title in the main event after taking advantage of a chair brought to the ring by his challenger.
Moments after Saturday Night’s Main Event went off the air, however, Owens struck back against the champion, laying him out with a package piledriver in the ring, a move not seen since his days in ROH and on the independent scene.
Right after #SNME went off air omg pic.twitter.com/4S0aHt9Tpu
— Andria Parides (@andriadacoolest) December 15, 2024
Owens then took the Winged Eagle championship that Rhodes brought to the ring for the match and made his way toward the stage, where he was confronted by Triple H in a moment that quickly turned into a shoving contest before the chief content officer of WWE walked away.
Rhodes was then stretchered out from the ring following the post-show attack, his status left unknown as of this writing.