5 New Directions For WWE After Saturday Night's Main Event (25 Jan)
WWE upsetting their own road to WrestleMania 41? Don't dare rule it out.
The latest Saturday Night's Main Event was a perfectly watchable helping of four solid matches and a contract signing skit designed to heighten excitement heading into next week's Royal Rumble. WWE didn't blow anyone away with any of the match results in San Antonio, but they did prove that the general product and roster remains strong enough to carry even the most peripheral of cards.
GUNTHER retained his World Heavyweight Title vs. Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley managed to blast her way through Nia Jax, Sheamus had his heart broken when fighting to become Intercontinental Champ for the very first time, and Jacob Fatu mauled a bloody Braun Strowman. Fans went especially wild for the latter. Behold a new megastar, folks. Fatu will feature in top matches for the biggest prizes rather soon, and deservedly so if this performance was anything to go by.
So, what's next? The Rumble, of course. Then, Hunter's crew will ready themselves for a blistering WrestleMania 41 campaign full of leading lights like John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair and more. The Rock may/may not be involved in that too, but that's really up to Dwayne's schedule (and if he'd fit in last minute).
Some monumental title changes might be heading your way before WWE reaches Las Vegas. It's looking increasingly likely that the Rumble will include at least one shock. Nothing's guaranteed and a lot of this is guesswork, yes, but there's a lot to be positive and giddy about as January comes to a close.
Here are all the hints SNME dropped!
5. Rhea Ripley’s Next Hurdle
'Mami' is crying out for fresh victims.
Rhea Ripley's business with Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio is old news, and she crunched through Nia Jax at SNME like there was some 'Beat The Clock' challenge going on. Nia had an excellent 2024 and definitely wasn't treated like a jobber in San Antonio, but this was all about WWE putting over how dominant Ripley can be on her best day. Now, people's attentions will turn to what's next.
WrestleMania looms, and Rhea will be eager to secure a marquee bout on either night. WWE filmed a quick chat with Ripley post-Saturday Night about how closely she'll be watching the Rumble, and there's always a chance the winner of that could meet her in April. Becky Lynch? Bianca Belair? Charlotte Flair if the rumours about her challenging Tiffany Stratton instead prove false? All of those are viable options for creative.
One thing's clear: Rhea shouldn't be stuck in some short-term challenge like she has been in the past. WWE's pressing objective should be finding Ripley somebody who matches up well to her physically and/or someone who matches up well in terms of title history. Lynch, Belair and Flair all fit the billing there.
Bianca would have to pivot out of the tag ranks and the ongoing Jade Cargill story to make that happen though, which would mean dropping a hot 'whodunit' cold. The smart money would be on Lynch or Flair, if only because there's loads of pre-existing history between those revolutionaries and Rhea.
It'd be easy to pick either story back up where it left off.
4. Sheamus Winning The IC Title
Both Sheamus and Bron Breakker worked hard (as expected) at Saturday Night's Main Event, but one gets the feeling their match was little more than an appetiser for more. At times, it was almost like they were holding back something for later on. Presumably, Triple H believes Sheamus winning the Intercontinental Title for the first time would be a top undercard moment at WrestleMania 41.
He’s right there, and there would've been no need to give that away at SNME just for the sake of sticking a title change on the card. Not every single special or PLE has to feature a title change or it sucks - that doesn't stop shouty comments from screaming into the void on social media about how some "wasted their time" checking the show out because no belts changed hands.
That's complete nonsense. Title changes should always have purpose and be part of a clear plan creatively.
Sheamus looking like he'd just watched a winning lottery ticket float away in the wind is more valuable anyway. Now, the dejected veteran can use disappointment as fuel and have a similar moment to the one Sami Zayn enjoyed vs. GUNTHER back at 'Mania 40. Winning IC is one of the only things the big Irishman hasn't achieved in WWE, but it'll happen before he calls it quits.
Making people wait for that is a good idea. Again, some post-match YouTube/social stuff furthered the story by showing Sheamus backstage second guessing himself. It's going to feel really, really rewarding for long-term fans when he finally bags the workhorse strap.
3. Jacob Fatu Splitting From Solo Sikoa
Good lord, there were a lot of believers in the house. Texas greeted Jacob Fatu like they wanted to be the ones spotlighted in his future WWE Hall Of Fame video packages as 'star makers'. San Antonio chanted, "Fatu! Fatu! Fatu!" over and over again as the ex-Bloodline man beat the crap out of a bloodied Braun Strowman. There was no room for sympathy here!
WWE wanted to put across how dangerous the 'Samoan Werewolf' is, but they might've accidentally pushed him into the hearts of fans due to his overwhelming intensity. The pop when he spits, "I HATE you, Solo" towards old leader Sikoa is going to be immense. There was a look of outright confusion on Jacob's face when Solo walked out on SmackDown recently, so you just know that schism is coming soon.
Granted, Fatu's match with Strowman was nothing to write home about. It won't win any 'Match Of The Year' awards or be remembered bell to bell, but Jacob battering Braun like a man possessed was the real lure when this confrontation was announced in the first place. Strowman bleeding from the mouth and looking totally out of it after taking multiple moonsaults from Fatu was all you needed to see.
News has filtered through about WWE scrapping The New Bloodline name for Solo's group. Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa (once he returns), Bronson Reed (similar) and Sikoa will have to find their own paths. They might not be able to walk the same one as Jacob. He's heading to the top and could realistically hold one of the bigger belts by the end of 2025.
2. GUNTHER Prepping For John Cena?
On the whole, Jey Uso and GUNTHER worked wonders to add a shred of doubt to fan minds during their World Heavyweight Title bout on Saturday. An Uso splash and several other big moves made ringsiders temporarily believe that they were going to see a shock belt change. It wasn't to be, and the finish did seem to be rushed; GUNTHER was spotted shouting instructions to Jey seconds before recovering from the splash to hit some powerbombs for the win.
Like Rhea Ripley, it's now onto bigger challenges for the 'Ring General'. He's pretty much locked in to lose his title around WrestleMania time and then probably switch brands over to SmackDown. John Cena winning the Royal Rumble then earning his 17th World Title in April sounds likely. Being honest, WWE could even get to that match even if someone else gets the nod in the 30-man match next week.
CM Punk, for example.
The fanbase would accept Cena going after GUNTHER regardless of Rumble results. That'd be a massive spot for the Austrian to find himself in too, and it'd be one million times preferable to him personally than a bout with Bill Goldberg. On that, WWE has reportedly scrapped Bill's planned appearance on the 27 January Raw, so God only knows what's happening with the former WCW man.
This writer wouldn't be aghast if GUNTHER beat Goldberg after all en route to a title loss against Cena. It'd feel like a waste if 'Big Match John' didn't get to hoist a World Title high above his head one last time during this retirement run. Then, he can sing 'na na na-na na' at Ric Flair's record.
Or write, 'Ric Flair Is Poopy' on a limousine. Whatever suits.
1. Kevin Owens Springing A Surprise?!
Never say never on KO hauling down both the WWE and ‘Winged Eagle’ belts at the Rumble. That’d send shockwaves through WWE’s road to WrestleMania 41. Dunno, there’s just something about this heel run Owens has been working his magic on that deserves gold. Speaking of which, Triple H is in a golden position himself, because he can always try it on and then put the belt back on Cody before ‘Mania if needed.
WWE has time on their side here. Don't forget they've still got Elimination Chamber: Toronto sandwiched in between the Rumble and 'Mania on 1 March. If Kev isn't working out as champ and it was only ever going to be a short-term thing, then why not put Cody back in the big chair there? That might not appease those hoping for an unbroken title reign for the best babyface going, right enough.
Shawn Michaels cracked Owens in the jaw with a superkick during Saturday Night's Main Event, and that's one of the first times KO has eaten humble pie in a while. Perhaps there's a reason for that. Perhaps he's going to pull down both belts in Indianapolis and be the "rightful WWE Champion" he claims to be.
Alternatively, Randy Orton could storm in out of nowhere and hit him with a cool-looking RKO off one of the ladders Kev and Cody will be using next week. Don't definitively rule out the prospect of a real shock though. Owens wrecking Rhodes and sticking it to his old friend by temp-killing his WrestleMania ambitions sounds like one hell of a plot twist.
What did you think of WWE's latest Saturday Night's Main Event? For more wrestling, check out 4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (24 Jan - Results & Review) and WWE Royal Rumble 2025: 10 Surprise Entrants We Could See!