WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2024: 5 Things That NEED To Happen
5. Retro Rules The Day
WWE has kept the classic Saturday Night's Main Event theme song for this modern update, but Triple H should honestly go all in and do everything he can to pen love letters saying things like, 'I Luv 1989'. Retro style match graphics are very much in, but it'd be so cool if the boss kept things basic on the entrance front too. Imagine a simple WWE logo above a minimalist curtained entrance, for example.
Red, white and blue ring ropes are a must as well. Why not go all out here? The company already has Jesse 'The Body' Ventura on guest commentary, which helps with the nostalgia blast they're preparing to hit everyone with, but it's tiny little touches across the board that'll add to the package. WWE could even slap a grainy, 1980s-esque filter effect over the cameras.
Hey, that's possible in 2K's video games, so again...why not?!
There are rumours doing the rounds that Cody Rhodes will be carrying the old ‘winged eagle’ belt to the ring with him. That'd be enough to make traditionalists worldwide weep tears of joy. Basically, bring all the synths, all the 80s presentation one could stomach, and don't scrimp on the fact that this is a celebration of WWF business being hot whilst WWE business is definitely that.
Hunter doesn't need to keep the 80s filter over everything during follow up SNME cards if he doesn't want to, but give everyone a thrill here. Someone shave Jackie Redmond's head down the middle and give her a little stick on moustache so she can be 'Mean' Gene. OK, maybe that's too far.
4. Bret Hart Tries To Screw GUNTHER Over?!
If Vince was still on the bench calling plays, then he'd be frantically phoning Bret Hart to try sell the 'Hitman' on a match with GUNTHER. 'You don't need to take any bumps, pal - just win the belt, then we'll figure it out later'. That's jest, but it does sound eerily like something McMahon might've pondered during his hellish final few years in charge of WWE. Triple H wouldn't be so daft.
However, 'The Game' might want to link back to something that happened on a September episode of Raw. There, GUNTHER needled Bret by joking that Bill Goldberg was his favourite wrestler. Nope, anything between them obviously wouldn’t lead to Hart lacing up boots one more time or anything silly like that, but it would be fun to use a legend like him in this kind of setting.
More Judgment Day fallout between Damian Priest and Finn Bálor can help GUNTHER escape with his title reign intact come the finish anyway. All Hart would need to do? Get up on the ring apron and distract the World Heavyweight Champion for a minute, or maybe GUNTHER could confront a watching Bret around ringside and almost lose his belt that way.
Options, options, options.
It does look like WWE plans to move away from the GUNTHER vs. Goldberg match they teased back at Bad Blood. So, why not have a bit of a laugh with another legend who has definite SNME lineage? Fans would get a kick out of seeing the 'Hitman' try to screw GUNTHER over as revenge for the prior trolling.
3. Drew McIntyre Wrecks Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn is a gift to WWE creative. He's the kind of sympathetic babyface who also has a bit of fighting spirit, and he can survive brutal losses then come back the next week with fans still chanting his name. That's gold dust to the writers, because it means they can use Sami to hammer home the most vicious parts of heels like Drew McIntyre without sacrificing a valued soldier completely or fearing cries of "burial" from fans.
All hail Zayn. He's great.
Right, back to Drew. In truth, he's the main focus of this match come Saturday night. The big Scot reportedly returned a little earlier than planned due to Bronson Reed's injury at Survivor Series: WarGames (one that could keep Reed out of 'Mania 41). A recent Raw comeback was the first time fans had seen McIntyre since his heralded Hell In A Cell classic vs. CM Punk at Bad Blood in early October. Now, he's back, and he must start lining up victims all over again.
Best case scenario incoming: Drew gets cruel and shows off his proper sadistic side during the match with Sami. His main mission should be hurting Zayn as well as beating him for the three count. Actually, scratch that. Let's have McIntyre paste Sami so badly that it forces a referee stoppage. That'll ease the pain for anyone concerned about where Zayn is going post-Bloodline reprise too.
Sami will lace the match with enough hope spots anyway. He knows what he's doing out there. This has to be Drew's night though. Jey Uso can get involved if he wants, but it shouldn't change the final outcome.
2. Chelsea Green Gets Her Flowers
Pictured above: Chelsea Green at her lowest after losing a 'Dumpster Match' to Michin on the 4 October edition of SmackDown. WWE can flash that pic up on screens during Chelsea's victory celebrations after Saturday Night's Main Event, at least. What's that? You don't think Green has a hope in hell of becoming the first ever Women's United States Champion? Fair enough, but she should be.
She. Should. Be.
Obviously, a lot of this hinges on Chelsea beating Bayley at the semi final stage during Friday's 'go home' episode of TV. If that happens, and assuming Tiffany Stratton gets past Michin on the same show, then most will expect 'Tiffy Time' to reign supreme for the shiny new belt. Nah, Stratton still has Money In The Bank to fall back on. Big wins over stars like Bayley and Tiffany would do wonders for Green's career.
It'd be lovely to see Chelsea make everyone Green with envy. She deserves this moment, because she's consistently shown willingness to clown herself for everyone else's entertainment and always works hard. Chels has been able to forge a path for herself on the main roster without being a serious part of title chat too, and that's never a given in the women's division.
Seeing her get some flowers (pink or purple ones would be very on brand) at SNME would rule. This point could be rendered useless by booking on SmackDown by the time you read it, but fingers crossed that's not the case. Chelsea Green could write her name in the history books. Surely everyone wants to see that, especially her!
1. Kevin Owens Shocks Cody Rhodes
Get up, get up, get up...drop the bombshell.
That dated reference to The Dudley Boyz' old WWE theme fits here because of the "bombshell" bit. Rumours abound that Triple H fancies doing something daring at Saturday Night's Main Event. Kevin Owens shocking the world to end the year as brand new WWE Champion would definitely qualify as that. Even those long in the tooth who have witnessed similar surprises before would be left stunned.
Hunter can always right things come the next SNME in late-January. If he's up for it, 'The Game' could have KO upset Cody this weekend then put the title back on Rhodes there before Royal Rumble takes over and WrestleMania 41 hype properly kicks in. A Randy Orton return would be the perfect way to spoil Kev's scheming in early-2025. Just saying.
Regardless of whether he actually wins the title or not, Owens must go for the same sick piledriver he delivered on Orton a while back. That one move has been a key part of the story between KO and Cody, and it'd make sense for Owens to lean on it again for this grudge match. Bonus points if Jesse Ventura turns the clock back and cheers him on like an old school heel announcer.
There's something pleasing about the thought of Owens getting that classic 'winged eagle' belt draped over his shoulder at close of business on Saturday. That'd make Monday's Raw must see television. Phoney brand extension, be damned. Get nostalgia king KO out there to break everyone's Cody-loving hearts like it's 'Mania 39 all over again.
What else do you think must happen at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event? For more wrestling content, check out 50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble and 10 WWE Breakups You Forgot Were HEARTBREAKING!