It was a landmark night inWWEasSaturday Night’s Main Eventreturned for the first time since 2008, airing from Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY. Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens in a brutal match, while alsobringing back the classic Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt. Owens would later attack Cody after the show in devastating fashion.
Fellow champion Liv Morgan retained by beating Iyo Sky and Gunther retained his World Heavyweight Championship in a Triple Threat match with Damian Priest and Finn Balor. Elsewhere,Chelsea Green made history by becoming the first Women’s US Champion, and Drew McIntyre scored a victory over Sami Zayn on a night filled with nostalgia and fun, old-school ideas.
1The Return Of Saturday Night’s Main Event
A Night Of Highs And Lows On SNME’s Return
There can be arguments for both celebration and frustration at the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event. In the glass-half-full column,the old-school feel and presentation were joyous. The referee’s blue uniform and bowtie combo, the old school ramp and entrance, retro music, andJesse ‘The Body’ Ventura’s golden tones on commentaryall made the show feel unique. After years of feeling like Vince McMahon hated his audience, Paul Levesque understands that fans will pop for little things like Joe Tessitore in the classic Mean Gene Okerlund “tuxedo and red bowtie” combo or the red, white, and blue ring ropes.
On the flip side, after months of build-up,it was a card relatively free of incident. Every champion retained their title, and no major occurrences altered the trajectory of any feuds. Sure, fans will be happy enough to see Koko B Ware this once, but there needs to be a little more story progression next time around, or SNME may feel like a missable card. For a first attempt at the reboot though, this was still a win for WWE.
2Drew McIntyre
The Scottish Warrior Is On Fire
24 hours after injuring the already injured Jimmy Uso with a Claymore from hell, Drew McIntyre scored a major victory over Sami Zayn. Sami Zayn is one of WWE’s premier performers and his gutsy and rageful performance was commendable, butDrew McIntyre feels like one of the most formidable forces in pro wrestlingas we head into 2025. Of all of the wins this evening, this was perhaps the most emphatic and convincing. It wasn’t just a win, it was a statement.
His year will largely be tied to his generational feud with CM Punk, butDrew McIntyre has improved his reputation in an enormous way in 2024. It will be interesting to see what Drew’s reward for his part in the Punk feud will be, come WrestleMania season. His 2024 should mean that next year sees him winning feuds and matches against the best of the best. Nobody wishes such a thing in his retirement year, but if John Cena is faced with Drew McIntyre in 2025, Big Match John should be picking his face up from the floor.
3Chelsea Green
A History-Setting Night For One Of WWE’s Most Deserving Performers
On July 6th at the Scotiabank Arena, Chelsea Green was meters from taking home the Money In The Band briefcase and an almost guaranteed WWE Championship reign. As she plunged through the air, hurling towards a waiting set of tables, it would be easy to think her shot at glory had passed for the foreseeable future. Tonight,Chelsea Green made history by becoming the first Women’s United States Championin a hard-fought victory over the incredible Michin.
Chelsea Green has been one of WWE’s most consistent comedic performers of the Paul Levesque era. With her rubbery facial mannerisms, insufferable character, and willingness to be ridiculous (to the point of her wearing ring gear with her face all over it), Chelsea Green is an encouraging choice to win the mid-card belt. It should be an opportunity to elevate a talent or increase their worth. Liv Morgan’s run with the WWE Women’s Champion has seen her star rise enormously.This is a chance for Chelsea to put herself into the women’s Main Event picture, as well as establish a new title. She very much deserves it.
4Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes Seals His Perfect Year
It wasn’t without its controversies, butCody Rhodes wore the classic Winged Eagle WWE Championship beltas he retained his title by overcoming Kevin Owens. A referee bump following KO hitting the Stunner had it looking like a new WWE Champion would be crowned, but instead, a replacement referee could only reach a 2 count. It enabled Cody to recover, win the match, and end 2024 while maintaininghis convincing WWE Championship reign.
It’s impossible to believe that this will be the last Cody Rhodes sees of Kevin Owens. The finish of the match was perfect, with Owens being denied a “clean” victory, while Rhodes closed the match with a Crossrhodes on the steel chair. Online footage shows Owens hitting Cody with a package piledriver in the middle of the ring after the match. Depending on how long he is injured,there is currently no obvious opponent for Cody at the Royal Rumble. A Kevin Owens rematch is most likely but there won’t be many people rushing to do Kevin Owens any favors after his latest dastardly act.
5Liv Morgan
The Contender For WWE’s Performer Of The Year Retains Her Title
When Liv Morgan returned at the 2024 Royal Rumble, it was to a reaction that could best be referred to as a cult following more than a foundation-rocking explosion. It is incredible to consider, but she wasn’t on the WrestleMania card this year. Now that she has been undefeated in singles competition since March,Liv Morgan can be considered WWE’s best performer in 2024.
In what is likely to be her final title defense in 2024, Morgan defeated Iyo Sky with a canvas-crushing Oblivion. No sooner had she had her arm raised, Rhea Ripley arrived on the scene to set up a tense face-to-face with the WWE Championship on full display.The smart money is on Rhea vs Liv being added to Raw’s Netflix debut, but, for now, it is Liv Morgan who gets to celebrate a banner year.
6Kevin Owens
The Most Hated Man In WWE Somehow Gets Worse
There has been a lot to like about Kevin Owens’s righteous path of vengeance in recent months. After suffering the wrath of The Bloodline for 4 years, KO has taken aim at anybody who has aligned themselves with the OTC. He may have lost his chance to become WWE Champion, butKevin Owens made all the headlines with his despicable attackon Cody Rhodes after the match.
Hitting the WWE Champion with a package piledriver, just over a month after he put Randy Orton on the injured list in a similar fashion, Kevin Owens then stole the Winged Eagle championship belt. KO is a man out of patience with the WWE on all levels, and worse is definitely still to come. If people could sympathize with him before,Kevin Owens has lost the love and respect of everyone(except the people chanting “one more time” after the piledriver). That he doesn’t care one bit makes it all the more entertaining.
7Finn Balor
A Massive Missed Opportunity For The Prince
As Gunther continued his iron grip on the World Heavyweight Championship by beating both Damian Priest and Finn Balor, this felt like a big loss to eat for the “definitely not leader” of The Judgment Day. It is another year of “sort of” success for Finn, as he has enjoyed two separate runs with the Tag Team Championship with his faction mates, but nothing to shout about in singles competition. It feels as thoughFinn Balor desperately has to raise his stock in the year ahead.
This is a man who was chosen to win the first Universal Championship. This is a man with the credibility of establishing The Bullet Club’s dominance on the independent scene, and has a legit claim to being the greatest NXT Champion of all time.Balor should be in any company’s Main Event picture,but Finn still doesn’t feel like he has the respect of WWE’s fanbase. It may not have happened for him this evening, but 2025 has to be the year Finn Balor reminds everyone who he is.
