WWE Saturday Night Main Event – 2024 Results and Recap

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event returned to NBC on December 14, 2024, ending a sixteen-year hiatus with a live special from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The two-hour broadcast featured five championship bouts, including Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in the main event.

The revival marked the thirty-seventh installment of the series, which originally ran from 1985 to 1992 before sporadic returns in 2006 and 2008. This edition drew 14,186 fans to the same venue that hosted the original NBC specials, establishing a quarterly partnership between WWE and the network moving forward.

What Is WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event?

1. First Saturday Night’s Main Event broadcast in sixteen years
2. Quarterly specials planned as part of NBC partnership
3. Return to original venue (Nassau Coliseum hosted 1980s episodes)
4. Featured talent from both Raw and SmackDown brands
5. Attendance of 14,186 confirmed by venue records
6. Commentary team included Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura
7. Two-hour runtime with five matches

When and Where Did the 2024 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Take Place?

The event took place on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Doors opened for the live audience at 7:00 PM ET, with the televised portion beginning at 8:00 PM Eastern Time and 5:00 PM Pacific Time. For UK viewers, the broadcast started at 1:00 AM GMT on December 15, according to Cultaholic.

Date and Start Time

WWE scheduled the two-hour special for the Saturday evening slot, a departure from the company’s traditional Sunday pay-per-view model. The Episode Brief 1: Saturday Night’s Main Event 2024 confirmed the timing aligned with NBC’s prime-time programming block, mirroring the original series’ Saturday night broadcast tradition from the 1980s.

Venue Specifications

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, located on Long Island, holds historical significance as a frequent host of the original Saturday Night’s Main Event series during the 1980s wrestling boom. The arena accommodated 14,186 spectators for this broadcast, as documented by The SmackDown Hotel.

How to Watch WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

The December 2024 special aired simultaneously on NBC’s broadcast network and the Peacock streaming platform for domestic audiences. International viewers accessed the event through WWE’s YouTube channel, marking the first time the revived series utilized this distribution model.

Domestic Broadcast Options

United States viewers could watch live on NBC without cable subscription, or stream via Peacock with an active subscription. The Peacock stream included the full two-hour broadcast with no commercial interruptions beyond network breaks.

International Access

WWE made the event available globally through its official YouTube channel, providing access to markets without NBC broadcast agreements. This approach differed from the WWE Network exclusivity of previous special events.

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2024 Card and Matches

The five-match card featured three championship defenses and one bout with an ambiguous outcome in available reports. The pacing emphasized shorter match times compared to standard premium live events.

Complete Match Results

Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn in the opening contest. McIntyre executed a throw onto the announce table during the match, establishing physical dominance before securing the victory.

Liv Morgan retained the Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY. Morgan entered with Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez, while SKY represented Damage CTRL. The champion successfully defended her title despite interference attempts.

Gunther retained the World Heavyweight Championship in an 11-minute, 10-second triple threat match against Damian Priest and Finn Bálor. The Ring General powerbombed Priest into the ring steps before pinning Bálor to secure the victory. The contest earned “This is awesome” chants from the Long Island crowd.

Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in a 12-minute, 2-second main event. Rhodes wore the Winged Eagle belt during his entrance and celebrated with the championship following his victory.

Undetermined Outcome

The result of the Women’s United States Championship match between Chelsea Green and Michin remains unconfirmed in available reports. The bout appeared on official card previews, as noted by AIPT Comics, but definitive winner documentation was not present in the reviewed source materials.

What Is the History of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event?

The franchise debuted on NBC on May 11, 1985, during the height of the wrestling boom, airing periodically through 1992. The format returned for sporadic specials between 2006 and 2008 before the sixteen-year gap preceding the December 2024 revival.

1. 1985: Debut on NBC (May 11), establishing Saturday night wrestling on broadcast television
2. 1992: Original run concludes after 29 episodes
3. 2006: First revival special airs (March 18)
4. 2008: Final special of 2000s era airs
5. 2024: Return at Nassau Coliseum (December 14), 16 years after previous edition

What Information Remains Unclear About Future Specials?

While WWE confirmed plans for quarterly NBC specials, specific details about the 2025 schedule remain undisclosed.

Why Did WWE Revive the Saturday Night’s Main Event Format?

The revival represents a strategic partnership between WWE and NBCUniversal, leveraging nostalgia for the 1980s wrestling boom while establishing a regular broadcast presence outside the traditional pay-per-view model. The quarterly format allows WWE to present premium matchups on network television without the subscription barrier of WWE Network or Peacock exclusivity.

The return to Nassau Coliseum specifically acknowledged the venue’s historical significance to the brand, creating continuity with the original series. This location choice signaled WWE’s intent to treat the revival as a legacy event rather than a standard house show or television taping.

Broadcasting on NBC proper, rather than cable partner USA Network, exposed the product to broader demographic reach, potentially capturing casual viewers familiar with the original Saturday night broadcasts.

Sources and Verification

Attribution: Pro Wrestling Torch, The SmackDown Hotel, WrestleView, and Wrestlingfigs.com.

Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship (main event, 12:02; Rhodes wore the Winged Eagle belt presented by Triple H).

— Pro Wrestling Torch

Gunther (c) def. Damian Priest & Finn Bálor (w/ JD McDonagh) in a triple threat to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (11:10 match; Gunther powerbombed Priest into steps and finished Balor).

— WrestleView

Summary

The December 14, 2024, Saturday Night’s Main Event 2024 successfully reestablished the quarterly NBC special format after a sixteen-year absence, delivering five championship matches from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. With confirmed plans for additional quarterly broadcasts and established distribution through NBC, Peacock, and YouTube, the series resumes its historical role as a bridge between weekly programming and premium live events.

Frequently Asked Questions