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WWE SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT RESULTS
DECEMBER 14, 2024
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK AT NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM
STREAMING LIVE ON PEACOCK & BROADCASTING LIVE ON NBC
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Joe Tessitore, Jesse Ventura
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
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Before tonight’s live coverage, check out this special WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Preview episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “wade Keller” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)
[HOUR ONE]
– WWE Open.
– The skyline of New York City was shown as Joe Tessitore’s voice introduced the show to the classic SNME theme.
– A video package was shown of SNME clips from the 80s and 90s.
– A modern show open then aired with today’s wrestlers.
– Lots of fireworks shot off inside the Nassau Coliseum. The block “WWF” logo was prominently displayed on the video board above the ring.
– Cody Rhodes was shown exiting his bus backstage and entering the arena. Kevin Owens was shown entering separately, as were Liv Morgan and Iyo Sky. Damian Priest was also shown walking backstage. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh were shown doing the same.
– Tessitore introduced Jesse Ventura, who wore his trademark boa and joined Tessitore at a stand-up desk, not unlike what is set-up for PPV preview shows. Jesse addressed the crowd behind him, putting his back to the camera. He said he’s back in the WWE for the first time in 40 years (uhhh…). Ventura questioned whether Cody is truly Dusty’s son and talked a little bit more about that match. Ventura set Tessitore up once but Tessitore didn’t seem to know how to play off Jesse. Tessitore pitched it to Michael Cole at ringside.
– Pat McAfee came out to join Cole.
(1) DREW MCINTYRE vs. SAMI ZAYN
During McIntyre’s entrance, you could see the set was very basic and the steel guardrails were back running up the entranceway. Zayn attacked before the bell. Referees were wearing the old-school blue ref shirts with black bow tie. The ropes were also red, white, and blue with the old WWF logo on the turnbuckles. Zayn hit a springboard moonsault to the outside about a minute into the match. Zayn got greedy and dove onto McIntyre again, but McIntyre caught him and tossed him over the announce desk. They cut to break 2:07 into the match. [c]
McIntyre was in control out of break, but Zayn was able to make a few comebacks as the crowd was super into the action. Zayn countered a Claymore attempt into a Blue Thunder Bomb and a near-fall just over nine minutes in. “This is awesome” chant started up just as McIntyre ducked out of the ring to avoid more punishment. Zayn went out but followed McIntyre back in, which was a mistake. Claymore ended it.
WINNER: McIntyre, at 10:06.
(Parks’s Analysis: Hot way to start the show. It went only 10 minutes, so they were able to keep the pace up throughout. The hot crowd helped and for those checking out WWE for the first time (or for the first time in a long time), they made the product feel “cool.”)
-Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio were shown walking backstage. She defends her title next. [c]
-The exterior of the Nassau Coliseum was shown.
-In the crowd, WWE Hall of Famers Tito Santana, Rich Herring, and Jimmy Hart were shown.
(2) IYO SKY vs. LIV MORGAN – Women’s World Title match
As Sky made her entrance, a video package was shown on this feud. The entranceway was so tight, they had security walking behind the wrestlers on the way to the ring to discourage any nonsense. Charles Robinson was the referee and also was wearing the ref cam for the match. A face-plant on Morgan got Sky an early two-count. Cole mentioned that Morgan hasn’t lost a singles match since March. Sky took out Morgan at ringside with a springboard moonsault. It wasn’t quite the same moonsault as Sami’s, but they went to break in the first two matches with virtually the same move in the same location. [c]
Back at about the five-minute mark of the match. Of note, no seconds (or thirds) were at ringside. Sky worked the crowd to keep them into it. She hit a suicide dive to the outside to take out Morgan. Springboard dropick back in the ring earned Sky two. After Sky missed the Bullet Train Attack in the corner, Morgan gave Sky a backstabber, then came off the top with a Codebreaker for a near-fall. Sky did rolling German suplexes, three of them, for a two-count. “Let’s go Iyo” chants, 7:30 into the match. Sky slipped off the top rope and Morgan took advantage with another face-buster. That advantage did not last long. Sky tried a moonsault off the top but Mrogan got her feet up. She then hit Oblivion for the victory.
WINNNER: Morgan, at 9:07 to retain the Women’s World Title.
(Parks’s Analysis: They did a nice job to cover up for Sky’s slip-up on the top rope. The match was fine. Morgan does what she does well, but there’s not a lot of variety in her offense, most of it consisting of ramming her knees into various parts of her opponent’s body. At this point, I’d like to see her add more to her in-ring repertoire. Also notable that WWE resisted any kind of interference in that match to lead to the finish despite the entourage that both have.)
As Morgan celebrated with Rodriguez and Mysterio in the aisle afterward, Rhea Ripley came out. She went face-to-face with Morgan, who lifted the title.
(Parks’s Analysis: That may have been disappointing to some who were expecting more from Ripley there.)
-They showed a tale of the tape for the three men in the World Heavyweight Title Match, which is next. [c]
-Cole plugged the Elimination Chamber PLE, coming up on March 1.
-The camera showed McAfee and Cole at the announce table. McAfee talked about John Cena’s upcoming retirement and the Raw Netflix debut.
(3) FINN BALOR vs. DAMIAN PRIEST vs. GUNTHER – World Heavyweight Title match
The bell rang five minutes before the top of the second hour. No formal ring introductions for the first two title matches. Priest knocked Gunther to the apron, then to the floor. Priest did a flip-dive over the top, taking out Gunther with his legs. They went to break about a minute into the match. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
Back at about 4:40 of the match. Gunther booted both Priest and Balor down. He wasn’t exactly receiving a babyface reaction at that point. Gunther applied a Boston crab to Priest, and Balor chopped him to break the hold. As they fought, Priest took out both with a clothesline. Priest did the Undertaker rope walk to take down Gunther. Priest got Balor up for a Razor’s Edge, but Gunther put a stop to it. Balor delivered a Sling Blade first to Priest, then to Gunther. Priest sent Balor over the top rope, which allowed Gunther to catch Priest in a sleeper.
Priest fought back to his feet and chokeslammed the champion. Balor re-appeared to take the fight to Priest just as Gunther disappeared. A potential Coup de Grace was halted by Gunther. Priest hit Razor’s Edge on Gunther and Balor followed with the Coup de Grace for two. Balor rolled up Priest for two. Another chokeslam by Priest and again the pin was broken up, this time by Gunther. “This is awesome” chants for the first time just shy of 11:00 in. Gunther powerbombed Priest into the steel steps outside then came back in to dropkick Balor into the corner and finish him with a powerbomb.
WINNER: Gunther to retain the World Title, at 11:10.
(Parks’s Analysis: Strong match and win for Gunther. They’re not going long with any of these first three matches, likely to better hold an audience. It’s hard not to imagine a match like this getting double the time were it on a PLE.)
-Owens was shown backstage, preparing for his match with Cody Rhodes.
-Nick Aldis left his office with the Women’s United States title, ready to crown the first champion, next. [c]
-At their set, Ventura and Tessitore talked about the show up to this point. Ventura said he was impressed by Liv Morgan. He also complimented the crowd.
(Parks’s Analysis: Tessitore and Ventura have zero chemistry together.)
(4) CHELSEA GREEN vs. MICHIN – Women’s United States Title match
Cole noted Green’s first title win came seven years ago today, in TNA. He also said they were both Impact Knockouts champions. Early on, the ref was distracted by Green, which allowed Piper Niven, who was at ringside, to get involved. Green did some trash talking as they went to break 1:15 into the match. [c]
They returned at 4:44 of the match. Michin suplexed Green around then dropped her with a tornado DDT. A Rough Ryder by Green earned her a near fall. Cole made a mention of hitting that move in Long Island, a nod to Green’s husband, the former Zack Ryder. Outside the ring, Niven caught Green to keep her upright. Michin gave Niven Eat Defeat. Michin hit an ugly one on Green, who bumped like she was Shawn Michaels against Hulk Hogan. The crowd was behind Green here. Niven got on the apron, but Michin dropkicked her off. Green flipped off the top rope and into the Unpretty-her for the title.
WINNER: Green, to become the first Women’s U.S. champion, at 8:05.
(Parks’s Analysis: That was a nice finishing sequence. I can see arguments for and against Green winning: Green has largely been treated as a joke, so having her as the first U.S. champ doesn’t get the title off on a great foot. However, she is over with fans and the belt will be featured with it being around her waist. Ultimately, I think this was the right call.)
-The Undisputed WWE Title match is next. [c]
-The announcers again talked about Raw coming to Netflix.
-Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Koko B. Ware were shown in the crowd. Cole quoted Gorilla Monsoon in saying it took 15 minutes for Valentine to get warmed up.
-Ventura joined Cole and McAfee for the main event.
-McAfee used his telestrator on a still photo of The Body and Tessitore from earlier in the night.
-A video package aired on the Owens vs. Rhodes feud, with Owens explaining why he’s in the right.
-Owens made his entrance for the main event. It’s next. [c]
-Cole plugged the next SNME, January 25 in San Antonio, Texas.
(5) KEVIN OWENS vs. CODY RHODES – Undisputed WWE Title match
Rhodes was wearing the Winged Eagle championship belt, given to him by Triple H earlier in the week. Lilian Garcia performed formal ring introductions for the match. They show began 14 minutes before the top of the hour. Owens took a walk to start the match. He eyed the title at ringside. Rhodes decided to go out and take the fight to Owens. He slammed Owens’s head into the announce table. Both Cole and McAfee got up and recoiled, but Ventura stayed seated. Owens later suplexed Rhodes onto the table, then said “hi” to Randy Orton via the camera. They went to a double-box break, the only one of the night, at 2:14 of the match. [c/db]
Back at 5:07 of the match. Owens scaled the ropes and hit a swanton for two. Rhodes was favoring the ankle that has bothered him since the Chad Gable match on Smackdown last week. Ventura chastised Rhodes for taking too much time. Eventually he hit the Disaster kick for two. Rhodes tried to come off the top again but Owens again went to ringside. A superkick stunned Rhodes; Owens then cleared the announce table. Rhodes instead hit an RKO on Owens on the table. The table didn’t break.
Rhodes from the top hit the Cody Cutter for two. Rhodes placed Owens on the top rope but Owens fisherman busted his way out of it. He got two at the 9:16 mark of the match. Ventura accused the ref of a slow count. A couple of counters led to ref Charles Robinson getting bumped. Owens hit the Stunner and pinned Rhodes. He would’ve won had there been an official. Another one sprinted out but Rhodes was only down for two. Rhodes came off the ropes and the second ref got taken out. Owens retrieved a chair from ringside. He swung wildly and missed, allowing Rhodes to hit the Cody Cutter. Cross Rhodes onto the chair. Rhodes shoved the chair out of the ring. Robinson, still groggy at ringside, nevertheless made the count. Ventura noted it was Rhodes, not Owens, who ended up using the chair.
WINNER: Rhodes, to retain the Undisputed WWE Title, at 12:02.
Rhodes celebrated in the ring to end the show.
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