Saturday Night’s Main Event returns this Saturday with a three-match card that would be great for Raw, SmackDown, or Peacock, where the show airs. It’s even a solid lineup for a premium live event on ESPN.
There’s just one problem: Where’s the main event?
Paul Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, revealed the poster for the show on Friday, showing Penta, the Intercontinental Champion, as the face of the program. That seemed to suggest that his title defense against Ethan Page might be the headliner.
Penta is easily one of WWE’s most popular stars. Page, who was a big fish in NXT, just got to Raw like a minute ago. While he was a main eventer for WWE’s developmental brand, he doesn’t (yet) carry enough cachet as a headliner a month into his main roster career.
The reason for the match is, however, justified. Two weeks ago on Raw, Page pinned Penta, giving him a legitimate claim at a title match. While valid, there’s not enough meat on the bone for this to be the primary reason fans tune in or renew their Peacock premium subscription at an asking price of $10.99 after much of WWE’s content left the site in March.
Besides this match, two other bouts make up the card.
World Tag Team Championship: Logan Paul & Austin Theory (c) vs. The Street Profits
On its own, this could make the cut at a PLE. However, potential shenanigans might make this more Raw-worthy.
The Vision — Bron Breakker, tag champs Logan Paul and Austin Theory, and the brains behind the brawn, Paul Heyman — have a running beef with former group leader Seth Rollins. Rollins, clearly outnumbered, has been working to get the Street Profits on his side to battle a common enemy.
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins haven’t been receptive to Rollins, who’s been known to turn on a teammate a time or two. What better way for Rollins to make some new friends and win over the Profits than by helping them to a fifth tag title in WWE?
Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, & Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill, Michin, & B-Fab
Remember what I said about Saturday Night’s Main Event having great matches for a show like SmackDown? Look no further than this.
Just over a week ago, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss faced Fatal Influence on SmackDown — and lost. This time, the band is getting back together to face Jade Cargill and her cronies, B-Fab and Michin.
On Friday’s edition of SmackDown, Cargill, the former WWE Women’s Champion, threw down a challenge to Ripley, who dethroned her at WrestleMania 42, for a rematch at Clash In Italy.
Moments later, Cargill bailed her crew out of trouble against Flair and Bliss, leading to a three-on-2 beatdown. In a backstage segment, Bliss pointed out that they need to even the odds against their enemies.
Well, lo and behold, the odds are now even just as the women’s champ and her WrestleMania rival seem headed toward a rematch. How convenient. While the match should be entertaining, it’s the kind of cable TV fodder that sets up a PLE showdown, which this is likely to do.
A Card Subjected to Change
Saturday Night’s Main Event takes place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Initially, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Gunther were listed on the arena’s website as scheduled to appear.
Key word: were.
The website has since updated its listing, mentioning only the two title matches. Instead, what fans going to the show can expect to see besides two title matches is, “MANY MORE MATCHES TO BE ANNOUNCED!”
Just beneath that is a friendly reminder that “Talent Subject to Change.”
Currently, Punk is away from WWE, though he appears to be preparing for a return, based on his social media activity. Rhodes and Gunther will be meeting soon for the Undisputed WWE Championship, but that will be in Turin for Clash In Italy.
Speaking of Turin, World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns was also recently advertised for that event by WWE.
It remains unclear if any of WWE’s heavy hitters will show up in Fort Wayne on Peacock, and in what capacity. With Clash In Italy around the corner on May 31, there’s a good chance that fans will have to accept that an outstanding match for the I.C. title may be this show’s main draw.
Watch
Saturday Night’s Main Event streams live in the United States exclusively on Peacock on May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
