Tonight (Sept. 6), WWE turns a Saturday Night’s Main Event special into a Sunday Night’s Main Event special for the three-day holiday weekend in the U.S. The show comes our way from Atlanta, and with open with a musical performance from Quavo. SNME is exclusive to the Peacock streaming service for those of us in the United States. Everywhere else around the world, its free on YouTube.
No titles are on the line, but there are some big feelings involved as Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton revisit their old
and new history in one of the night’s singles matches, and Oba Femi and Bron Breakker fight for the future in another. And that’s just some of what WWE has lined up for State Farm Arena at 8 p.m. Eastern.
It’s a big show, so we’ve assembled our motley crew of pro wrestling blowhards to give thoughts & predictions on everything booked for the latest Saturday Sunday Night’s Main Event!
Let’s get to it.
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
Geno Mrosko: I think they might set up a spot where Rhodes really thinks about doing Orton’s patented punt and then actually goes for it but Randy gets away, and wins the match because of it. That will end up a major talking point going forward, and they’ll give us an actually good long term story on Cody turning heel. It’s time for it. It’s been time for it, but at least they can start us down that path proper here. Pick: Randy Orton
Sean Rueter: Having just fallen for the Cody Rhodes heel turn fake-out, I’m not even entertaining the possibility. WWE is trying to get people to boo Randy Orton because they want us to boo him, not because they’re seeding a double-turn. Or they are this time and they successfully fooled me by faking me out about it during the Zayn feud. Anyway… either by despicable means, or with post-match despicableness on top of his victory… Pick: Randy Orton
Claire Elizabeth: Cody has shown remarkable restraint fending off all of Randy’s attempts to get him to get physical after Nick Aldis decreed that any pre-match physicality would result in the man who throws the punch being barred from challenging for the WWE Men’s Championship, and SmackDown showed us that he’s in Orton’s head a little bit about it. So, with the American Nightmare doing everything right, how does the match play out? The second that bell rings the Viper is going to go right back to goading him and it’ll take the Legend Killer slipping on a proverbial banana peel to cost him this one. Pick: Randy Orton
Cain A. Knight: Cody misses a Flash Kick and Randy catches him with an RKO outta nowhere on the landing to win round two, after dropping round one to Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. Pick: Randy Orton
Kyle Decker: I could see this going to some no contest because it got super violent in order to set up a stipulation match down the road. But since Cody was punted by Orton by Mania and screwed by Orton at SummerSlam, I think he gets a level of comeuppance here in a feud that’s surely to continue. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Marcus Benjamin: This is Randy’s first big match since returning. I find it hard to believe he loses, so the hook is how he wins and what comes after the match. It’s also important for me to remind everyone that Street Fighter drops in about a month, which means Cody could take some time off for promo. Maybe this is the start of writing him off television a bit so that Col. Guile and tell people to go home and be family men. Pick: Randy Orton
Jon Velez-Jackson: It seems unlikely that Cody Rhodes would pick up a win here, considering Randy Orton only recently resurfaced following his defeat to Rhodes at WrestleMania. My thinking is Orton picks up a win, and Rhodes may start showing more of his angry side to possibly lead to a heel turn. (If he doesn’t turn soon, he never will.) Then we’ll see these two go at it again on a bigger event that’s not been pushed off to a Sunday on Peacock. Pick: Randy Orton
Josh Jagler: We’re getting into potential double-turn territory here. Randy Orton has reached a point in his career where most people will have a hard time booing him. On the flip side, Cody’s babyface run is starting to get a little prickly for some, and the undercurrent of people wanting a heel turn is picking up steam. All things considered here, it feels like Randy is going to win, and probably get cheered for it. That is, as long as no retired NFL punters get involved. Pick: Randy Orton
Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker
Geno Mrosko: If this is truly a battle for who is the future of WWE, then Oba should win. He’s the man. No question. But isn’t the reality of the situation that such a thing is so clear and obvious no loss in a match like this will change it against him but absolutely could change it in favor of Breakker? Does that make sense? I’m just saying, I think it helps Breakker to win here more than it hurts Femi to lose, and the inverse would be much, much worse for Breakker than it would be good for Femi. Pick: Bron Breakker
Sean Rueter: No way we get a finish. They’ll give us ten-ish minutes and leave us wanting more. Several Tsunami splashes will have to do for tonight. Pick: Oba Femi, technically
Claire Elizabeth: Oba Femi is the future of WWE. Period. Full stop. End of sentence. Exclamation point if you’re fancy! Bron Breakker for sure has a place in that future, but here and now, on the way up? The Ruler is gonna destroy that world. Pick: Oba Femi
Cain A. Knight: I don’t think WWE wants Oba Femi to get pinned even if there is cheating involved, so I’ll go with Bronson Reed interfering (at Paul Heyman’s direction) for a disqualification finish, and multiple Tsunami splashes after the match is over. Pick: Oba Femi
Kyle Decker: This could be a slobberknocker of a match, but I’d be shocked if Oba loses immediately after retiring Brock (twice). The biggest question is what role, if any, does Paul Heyman play here? Pick: Oba Femi
Marcus Benjamin: One of these men just defeated Brock Lesnar. The other is a tag team champ. Brock Lesnar just called one of these men the next big thing. The other runs with a group that’s only a mere shadow of what it was and will never live up to its promised potential. You do the math. Pick: Oba Femi
Jon Velez-Jackson: The only thing I can say for sure is that Bronson Reed will interfere in this match. But does his involvement help or hurt Breakker? I’ll go with Reed trying to help Bron, the move backfires and causes an Oba victory. Plus, I can’t imagine Femi losing after retiring Brock Lesnar. Pick: Oba Femi
Josh Jagler: I think we all know what the correct booking decision is here. Squandering the momentum Oba’s built in 2026 would be just as bad, and probably worse than messing up the follow-up to Gunther’s run as the career killer. I hope that they do the right thing. As for Bron, if I’m booking this one, I hope Logan and Theory get involved trying to help him, but end up doing more harm than good. Bron needs to find the escape hatch to get himself out of the Vision, and this could be it. Pick: Oba Freakin’ Femi
Baron Corbin vs. Lil Yachty (5-minute time limit)
Geno Mrosko: They’re going to make this a lot more fun than any of us can imagine it could be. I’m confident in this for zero reason. Pick: Lil Yachty
Sean Rueter: Am I trolling, or do I really think Triple H would do it? Pick: Baron Corbin
Claire Elizabeth: I wanna believe, y’all. The little “training” montage we got on SmackDown shows that Yachty’s head is at the party, and that doesn’t bode well, but his heart is whooping Baron’s ass, and I think that’s good enough to last five minutes against Vanilla Bald over here. Hell it might be good enough to get him a close call nearfall and some bragging rights, if he’s even luckier than I think he is. Pick: Lil Yachty
Cain A. Knight: If Yachty survives five minutes against the very tall champ, that means we’re getting two mediocre Baron Corbin matches in one night. Maybe this is all part of WWE’s strategy for getting fans to ask for more concerts and less wrestling. Pick: Lil Yachty
Kyle Decker: I think this would bemore interesting if Yachty lost because he didn’t take any of this seriously, but there will be some shenanigans that allow him to go the 5. Pick: Lil Yachty
Marcus Benjamin: I really don’t care. But obviously we need a Trick and Baron rematch. God help us all, but Lil’ Yachty gets the win. Wack rappers are like cockroaches. Pick: Lil’ Yachty
Jon Velez-Jackson: Somehow, Lil Yachty will last five minutes through a lot of shenanigans. Could this be the moment when WWE shoehorns in the night’s inevitable Danhausen appearance? Pick: Lil Yachty
Josh Jagler: Tale as old as time. Heel gets too overconfident and spends most of the 5 minutes toying with Yachty and not putting him away. Lil’ picking up a pinfall would be an utter and complete burial of Corbin, so I don’t think they go that far, but I would bet the house that Yachty lasts. Pick: Lil’ Yachty
Baron Corbin vs. Trick Williams for the U.S. title (if Yachty lasts 5 min.)
Geno Mrosko: Lil Yachty is going to last the five minutes, and then be the reason Trick Willy doesn’t win the United States championship back, because he gets too big headed thinking he’s that guy now. I’m confident about this for no reason at all. Pick: Baron Corbin
Sean Rueter: See previous. Pick: not happening
Claire Elizabeth: Three words, baby— Whoop that, Trick. Pick: Trick Williams
Cain A. Knight: Even Baron Corbin admits that he isn’t entertaining, so it would be booking malpractice for Trick to lose against him for a third time . Pick: Trick Williams
Kyle Decker: I think it would be rather funny if Yachty survived a 5 minute beating from Corbin only fro Trick not to get the job done. So that’s what I’m going with. Pick: Baron Corbin
Marcus Benjamin: After swallowing that bad medicine, this is the dessert. There’s no way they go jump through all these hoops just for Trick to take an L. I admit it would be hilarious, but also wrong. Pick: Trick Williams
Jon Velez-Jackson: I’ve never liked this storyline, only because Trick Williams is a star and Baron Corbin is a reminder of the bad ole Vince days. The belt needs to come home so WWE can move past this unfortunate business. Pick: Trick Williams
Josh Jagler: While I believe there is something to the reports that officials are considering moving Trick up the card, I just think SmackDown’s main event scene is too crowded for him right now. Rather, I’d like to see him win the US Title back and have a run that takes him well into 2027. He’ll be a World Champ someday, but there’s no rush. Pick: Trick Williams
Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss & Tatum Paxley vs. Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
Geno Mrosko: I thin they just want to more firmly establish Paxley on the main roster while protecting Cargill from having to take a pinfall or submission loss. Pick: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss & Tatum Paxley
Sean Rueter: Feels like it’s been a while since That B and the nu-Baddies scored a meaningful win. Not that this would really be one, but it’s two major stars and a young fan favorite. That helps. Pick: Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
Claire Elizabeth: Do you really expect me to pick against the sweetest heart in all of WWE and her two ambiguously gay moms? C’mon now. Pick: Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, & Tatum Paxley
Cain A. Knight: Jade’s team has two low card henchwomen who can take the fall, which doesn’t bode well for her chances to win. Pick: Charlotte Flair, Tatum Paxley & Alexa Bliss
Kyle Decker: I do not care who wins this match. I don’t know why they’ve put off just booking Charlotte vs. Jade. Given everyone on Charlotte’s team clears their counterpart on Jade’s, I’ll go with them. Pick: Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, & Tatum Paxley
Marcus Benjamin: Jade’s openly called for a return of the Baddie Section for this event. That sounds like someone confident of a win coming her way. Also, it would be crazy for this new team with a newly minted Tatum Paxley to get the win over an actual stable. Pick: Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab
Jon Velez-Jackson: Jade Cargill needs a win, and I suspect she’ll get the pinfall on Charlotte Flair to continue the build of their tensions. I also wouldn’t be surprised if somehow a miscalculation by Tatum leads to Flair taking the loss. Pick: Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab
Josh Jagler: Remember back in May when 5 of these 6 women competed in a 6-woman tag team match on Saturday Night’s Main Event? I’m not sure the WWE creative team does either. Like many things right now, I’m ready to move on, although I don’t know what that means for these two groups. Looking at the landscape right now, the Charlexley trio could move on to a feud with Fatal Influence with some gold up for grabs. To make that make sense, they should probably win this one. Pick: Charlexley
That’s who we’ve got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders? Tell us in the comments, and there’s still time to jump into SoManyBird’s contest for SNME in The Feed!
