Tonight (Nov. 1), WWE brings one of their Saturday Night’s Main Event specials our way from Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s the first time SNME that will stream exclusively on Peacock (unless you’re in a part
of the world where its free on YouTube).
Every match coming our way from SLC’s Delta Center is for a championship, including one to fill Raw’s vacant World Heavyweight title.
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 Night’s Main Event!
Let’s get to it.
CM Punk vs. Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight championship
Geno Mrosko: There’s never been a better time to put the title on Punker, and while I think they have something with Jey and the way they’re slow burn turning him, putting the world title on him wouldn’t really help that along. Pick: CM Punk
Sean Rueter: They’re probably pushing the limit on how long they can hold off on Punk winning the big one, but I think it’s worth it for what could be the most (only?) interesting way to get more mileage out of The Bloodline right now by making it so Roman has to put down the monster he created. Pick: Jey Uso
Claire Elizabeth: Jey Uso’s problem is he doesn’t know who he is right now. CM Punk knows exactly who he is, and he’s the Best in the gosh darn World. Easy peasy. Pick: CM Punk
Cain A. Knight: This is the right time to run with CM as the world champion. Jey Uso can only win if he is willing to go full-blown heel. Pick: CM Punk
Kyle Decker: While I’d like them to go with my CM Punk heel turn scenario, I actually don’t think they will. I think they have a plan for Punk laid out and don’t want to deviate as much. Meanwhile, Jey Uso is admin a partial heel turn and I think they go full with it here. I’m not sure if he joins the Vision, but I think we wait a bit longer for a legit Punk title run. Pick: Jey Uso
Marcus Benjamin: Here it is. D-Day. The reason for the season. The whole enchilada. More cliches that aren’t coming to mind. Who will leave Salt Lake City the new champ with Seth Rollins on the shelf? While I believe Jey is the more compelling answer based on everything that can happen with his brother, his cousin, Paul Heyman, and a new version of The Bloodline, I’m going with Punk. He tasted the championship briefly before Seth snatched it from him, and he’s made it his stated goal to win gold since stepping back in the territory. Pick: CM Punk
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE championship
Geno Mrosko: I really like the way they set this up on SmackDown, giving at least a glimmer of hope that McIntyre can steal it away. I just don’t think they’re actually going to pull the trigger on doing it. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Sean Rueter: The late stip gives me some pause, as it was no doubt intended to. But if Cody’s to be seen as a company-leading babyface champion like Hogan and Cena before him, he needs to beat the same guy 80 times in a row just like they did during their heydays. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Claire Elizabeth: Cody’s temper is of course the story here but Drew also has to contain himself, and that’s a struggle for the big Scot at the best of times. No matter what happens here the story won’t be over, but I’m not betting on a change. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Cain A. Knight: Drew McIntyre always gets screwed over in these WWE title matches, and corporate Cody will find another way to stick it to him here. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Kyle Decker: I see the appeal of going with Drew here, but I’d be surprised. This wasn’t the plan — a feud with Jacob Fatu was the plan. And while a big moment could make sense on another show, they’re already going to crown a new champion. It’s also clear that they still want to present Cody as the top babyface — the QB1 — for more time. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Marcus Benjamin: I always want to pick Drew because he’s fantastic and should get some love for that. But I also don’t see them taking this belt off Cody on a Saturday night in Salt Lake City on the first day of the month. No offense, Utah. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s championship
Geno Mrosko: I think they want the title on Cargill, I just don’t think it’s going to work very well if they actually put it there. Pick: Jade Cargill
Sean Rueter: It’s piss or get off the pot time, as my old man used to say. This match could be rough because I don’t think Stratton and Cargill have great chemistry, but if we can get through this they should be able to set Jade up to work with more experienced ring generals. Pick: Jade Cargill
Claire Elizabeth: I’m gonna be honest, I am only picking against Jade because she wore that kickass Punisher bodysuit with the white fishnets and shoulder holster like somebody forcefemmed prime JRJR 90s Frank for the “everybody’s getting into the arena” montage last night and then she bait and switched to Batman Returns Catwoman for her actual segment. Bad call, lady. Pick: Tiffany Stratton
Cain A. Knight: It doesn’t make sense for Jade to lose after just turning heel, so that means Taffy Time is up. Pick: Jade Cargill
Kyle Decker: It’s gotta be Jade here. She can’t afford another title loss especially after her heel turn. Maybe they do a DQ finish where she’s beating the hell out of Stratton past a 5 count, but smart money should be on a change. Pick: Jade Cargill
Marcus Benjamin: This is an easy one for me. Pick: Jade Cargill
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta vs. Rusev for the Men’s Intercontinental championship
Geno Mrosko: No one is good enough to beat Dirty Dom for his title. NO ONE. You hear me?!? Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Sean Rueter: El Sucio de los Sucios is gonna lie, cheat, and steal his way to another victory, and Utah is gonna love him for it.
Claire Elizabeth: I gotta think Dom’s number is up sooner rather than later, but Judgment Day have a habit of narrowly saving their own bacon and fighting another day AND three-way math favors the champ. But watch this space, folks, ’cause it’s coming soon. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Cain A. Knight: WWE tells me every week on Raw that Rusev and Penta aren’t savvy enough to beat Dirty Dom for the gold, so I don’t see why that will change at SNME. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Kyle Decker: I don’t think Dom loses the IC title before the AAA Mega. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Marcus Benjamin: There are many options here. On the one hand, Dirty Dom is getting over and doesn’t even need a championship at this point. But him holding a title increases the Judgment Day drama. Penta is fantastic and Rusev needs something so he doesn’t become just another guy languishing in the mid card. That said, I’m going with the Dirty one. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
That’s who we’ve got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?
