5 things that must happen

WWE brings back Saturday night’s main eventa staple of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a bang.

The first episode of the show since 2008 will simulcast on both NBC and the Peacock as a two-hour primetime special, and it will be the first of many to come. WWE is next SNOW special takes place next month and is the only major show between now and February’s Royal Rumble.

WWE, with such a gap between Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble, has loaded its card for the return of Saturday night’s main eventwhich will essentially act as a mini pay-per-view. The main attraction of the show is Cody Rhodes defending his WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, a marquee match that will serve as the climax of perhaps WWE’s hottest rivalry.

Additionally, Liv Morgan puts her World Women’s Title on the line against Iyo Sky, while WWE will crown its first-ever United States Women’s Champion, and Gunther takes on Finn Balor and Damian Priest in a triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship. WWE is clearly off to a strong start with this show, which will set the stage for Royal Rumble 2025.

Here are five smart booking decisions WWE needs to make Saturday night’s main event 2024.

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Liv Morgan cheats to defeat Iyo Sky

Iyo Sky is gaining more and more popularity after her recent babyface turn, but it’s clear that she’s just a rival for Liv Morgan.

Of course, Morgan’s true nemesis is still Rhea Ripley, who pinned Morgan at the Survivor Series WarGames in a move that was almost certainly done to get Ripley another match against Morgan for the World Women’s Championship. Ripley figures to hold that title heading into WrestleMania season, meaning Morgan should retain the Saturday night’s main event.

But given Sky’s soaring popularity, this is definitely not the time for the Damage CTRL star to lose clean. Morgan’s cowardly heel character doesn’t need an undisputed victory over Sky. She just needs to retain the title to set up the seemingly inevitable rematch against Ripley.

Gunther retains the world title against Finn Balor and Damian Priest

WWE has planted more than a few seeds that hint at one babyface turn for Gunther, like his recent post-match handshake with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton as well as his ongoing beef with the heel Judgment Day.

Now, the latest proof that Gunther is becoming a full-fledged fan favorite for the first time in his WWE career is his sudden feud with the loathed Finn Balor at Saturday night’s main event. Although Balor reportedly is in line for a push himself, it shouldn’t come at the expense of Gunther as the World Heavyweight Champion transitions into his new role.

What’s more, something about Gunther just felt, well, out like a world champion. It’s as if the aura and mystique he had as Intercontinental Champion has slowly dissipated over the last few months, making it all the more imperative that he be rebuilt as the dominant star he has been most of his career.

It could be argued that Gunther – who has already beaten Priest twice – is the best booked star in WWE history due to how rarely he loses, and SNOW is another time where he should come out on top, beating Balor and Damian Priest in a triple threat match against continue his reign into 2025.

Drew McIntyre dismantles Sami Zayn

Drew McIntyre’s surprise WWE return immediately reignited his long-running issues with Sami Zayn, and the Scottish superstar is now targeting any star even loosely aligned with Roman Reigns.

It’s a potentially intriguing storyline given McIntyre’s history with Reigns and The Bloodline, and it’s one that would ideally result in McIntyre picking off The OG Bloodline one-on-one—like he did with Jimmy Uso on SmackDown—perhaps down the road for a potential rematch with Ruler down the line.

Given what happened during McIntyre’s last match – a loss to CM Punk inside Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood – he’s in dire need of a win at Saturday night’s main event. Zayn is one of WWE’s most popular stars while McIntyre is one of the most hated villains, making the ideal outcome of this match a grisly victory for McIntyre.

Whether it’s a low blow, using a weapon or other nefarious means, McIntyre has to do whatever it takes to defeat Zayn, and if he gives Zayn an epic beatdown afterward, that’s just the cherry on top of the ​​heel’s sundae.

Chelsea Green becomes the first ever WWE United States Women’s Champion

It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea Green would stay the first American champion, and it happens to be the right call.

Over the past few years, Green has emerged as one of WWE’s most entertaining stars, and as someone who has never won singles gold in WWE, she is the perfect candidate to become the company’s first ever Women’s Midcard Champion . Green has already pulled off a major upset by defeating Bayley in the semifinals of the tournament, so a title win could be what propels Green to the next level.

WWE has relied far too heavily on the same handful of talent to carry the women’s division over the past several years, and Green is someone who could breathe new life into the division as a title holder. While her SNOW Opponent Michin has also performed well, she doesn’t have quite the crowd connection that Green has.

Green should win the title and use his reign as champion to transform into a slightly more serious and less comedic character.

Kevin Owens defeats Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship

Cody Rhodes has flat out said his WrestleMania 41 plans will “surprise” fansso this notion of “The American Nightmare” holding the WWE Championship until then is a misguided one.

In reality, there’s no real reason why Rhodes can’t lose the WWE Title to Kevin Owens, arguably WWE’s hottest character and certainly a star worthy of being the company’s top champion. In fact, Rhodes has proven throughout most of his current tenure in WWE that he’s even more interesting while chasing championships than he is while holding one.

As Owens solidifies himself as a mega heel, the one thing he needs that he hasn’t held in close to a decade is a world championship. What’s more, Owens – the true definition of a despicable heel – could end Rhodes’ reign as champion via underhanded tactics, protecting Rhodes in the process.

Remember, Rhodes ended his “story” at WrestleMania 40, and if WWE wants to continue telling exciting stories with the wildly popular star, the best way to do that is to have him lose the WWE Title to Owens.