5 things WWE needs to fix before the next Saturday Night's Main Event
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event aired last night on NBC and it was a massive show and seemingly a huge success. Five bouts were booked and several legends, along with Pat McAfee, made their return to television.
The past was honored, but the present was the focus, and that made for a good formula. Still, despite being a good show overall, there were some key issues that many members of the audience have pointed out in the hours since the show ended.
This article will take a look at five things Triple H and World Wrestling Entertainment need to correct before the next edition of Saturday Night's Main Event in late January. This includes the pacing of the show, a shocking star not being featured, and beyond.
Below are five things WWE needs to fix before the next Saturday Night's Main Event.
#5. The show had too many commercials disrupting the flow of matches
One constant criticism of WWE programming is the commercials. Fans who watch premium live events complain about the Peacock ads. The audience members also tend to complain about ads interrupting the flow of standard shows such as RAW and SmackDown.
In many ways, Saturday Night's Main Event was both the best and worst of both worlds. It was an in-ring driven show like a PLE, but it aired on television. As a result, WWE had to deal with numerous commercial breaks throughout the program.
The flow of the program and especially the matches were strongly disrupted by this. Triple H must find a way to time out matches better so that the constant barrage of commercials isn't so egregious that it takes fans out of the matches. Perhaps having both entrances before the commercial and then waiting to start could help?
#4. WWE had no title changes on the show
There were five matches on the WWE Saturday Night's Main Event card. Of those five bouts, four had championships on the line. Three of those matches were title defenses in particular.
Cody Rhodes defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, plus Liv Morgan put her belt on the line against IYO SKY. Additionally, Gunther successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship in a Triple Threat match.
Notably, the champions retained in each match. For what was supposed to be such a big show, no title changes is certainly a letdown. This, of course, excluded Chelsea Green, who became the inaugural Women's United States Champion, as that isn't really a title change but the crowning of a champion.
The next Saturday Night's Main Event needs to shake things up if WWE and Triple H expect to maintain fan interest. A good show isn't enough, there has to be a feeling of unpredictability. Title changes help to supply those feelings.
#3. Saturday Night's Main Event felt rushed
Saturday Night's Main Event ran for two hours, with no overrun. In essence, it was the length of a standard episode of NXT or WWE Friday Night SmackDown. Under normal circumstances, this would allow plenty of time for a quality product.
Again, however, it comes down to how the show was booked. Triple H and WWE officials booked Saturday Night's Main Event with five matches and it was presented as if it was a premium live event.
Despite that, every match was kept between around 8-13 minutes in length. Even with shorter matches, the program was still rushed and it was tough to fit it all in. It may be wise for The Game to drop a match next time to allow a little more breathing room and perhaps allow a main event to have a bit more time.
#2. Hulk Hogan should have been featured
Several WWE legends were at the Saturday Night's Main Event special. The most notable was Jesse "The Body" Ventura who both did analysis and then later provided guest commentary for the main event.
Beyond Jesse, several other big names were featured or showcased, albeit in the crowd. This includes WWE Hall of Famers Greg Valentine, Koko B. Ware, Jimmy Hart, and Tito Santana, among others. One notable name who was absent, however, was Hulk Hogan.
Like Hulk Hogan or not, he was a key player in the rise of the-then WWF in the 1980's and Saturday Night's Main Event. Not only did he not appear, but he wasn't even really highlighted in the intro with other legends. Instead, he was at a UFC show. This is a mistake and the biggest star of the previous era needs to be highlighted next time.
#1. There was a distinct lack of interviews
The final mistake that needs to be rectified for next time simply comes down to one lacking feature: interviews. The WWE show was so match-heavy, but this isn't in line with what Saturday Night's Main Event really was at its heyday.
The program was well known for interviews. With Jesse "The Body" Ventura back in the fold, it would only make sense to see him interview the likes of Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Liv Morgan, and various others.
As noted in a different entry, the solution may be to cut out a match next time. A four-match card with more interviews could add even more interest to what is already a strong show. The Game came out swinging this time and only missed a few shots, but they can and should be corrected come January.