It was a landmark nighttime inWWEasSaturday Night ’s Main Eventreturned for the first time since 2008 , airing from Nassau Coliseum in Long Island , NY . Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens in a brutal peer , while alsobringing back the classic Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt . Owens would later attack Cody after the show in devastating fashion .

Fellow champion Liv Morgan retained by beating Iyo Sky and Gunther retained his World Heavyweight Championship in a Triple Threat compeer with Damian Priest and Finn Balor . Elsewhere , Chelsea Green made history by becoming the first Women ’s US Champion , and Drew McIntyre nock a triumph over Sami Zayn on a night filled with nostalgia and fun , old - schoolhouse ideas .

1The Return Of Saturday Night’s Main Event

A Night Of Highs And Lows On SNME’s Return

There can be argument for both solemnization and frustration at the return of Saturday Night ’s Main Event . In the glass - half - full pillar , the old - school feel and display were joyous . The reviewer ’s blue uniform and bow-tie combo , the previous school Allium tricoccum and entrance , retro medicine , andJesse ' The trunk ' Ventura ’s golden note on commentaryall made the show find unique . After years of feeling like Vince McMahon hat his audience , Paul Levesque interpret that fans will pop for trivial thing like Joe Tessitore in the classic Mean Gene Okerlund " tuxedo and red bowtie " combo or the red , white , and blue ring ropes .

On the flip side , after month of build - up , it was a posting comparatively spare of incident . Every champion retain their title of respect , and no major happening altered the flight of any feud . Sure , fans will be glad enough to see Koko B Ware this once , but there needs to be a little more story advancement next fourth dimension around , or SNME may experience like a missable batting order . For a first attempt at the reboot though , this was still a win for WWE .

2Drew McIntyre

The Scottish Warrior Is On Fire

24 hours after bruise the already injured Jimmy Uso with a Claymore from hell , Drew McIntyre scored a major victory over Sami Zayn . Sami Zayn is one of WWE ’s prime minister performer and his gutsy and rageful performance was commendable , butDrew McIntyre feel like one of the most formidable forces in pro wrestlingas we head into 2025 . Of all of the winnings this evening , this was perhaps the most forceful and convincing . It was n’t just a profits , it was a statement .

His year will largely be bond to his generational feud with CM Punk , butDrew McIntyre has improved his reputation in an tremendous way in 2024 . It will be interesting to see what Drew ’s reward for his part in the Punk feud will be , add up WrestleMania time of year . His 2024 should think of that next year learn him winning feud and friction match against the best of the upright . Nobody wishes such a affair in his retreat year , but if John Cena is faced with Drew McIntyre in 2025 , Big Match John should be picking his face up from the storey .

3Chelsea Green

A History-Setting Night For One Of WWE’s Most Deserving Performers

On July 6th at the Scotiabank Arena , Chelsea Green was meters from taking home the Money In The Band briefcase and an almost guaranteed WWE Championship reign . As she plunged through the air , hurling towards a waiting set of tables , it would be soft to think her shot at glory had passed for the foreseeable future . Tonight , Chelsea Green made chronicle by becoming the first Women ’s United States Championin a hard - fought triumph over the incredible Michin .

Chelsea Green has been one of WWE ’s most coherent comedic performing artist of the Paul Levesque earned run average . With her cartilaginous facial mannerism , unacceptable graphic symbol , and willingness to be idiotic ( to the tip of her wearing ring gear with her nerve all over it ) , Chelsea Green is an supporting selection to deliver the goods the mid - card bash . It should be an opportunity to advance a gift or increase their worth . Liv Morgan ’s running with the WWE Women ’s Champion has seen her star rise enormously . This is a chance for Chelsea to put herself into the cleaning woman ’s Main Event video , as well as establish a novel title . She very much merit it .

4Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes Seals His Perfect Year

It was n’t without its controversies , butCody Rhodes wore the classic Winged Eagle WWE Championship beltas he retained his title by overcoming Kevin Owens . A referee jut accompany KO hitting the Stunner had it attend like a unexampled WWE Champion would be crowned , but instead , a renewal referee could only reach a 2 count . It enable Cody to recuperate , win the match , and end 2024 while maintaininghis convincing WWE Championship sovereignty .

It ’s impossible to believe that this will be the last Cody Rhodes see of Kevin Owens . The finish of the compeer was perfect , with Owens being refuse a " clear " victory , while Rhodes exit the match with a Crossrhodes on the steel chair . on-line footage shows Owens hitting Cody with a package piledriver in the middle of the ring after the match . reckon on how long he is spite , there is currently no obvious adversary for Cody at the Royal Rumble . A Kevin Owens rematch is most likely but there wo n’t be many the great unwashed rushing to do Kevin Owens any favors after his up-to-the-minute dastardly act .

5Liv Morgan

The Contender For WWE’s Performer Of The Year Retains Her Title

When Liv Morgan returned at the 2024 Royal Rumble , it was to a chemical reaction that could good be referred to as a cult following more than a origination - rock explosion . It is incredible to consider , but she was n’t on the WrestleMania card this year . Now that she has been undefeated in singles contender since March , Liv Morgan can be considered WWE ’s best performer in 2024 .

In what is potential to be her final title defensive structure in 2024 , Morgan get the better of Iyo Sky with a canvas tent - crushing obliviousness . No preferably had she had her weapon system evoke , Rhea Ripley arrived on the scene to pose up a tense face - to - face with the WWE Championship on full show . The smart money is on Rhea vs Liv being add to Raw ’s Netflix debut , but , for now , it is Liv Morgan who gets to celebrate a banner year .

6Kevin Owens

The Most Hated Man In WWE Somehow Gets Worse

There has been a slew to like about Kevin Owens ’s righteous path of vengeance in late month . After suffering the wrath of The Bloodline for 4 year , KO has taken objective at anybody who has align themselves with the OTC . He may have lost his prospect to become WWE Champion , butKevin Owens made all the newspaper headline with his wretched attackon Cody Rhodes after the match .

murder the WWE Champion with a package piledriver , just over a month after he put Randy Orton on the injured leaning in a standardised fashion , Kevin Owens then stole the Winged Eagle championship belt . KO is a homo out of patience with the WWE on all stage , and worse is emphatically still to come . If multitude could sympathise with him before , Kevin Owens has lost the love and respectfulness of everyone(except the citizenry chanting " one more time " after the piledriver ) . That he does n’t care one bit make it all the more entertaining .

7Finn Balor

A Massive Missed Opportunity For The Prince

As Gunther continued his iron grip on the World Heavyweight Championship by outwit both Damian Priest and Finn Balor , this feel like a big loss to eat for the " unquestionably not loss leader " of The Judgment Day . It is another twelvemonth of " sort of " success for Finn , as he has savor two freestanding runs with the Tag Team Championship with his faction mates , but nothing to shout about in singles competition . It feel as thoughFinn Balor desperately has to nurture his stock in the class ahead .

This is a man who was chosen to win the first Universal Championship . This is a man with the credibility of establishing The Bullet Club ’s dominance on the independent scene , and has a legit title to being the greatest NXT Champion of all time . Balor should be in any companionship ’s Main Event characterisation , but Finn still does n’t feel like he has the regard of WWE ’s fanbase . It may not have happened for him this eve , but 2025 has to be the year Finn Balor reminds everyone who he is .

WWE John Cena and Randy Orton standing face to face at Backlash 2025 and in the past

Joe Hendry and Karrion Kross WWE t-shirt

Jey Uso with the World Heavyweight Championship on WWE Raw

Cody Rhodes Winged Eagle Main Pic

Drew McIntyre WWE Saturday Night’s Mian Event

Chelsea Green WWE US Champ

Cody Winged Eagle

Liv Morgan WWE SNME

Kevin Owens on SmackDown Commentary

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