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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 .