Saturday Night’s Main Event

Saturday Night’s Main Event: The Golden Age of WWE

Imagine a time when professional wrestling wasn’t just about the occasional televised match; it was an event that took over your living room every Saturday night. That’s what Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) was all about. This iconic series, produced by WWE, debuted in 1985 and quickly became a staple of American entertainment.

The Birth of an Era

Back then, SNME wasn’t just another wrestling show; it was the main event that replaced Saturday Night Live in its late-night timeslot. The show featured star vs. star matches, including title defenses and specialty matches, drawing large audiences for much of its run. It was during this period that WWE stars like Hulk Hogan were at their peak, making SNME a must-watch for wrestling fans.

Revivals and Resurrections

After NBC dropped the specials in 1991, they were revived on Fox until 1992. In 2006, WWE brought back SNME as a ‘special series’ to air on NBC after WWE returned to USA Network. However, it was discontinued in 2008. Fast forward to April 2022, and WWE repurposed the title for house shows held on Saturday nights. In September 2024, SNME will be revived again, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Notable Episodes

Each show started with a cold open of short wrestler promos set to the beginning of Lee Ritenour’s ‘Traveling Music.’ The songs were replaced with an original WWF-created instrumental theme in February 1988, which originated from the 1987 WWF Slammy Awards. A different opening theme song was used for some episodes.

Selected episodes were shown on ITV’s World Of Sport slot in the UK. The series was discontinued after July 2008, replaced with hour-long WrestleMania highlights specials for NBC. WWE SmackDown returned to USA Network in 2024 and announced a second revival of SNME.

Key Moments

The new revival features homages to the original run of Saturday Night’s Main Event and WWE in the 1980s. Cody Rhodes wore the classic ‘Winged Eagle’ belt on the revived show, bringing back a piece of wrestling history.

Notable Events

Saturday Night’s Main Event V took place on February 15, 1986, at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and drew a 10.0 rating. Saturday Night’s Main Event VI followed on May 1, 1986, with a 9.3 rating. The ratings continued to impress, with events like Saturday Night’s Main Event VII (September 13, 1986) drawing a 9.4 rating.

One of the most memorable moments was during Saturday Night’s Main Event IX on December 14, 1986, when The Mega Powers alliance of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Miss Elizabeth was formed after a beatdown by The Honky Tonk Man and The Hart Foundation. This event also saw the debut of the music video for ‘Piledriver,’ performed by Koko B. Ware.

Other Notable Events

Saturday Night’s Main Event XIII on November 11, 1987, featured Andre the Giant accompanying King Kong Bundy and Bobby Heenan to the ring for Bundy’s match against Hulk Hogan. Midway through the match, Andre was ejected from ringside for attempting to interfere in the match; as he returned to the locker room, he shoved a WWF cameraman to the floor.

Saturday Night’s Main Event XIV on December 7, 1987, saw Jack Krueger accidentally caught and knocked out by King Kong Bundy during the Hulk Hogan-King Kong Bundy match. Andre the Giant then sneak-attacked Hogan and choked him to the brink of unconsciousness, fighting off several wrestlers who came to aid Hogan.

2006 Revival

The 2006 revival featured four events:

• Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXII: July 15, 2006, in Dallas, Texas. Drew 17,343 people with a 2.6 rating.
• Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXIII: May 28, 2007, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Drew 16,176 people with a 2.2 rating.
• Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXIV: August 13, 2007, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Drew 16,827 people with a 2.5 rating.
• Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVI: July 28, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The event drew a 1.4 rating and 14,722 attendees.

Home Video Releases

SNME also had its home video releases, including Saturday Night’s Main Event’s Greatest Hits and a three-disc DVD set released on February 10, 2009, featuring over 30 full matches and several non-wrestling segments.

As we look back at the history of Saturday Night’s Main Event, it’s clear that this series was more than just a wrestling show; it was an event that brought people together every week. From its debut in 1985 to its revivals and future plans, SNME has left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. As WWE continues to evolve, one thing is certain: Saturday Night’s Main Event will always hold a special place in the hearts of wrestling fans.