Saturday Night time’s Most important Occasion returns this weekend, marking the primary time in practically twenty years WWE has revived their basic program. By no means a weekly program, Saturday Night time’s Most important Occasion aired on NBC at varied occasions of the yr from 1985 to 1992 and was revived for a short run beginning in 2006.
Saturday’s card is constructed like a serious WWE premium stay occasion, with 4 championship matches in addition to a grudge match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn. The headliner sees Cody Rhodes seeking to defend his undisputed WWE championship towards longtime pal turned bitter rival Kevin Owens.
World heavyweight champion Gunther must fend off two challengers in a triple menace match towards Finn Balor and Damian Priest. The previous allies turned rivals have been at one another’s throats for months since Balor price Priest the title at SummerSlam and prevented him from regaining the title at Survivor Collection. Plus, girls’s world champion Liv Morgan defends her crown towards No. 1 contender Iyo Sky.
The primary girls’s United States champion will even be topped on Saturday night time when Chelsea Inexperienced takes on Michin after each superior via the event to find out a titleholder.
Let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities specialists are choosing to win every match, which airs stay on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
WWE Saturday Night time’s Most important Occasion 2024 predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
If WWE needs to make Saturday Night time’s Most important Occasion a cannot miss present, reserving a title change within the marquee match units the proper tone. It is also the extra attention-grabbing inventive course. However I do not suppose the promotion is able to half methods with their appointed main man. Rhodes oozes the throwback really feel of this occasion and this card may be very a lot constructed round him. Moreover, there are nonetheless feuds we have to see Rhodes in earlier than he is dethroned. Choose: Cody Rhodes retains the title — Shakiel Mahjouri
I anticipate WWE has Rhodes retain in a basic Saturday Night time’s Most important Occasion “babyface goes over” transfer. However it might be a lot extra attention-grabbing to have Owens win the belt and prolong the feud out slightly bit. Rhodes can at all times regain the title within the months earlier than WrestleMania for no matter they’ve deliberate, however the points with Owens have been about the one time I’ve discovered Rhodes’ run with the belt attention-grabbing in fairly some time. Owens successful places Rhodes again on the chase the place he is extra attention-grabbing. For that motive, regardless of feeling pretty sure Rhodes will get the win, I’ll decide Owens anyway. Choose: Kevin Owens wins the title — Brent Brookhouse
World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
Including Priest to the match is sensible as all three males have points with one another. The gang additionally is way extra into Priest when he is concerned with Gunther than some other time, so slightly bit of additional warmth is an effective factor. There would not appear to be any likelihood Gunther is leaving with out the title. Priest regaining the belt makes little sense, and whereas Balor is a incredible wrestler, he simply is not actually positioned to be world champion. Add in that the ability wrestle between Balor and Liv Morgan is a central storyline on Uncooked and a Balor loss solely strengthens that dynamic and Gunther retaining appears to be the one play. Choose: Gunther retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
Ladies’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
Sky has been lights out as of late and I might like to see her get one other run as champion. There are simply too many issues for Morgan nonetheless to do as champion, together with lastly blowing off her lengthy feud with Rhea Ripley. There’s not way more reasoning wanted for why Morgan will retain on Saturday night time. Choose: Liv Morgan retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
Ladies’s United States Championship: Chelsea Inexperienced vs. Michin
I am all in on Chelsea Inexperienced. She is a incredible “sports activities entertainer” in the perfect use of the phrase. Inexperienced has been persistently entertaining and is a good alternative for the primary girl to carry a brand new midcard title. A heel champion like Inexperienced simply units up so many enjoyable potentialities transferring ahead that it looks as if the precise appropriate play. Choose: Inexperienced defeats Michin to win the title — Brookhouse
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
McIntyre did the perfect work of his profession towards CM Punk. However like most of his main feuds in the previous few years, he misplaced. It is time WWE rewards McIntyre’s exhausting work with a powerful successful streak. Zayn is sort of bulletproof because of his beloved underdog standing. McIntyre must get his hand raised in his first match since dropping in Hell in a Cell. Choose: Drew McIntyre wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)