WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event Recap (5-24-25)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: WWE 

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) on May 24, 2025, was held at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, FL. This event, the third in the revived SNME series since its return in December 2024, featured a nostalgic presentation evoking the 1980s original while advancing key storylines toward Money in the Bank on June 7, 2025. 

The show embraced a retro aesthetic with red, white, and blue ring ropes, the “Obsession” theme by Animation, and a throwback WWE logo, paying homage to the 1980s SNME era. Legends like Bushwhacker Luke, Jimmy Hart, Leilani Kai, Tatanka, Barry Windham, and Mike Rotunda appeared in the crowd, enhancing the nostalgic vibe. Joe Tessitore, Michael Cole, and Pat McAfee handled commentary, with Jesse “The Body” Ventura providing color commentary. Ventura’s return was a highlight, his banter with McAfee and Cole evoking the original SNME’s charm. WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event provided five matches, including two championship bouts (World Heavyweight and Women’s U.S. titles), a steel cage match, and significant storyline developments involving John Cena’s feel turn and Cody Rhodes’ return.

Tag Team Match: CM Punk & Sami Zayn vs Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker

The match kicked off with a pre-bell brawl, setting a chaotic tone. Rollins and Breakker, managed by Paul Heyman, worked as a cohesive heel unit, while Punk and Zayn relied on their resilience as fan-favorite babyfaces. Key spots included Breakker’s explosive athleticism, such as a high-impact supplier on Zayn, and Punk’s GTS attempt thwarted by Rollins. The match’s turning point came when Bronson Reed, returning from a broken ankle sustained at Survivor Series: WarGames (November 2024), attacked Punk, sending him through the barricade. Heyman’s interference, grabbing Zayn’s leg to prevent a Helluva Kick, allowed Breakker to hit a spear on Zayn, followed by Rollins’ Curb Stomp for the win. 

Key Moments: Reed’s shocking return aligned him with Rollins, Breakker, and Heyman, establishing a dominant heel faction. The crowd reacted strongly to Reed’s attack, amplifying the heel heat for the victorious team

Women’s U.S. Championship match

Zelina Vega (c) vs Chelsea Green

Green, accompanied by Piper Niven and Alba Fyre, played the heel aggressor, targeting Vega with taunts and underhanded tactics. Vega, the resilient champion, countered with high-flying offense. Niven and Fyre’s attempted interference backfired, with Vega neutralizing their impact. The finish saw Green climb the ropes for a high-risk move, only for Vega to counter with an avalanche Code Red, pinning Green for the victory. Post-match, Green was bloodied, adding drama to the finish, though she received medical attention. 

Key Moments: Vega’s top-rope Code Red was a highlight, showcasing her agility and ring awareness. Green’s heel antics, including mocking Vega’s heritage, drew strong crowd heat.

Steel Cage Match

Damien Priest vs Drew McIntyre

The cage match was a brutal, physical encounter, with both men using the steel structure for high-impact offense. McIntyre dominated early with a punishing chop and a Claymore attempt, while Priest countered with power moves like the South of Heaven chokeslam. Key spots included McIntyre slamming Priest into the cage and Preist’s attempt to escape, thwarted by McIntyre pulling him down. The finish saw Priest retrieve a chair, delivering a Con-Chair-To to McIntyre.

Key Moments: The Con-Chair-To finish marked a shift toward a more ruthless Priest, hinting at a potential heel turn or edgier babyface persona. The cage amplified the feud’s intensity, with both men bleeding slightly from cage collisions. 

John Cena vs R-Truth

R-Truth entered as “Ron Cena,” mimicking Cena’s mannerisms in a comedic tribute that infuriated the heel Cena. Cena dominated early with aggressive strikes, but Truth rallied with a shoulder block, Blue Thunder Driver, and a Five Knuckle Shuffle, delighting the crowd. Cena regained control, hitting an Attitude Adjustment for the win. Post-match, Cena attacked Truth with the WWE Championship belt, reinforcing his heel persona from WrestleMania 41. A backstage segment saw Cena confront Jey Uso, taunting him about losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Logan Paul, setting up further conflict. 

Key Moments: Truth’s “Ron Cena” entrance was a comedic highlight, earning strong crowd reactions. Cena’s post-match attack and verbal sparring with Uso advanced his retirement tour narrative.

World Heavyweight Championship match

Jey Uso (c) vs Logan Paul

The main event saw Uso, the reigning champion, face Paul, a cunning heel. Early exchanges featured technical wrestling, with Uso applying a headlock and Paul countering with a blockbuster from the middle rope. Paul’s springboard moonsault outside the ring was a high point, showcasing his athleticism. The match’s climax involved John Cena’s interference, aligning with Paul to “ruin wrestling.” Cody Rhodes, making his first appearance since losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cena at WrestleMania 41, returned to neutralize Cena, allowing Uso to hit a spear and Uso splash for the victory. Post-match, Rhodes announced a tag team match at Money in the Bank pitting himself and Uso against Cena and Paul, joined by legends in the crowd for a nostalgic celebration.

Key Moments: Rhodes’ surprise return was the night’s biggest pop, reestablishing him as a top babyface. The presence of legends like Tatanka and the U.S. Express during the post-match segment tied the event to SNME’s roots.

May 24, 2025, Saturday Night’s Main Event was a nostalgic, storyline-driven show that effectively bridged WrestleMania 41 fallout to Money in the Bank. Cody Rhodes’ return, Bronson Reed’s surprise attack, and John Cena’s heel antics were the standout moments, while Jey Uso’s title retention and Damien Priest’s cage match victory solidified their momentum. The retro presentation and Ventura’s commentary resonated with fans, though the event’s TV-special vibe, short matches, and limited women’s presence prevented it from reaching PLE-level impact. Overall, it was a successful chapter in WWE’s 2025 narrative, setting the stage for major developments in June.