Jey Uso will try to capture his second world championship at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
WWE
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 41 airs from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. All four matches on the card are championship matches, including two world title bouts. The high-profile card will try to mitigate inevitable damage from Game 7 of the MLB World Series by going on an hour early with a 4:00 p.m. PST start time. The July 12 broadcast of SNME aired at 5:00 p.m. PST.
During a pre-taped vignette, John Cena announced a 16-man tournament to determine his final opponent. The tournament will begin on the November 10, 2025 broadcast of WWE Raw, and will feature talent from Raw, SmackDown NXT and even talent from outside of WWE.
Between competition from the World Series, college football and the new (read: inherently faulty) Big Data ratings system that has been disastrous for pro wrestling, tonight’s SNME could draw a record-low for live viewership.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event To Crown New World Champion(s)
Saturday Night’s Main event will be a newsworthy show by crowning a new WWE World Heavyweight champion. But it could be made even more newsworthy with multiple title changes. Jade Cargill is heavily favored to dethrone Tiffany Stratton after Cargill turned heel last week on SmackDown. It’s hard to imagine Cargill coming up short yet again in her first mach in her heel era.
Dominik Mysterio is approaching cult hero status. He’s on the short list as an early darkhorse Royal Rumble winner. With two belts already in tow, WWE is more than petty enough mock Mercedes Mone’s record-breaking 12-belt reign. Penta and Rusev have had a serviceable side-feud. Penta actually deserves to be Intercontinental champion right now, but I don’t see WWE undercutting Dirty Dom’s momentum.
Drew McIntyre is a steep +325 underdog against Cody Rhodes (-550) in their WWE Championship rematch. But Drew McIntyre’s trials and failures to become world champion—despite always having a valid excuse—is bordering on parody. McIntyre has been Bret Hart from 1997 for three years now. What made Bret in ’97 so memorable, is he was able to win the world title only a few short months after turning heel. For Drew, it’s been a few long years.
It’s time for Heel Drew McIntyre to finally enjoy a world title reign.
CM Punk is expected to regain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in an intriguing WWE World Title match against Jey Uso. Both Uso and Punk have shown shades of grey as babyfaces, with each candidates to end the night as heels. This is a similar case with Jimmy Uso, who was screwed out of winning the Raw Over-the-top Battle Royal despite saving his brother—eventual winner Jey Uso—twice.
Last Friday’s broadcast of SmackDown garnered 1.147 million viewers.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Match Card, Odds And Results
- Cody Rhodes (-550) def. Drew McIntyre (+325) | WWE Title
- Jade Cargill (-1500) def. Tiffany Stratton (+600) vs. | WWE Women’s Title
- Dominik Mysterio (-2500) def. Rusev (+500) vs. Penta (+500) | Triple Threat for WWE IC Title
- John Cena announced a 16-man tournament to determine his final opponent.
- CM Punk (-400) def. Jey Uso (+250) |WWE World Heavyweight Title
WWE SmackDown Ratings And Viewership
- October 24, 2025 | 1.147 million
- October 17, 2025 | 1.180 million
- October 10, 2025 | 1.025 million
- October 3, 2025 | 1.030 million
- September 26, 2025 | 1.238 million
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Ticket Sales
- WWE SNME XLI Venue: Delta Center (Salt Lake City, UT)
- WWE SNME XLI Tickets Distributed: 7,867
- WWE SNME XLI Tickets Available: 221
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Start Time And Where To Stream
- WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
- WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI Start Time: 4:00 pm PST (7:00 pm EST)
- Where to Watch/Stream: Peacock
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Live Results And Highlights
Cody Rhodes Beats Drew McIntyre With A DDT On The WWE Title
- If Cody Rhodes is counted out or disqualified, Drew McIntyre will become the new Undisputed WWE champion. McIntyre vowed to have an “Open, top-bus parade” throughout the United Kingdom in celebration of a WWE Championship win.
- Drew McIntyre demanded Lillian Garcia announce him as “The Real American Dream,” so she did. McIntyre wisely baited Rhodes to follow him to the outside of the ring as the announcers talked up the stipulation. Fans were 100% behind Cody Rhodes to start the match. As the match went on, the support was more 50/50.
- McIntyre bit Rhodes, which is cause for a disqualification, but referee Dan Engler didn’t see it so he couldn’t call it. Rhodes inadvertently struck the official, teasing a disqualification, but the referee let it slide. There was another DQ tease as McIntyre mounted Rhodes for an extended ground-and-pound.
- This was described as a “Walk in the park” for Drew McIntyre for several minutes.Rhodes finally made his comeback, beginning with a superplex. McIntyre cutoff Cody’s momentum with a great reversal of the Cody Cutter. McIntyre rag-dolled Rhodes with an impressive sitout powerbomb in one fell swoop.
- Rhodes teased using the WWE Championship belt on McIntyre, who baited Cody into it. Cody didn’t fall for it, but when he went to discard the title, McIntyre hit a one-step Claymore Kick for a nearfall. “This is awesome” chants ensued.
- McIntyre went for a Claymore Kick into the announce table. McIntyre hit Cody and went a bit low. The match continued, as Drew bumped Cody onto the table. Fans really got into this countout knowing Rhodes would lose the world title if that happened. Cody made it by one second. “Holy s—t” chants, now.
- Engler got in the way of Rhodes, who seemed to mess up his knee a la Seth Rollins on July 12. The referee checked on Rhodes, who recovered and hit a super Cutter. Rhodes continued to sell his knee as fans rallied behind him.
- Rhodes accidentally bumped referee Dan Engler. McIntyre brought the WWE Title into the ring. Both men struggled over it, but Rhodes hit a DDT on the title. Rhodes followed up with a Cross Rhodes for the win.
Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes Match Grade: B+
Jade Cargill Destroys Wounded Tiffany Stratton To Win Women’s Title
- During a backstage segment, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis asked Tiffany Stratton one final time if she was good to go “Physically and mentally.” Michael Cole praised Stratton as a fighting champion. If this wasn’t telegraphing the fact that she was fixing to drop the WWE Women’s Championship, I don’t know what was.
- Jade Cargill wore an all-Black ensemble as she sported her now-legendary scar above her left eye. Fans still cheered Cargill during her entrance, but not as much as they cheered Stratton.
- The hobbled champion re-injured her left knee, which was heavily taped. Cargill immediately pounced on Stratton’s injured knee and slammed Stratton with a series of power moves including a chokeslam. Stratton dodged a charging Cargill, But couldn’t capitalize with a WPE because of her left knee.
- The DQ finish teases continued into this match as Jade pounded on Tiffany while Stratton’s legs were trapped in the turnbuckles. A desperate Stratton battled back and hit a Swanton Bomb for the nearfall.
- Jade landed nuclear bomb after nuclear bomb on Tiffany Stratton for a series of nearfalls. Cargill hit back-to-back power bombs and followed up for a Jaded for the emphatic win.
Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton Match Grade: A-
Dominik Mysterio Cheats To Win Against Penta And Rusev
- This match coincided with the beginning of Game 7 of the MLB World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Penta was rocking all blue in pursuit of his first singles championship in WWE. Penta got a spectacular amount of pyro both in and out of the ring. Rusev once again received a modest reaction. Dirty Dominik Mysterio got the biggest pop of the three.
- The match began with Rusev and Penta literally fighting over who gets to beat up Dirty Dom. Rusev hit a fantastic drop kick on Penta, opening the door for Dominik to pounce. Rusev countered with a rag-doll of Dominik. The action spilled to the outside, leading to one dive after another from Penta and Dominik. Dirty Dom chants ensued. Rusev took control of the match on the outside, with the challenger even screaming at a terrified child as his parents laughed. Rusev kissed the Intercontinental Title and said “I’m coming for you.” Rusev was great in this match.
- Penta rallied back and softened up Rusev as fans chanted “Let’s go Penta!” Rusev once again turned the tables and dominated Penta. Rusev knocked Penta off the top rope, resulting in yet another fake injury angle. Dominik did the Eddie Guerrero gimmick with the steel chair, tossing the chair to Rusev. There are no disqualifications in a Triple Threat, so Rusev just whacked Mysterio with the chair right in front of the ref.
- Penta scored a nearfall with a Penta Driver on Rusev, prompting “Ref, you suck!” chants. Rusev hit the Matcha Kick on Penta in midair. Rusev slapped on the Accolade and the bell rang. Rusev celebrated, but it was revealed that Dirty Dom was the one who rang the bell. A furious Rusev pursued Dom and pummeled the champion on the outside. Dom crawled back inside of the ring and tried to grab the bell hammer.
- Penta stopped Dirty Dom from grabbing the hammer, but he accidentally hit Rusev with the weapon. Mysterio tossed Penta out of the ring and won the match with a Frog Splash.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta and Rusev Match Grade: B+
John Cena Announces 16-Man Tournament To Determine His Last Opponent
- “Let these guys have it, now,” said John Cena about the future of WWE. “Never again,” said Cena while confirming that 2025 would indeed be the end of his in-ring career.
- “Who do you want to face in your last match? On my last day, I want to face whoever is willing to step up and seize the last opportunity that I seized on my first day.” Cena announced a 16-man tournament featuring talent from Raw, SmackDown, NXT and “talent that doesn’t even work here.” Cena’s final opponent “won’t be handpicked, it’ll be hard earned.”
- “The Last Time is Now” tournament will begin on the November 10 Raw from Cena’s hometown of Boston, Mass.
CM Punk Beats Jey Uso To Win The WWE World Heavyweight Title
- Jey Uso ran it back for Utah before CM Punk’s entrance. CM Punk wore a bomber jacket that read “Duke” in honor of his late MMA coach Duke Roufus. Michael Cole noted Punk’s gear was an homage to MMA trainer Duke Roufus. Punk dedicated this match to his trainer.
- CM Punk grabbed a couple holds early, but Jey Uso followed suit. The main event begun slowly and methodically. Fans went back-and-forth chanting for both Punk and Jey.
- Punk raked at Jey Uso’s eyes as the match slowly begun to pick up the pace. Drew swung his way out of the hold and rolled up Punk with a jackknife cover for a nearfall. After exchanging multiple nearfalls with Punk, Punk hit the GTS on Jey, who rolled out of the ring. Punk poured water all over Jey to wake him up before sending him back in.
- Jey Uso fought out of a second GTS and speared CM Punk. Jey scored with an Uso Splash, but only for a nearfall. CM Punk hit a superplex on Jey, but Punk sold his spine as he was unable to make the pin. Punk and Uso exchanged hockey punches, but Punk got the better of Jey with his patented babyface comeback.
- Jey Uso speared CM Punk through the barricade. Back inside the ring, Jey hit a GTS only to run into a spear from CM Punk for a nearfall. Punk hit a second GTS as Jey Uso collapsed on Punk. As Punk went for a third GTS, Uso slapped on a sleeper a la WrestleMania 41. Punk countered into the Anaconda Vice. Jey reached the bottom rope. Incredible sequence.
- Punk hit a third GTS, then a fourth as he beat Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship.
CM Punk vs. Jey Uso Match Grade: A
