WWE completes a very busy day in pro wrestling with another edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC/Peacock, headlined by the final match of Goldberg.
The former WWE and WCW titleholder will challenge WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther for the title in the final bout of a career that ended in 1997.
Former champion and Money in the Bank contract holder Seth Rollins will battle former U.S. Champion LA Knight as their feud has continued.
In a clash of veterans, Randy Orton will take on the returning Drew McIntyre with musician Jelly Roll in Orton’s corner.
The main card is rounded out by reigning U.S. Champion Solo Sikoa defending against former Bloodline member Jimmy Uso.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 PM Eastern.
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To most, Saturday’s all right for fighting. But to us Wrestling Faithful, Saturday night, as well as Saturday afternoon, Sunday, Friday night and even Thursday are all right for fighting. This weekend has already featured a metric ton of wrestling, but before we turn our attention to Evolution, it’s Saturday Night’s Main Event!
-The show kicked off with the traditional footage of Wrestlers arriving to work. Seth Rollins, LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Solo Siko, Jimmy Uso, Gunther and Goldberg were all shown heading into the area. Which makes me wish that more workplaces started their days with footage of people arriving to work. “Here’s Jerry, from accounting! And Phylis from HR!” But I digress.
Randy Orton w/Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre w/Logan Paul
These two big men just plain out don’t like each other. McIntrye showed as much when he interrupted Orton in a promo segment with Cody Rhodes. That led to Orton giving him a RKO (out of nowhere, as it turned out) and setting up this match. It should be a good brawl between a couple of veteran heavyweights. Also, Jelly Roll will be there to annoy Logan Paul. Something for everyone!
During the near 10 minute introduction process to this match, I found myself wondering what the other members of 3MB were doing tonight. Then the bell rang and I forgot all about it.
McIntyre sent Orton into the corner off the top, but Orton quickly reversed it and sent McIntyre out to the floor. Orton tried a back suplex on the announce table, but McIntyre reversed it and sent Orton through the table instead.
During a commercial break, Orton recovered though and back in the ring found himself whipped into the corner, McIntyre working the back of Orton. Then he started delivering chops that Orton no sold and knocked McIntyre to the mat. McIntyre went for a stomp, but Orton power slammed him. McIntyre rolled out, followed by Orton who slammed him on the announce table three times for good measure.
Back in the ring, Orton hit a vintage DDT, but Paul caused a distraction, and McIntyre hit Orton with a claymore. On the outside, Jelly Roll and Paul engaged in a war of words that ended up with Jelly Roll shoving PAul to the ground. That aggravated McIntyre who jawed at Jelly Roll, allowing Orton to hit an RKO and pick up the win.
Match Result: Randy Orton defeated Drew McIntyre
After the match, Paul jumped Orton and beat him down in the ring. Jelly Roll had seen enough and walked into the ring to punch his lights out. Then, out of nowhere, McIntyre hit a Claymore on Jelly Roll. Officials yelled at him while medics tended to Jelly Roll.
Sure, that was something. A by-the-numbers match that will pretty obviously set up an Orton/Jelly Roll vs Paul.McIntyre match for SummerSlam.
-Before the next match, Wrestlers like Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley were show at ringside. When they got to Jade Cargill though, Naomi appeared out of nowhere and attacked her. The fight spilled over the barricade to ringside until officials pulled them apart. Naomi and Cargill have a No Holds Barred match tomorrow. It was then announced that Bianca Belair would be the special guest referee for said match!
United States Champion Solo Sikoa vs. Jimmy Uso
My takeaway from this match is simply; Damn, Rikishi has a lot of kids. Uso takes on his other Brother from the same mother here in Sikoa. The two have tangled in various stories and Sikoa has been building a new Bloodline referred to as MFT, to watch his back. However, Jacob Fatu is still lurking in the background and maybe Jey has something to say about his brothers fighting it out?
The bell rang and the staredown began. Sikoa broke the stare-mate first swinging at Uso and sending him to the mat. Uso recovered though and pulled down the top rope, sending a charging Sikoa to the outside. Uso dove out after him, sending him into the barricade, then retreated back into the ring.
Sikoa joined him and the two traded blows. Uso went up top, but Sikoa caught him and drove him into the mat in a modified Rock Bottom. Sikoa sent Uso to the outside where a waiting Tonga clotheslined him.
Back from commercial, Sikoa was in control of Uso. He hoisted him up on the ring apron (the most brotherly part of the ring) but Uso blocked it and hit Sikoa with a superkick, followed by a German Suplex. Uso hit a crossbody from the top rope, but it only got him a two-count.
Uso went to the opposite top turnbuckle and hit an Uso splash, but Sikoa kicked out at two again. The MFTs wandered around the outside of the ring as Sikoa staggerd to his feet. Uso went for a spear, but Sikoa caught him and set him up for a Samoan Spike. Uso dodged it and hit a couple of superkicks. He then went up top again, but Sikoa rolled out of the ring.
Uso hit a moonsault onto Sikoa and the MFTs, while the crowd chanted things that caused the sound to be muted. Tala Tonga tried to get involved, and Uso kicked him in the face about it. That let Sikoa roll him up and get the pin to retain his title.
Match Result: Solo Sikoa defeated Jimmy Uso
After the match, the MFTs began a beatdown on Uso. They held him while Sikoa hit him with a Samoan Spike. Suddenly, Jacob Fatu arrived and picked off the MFT’s one by one. Tonga climbed over the top rope and stared Fatu down. Fatu leapt into action and sent Tonga over the top rope, diving after him and hitting Sikoa as well.
Another perfectly fine match, but what made it was the crowd. They were 1000% into this match and made very blow and momentum shift feel huge. Really fun stuff.
-Next up, Randy Orton and Jelly Roll were interviewed backstage. You’ll never guess what they said, but it rhymes with “Sag Latch at MummerSlam.” Orton feels bad for putting Jelly Roll in harms way. Jelly Roll wants revenge. They both want Paul & McIntyre at SummerSlam. In a tag match. That was the rhyme.
LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins
At Money In The Bank, Rollins had some help winning via Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed (who I’m choosing to call the Killer B’s 2000). That made Knight really mad as he was prevented from winning by said B’s. Since then, Rollins and Knight have been at each other’s throats and tonight will go one-on-one for the first time ever.
Rollins taunted Knight off the top, which backfired when Knight ran him into the corner. Rollins came back swinging though and the two traded shots with Knight sending Rollins to the mat. Rollins went for a early pedigree, but Knight sent him out of the ring and then followed him with a dropkick.
Knight grabbed Rollins and began bouncing his head off the announce table (boy that thing’s taking a beating tonight. The table, not Seth’s head). Knight in full control, threw Rollins across the table one more time for good measure.
Back from commercial, Rollins had Knight in a body scissor in the middle of the ring. Knight powered out with some back elbows, but Rollins hoisted him up for a reverse back breaker, followed by a frog splash. All that only got him a two-count though.
Rollins went for a Curb Stomp, but Knight dodged it and worked it into a DDT on Rollins. Knight went to the top rope for a big elbow, but Rollins kicked out at two. Knight began stomping a proverbial mudhole in Rollins in the corner, ending with a big running hip.
Knight went for the BFT, but Rollins pushed out and put a shoulder in Knight’s stomach. Rollins then went up top, but Knight followed and started chopping Rollins on the top turnbuckle. Rollins headbutted Knight off, but he leapt right back up and into Rollins’ arms for a bucklebomb. Rollins hit a superkick and senton followed by a moonsault.
Rollins appeared to hurt his knee, so the Ref held Knight back to see what was going on. A medic entered the ring to check on Rollins, but he was able to staggered up to his feet. LA Knight was waiting though and hit a BFT to get the quick pin.
Match Result: LA Knight defeated Seth Rollins
That was a nice match, but I’m genuinely concerned that Rollins hurt his knee. They cut away very quickly and on the replay showed his knee buckling on the moonsault. I’m sure we will hear more imminently!
And then, before we knew it, it was Main Event time. On Saturday Night no less!
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther vs. Goldberg
Last night, I had the pleasure of watching Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor in which a 64 year old Blue Panther fought for the Pure Title against Lee Moriarty in a great bout. Tonight, 58-year old Goldberg will fight Gunther for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in what promises to be… a bout. As much as I’m in favor of a Sexagenarian Division in pro wrestling, I’m hoping that old men being beaten up by champions will be a rarity after this.
Anyway, at Bad Blood, Gunther insulted Goldberg and his son, Gage, as Gunther tends to do. Goldberg was so mad about it, he showed up at RAW and told Gunther he was next, as Goldberg tends to do. Gunther seemed pretty OK with that, and here we are. This is being billed as Goldberg’s last match, and WWE has been showing highlights from his career all night.
Goldberg made his way to the ring in his traditional fashion, minus the headbutt concussion. The crowd was absolutely hot for this and they even unearthed the old WCW head of security Doug Dellinger, for the walk.
I’ll be honest, Goldberg has looked, well, old, during the build to this match, but tonight he must be going on pure adrenaline. During his entrance he looked like the Goldberg of old instead of just old.
Lillian Garcia reminded us why she’ll always be the best Ring Announcer, non-Finkel division, and the match was on.
Goldberg took a moment to take in the crowd chanting for him one last time and the two locked up. Goldberg shoved Gunther to the mat, surprising the Champion. Gunther put a boot in Goldberg’s stomach and bounced off the ropes for a shoulder, but Goldberg no-sold it. Gunther began chopping him, but again, nothing from Goldberg.
Goldberg sent Gunther into the corner and began kicking and punching him. He whipped him out and clotheslined him, setting up for the Jackhammer, but Gunther punched out of it. Goldberg began favoring his knee at this point.
Gunther went up top, but Goldberg grabbed him and tossed him into the ring, crouching for a spear. Gunther saw it though and rolled out of the ring. Goldberg followed and Gunther resumed chopping him on the outside. Goldberg went for a spear, but Gunther moved and Goldberg went right through the barricade.
Back from commercial, Gunther was working the knee of Goldberg, stretching him in the middle of the ring. Goldberg threw a flurry of punches to break the hold. The two started trading chops until Goldberg’s knee gave out and he fell to the mat.
Gunther started bullying Gold berg, talking smack and piefacing him. This led to Goldberg hitting a sine buster out of nowhere. In the corner, Goldberg rained down punches on Gunther. Gunther siezed the moment and attacked, but Goldberg hit a back body drop to set up the spear. Unfortunately, Gunther moved, and Goldberg speared the ref, Charles Robinson.
Gunther took advantage of the lack of adult supervision and wrapped Goldberg’s leg around the ropes, pulling the brace off his knee and wrenching it. Gunther then started hitting the knee with the brace. Goldberg staggered to his feet and Gunther hit him in the head with the brace.
Gunther then noticed Gage Goldberg at ring side and started jawing at him. Gage hopped the railing and security put him back. Gunther g=climbed back into the ring just in time to get nailed with a spear from Goldberg.
Grabbing Gunther by the neck, Goldberg hit one last Jackhammer, but there was no official. A new ref arrived, but by then Gunther had recovered enough to kick out at two. Gunther locked in a sleeper hold and Goldberg refused to tap. Goldberg tried to power out of it, but it couldn’t do it.
At 9:57pm EST Goldberg passed out, giving the win to Gunther and ending a 28 year career.
Match Result: Gunther defeated Goldberg
After the match, Goldberg was surrounded by friends and family in the ring. He grabbed a mic and thanked them all. He said that he loved the fans and thanked them too as the show went off the air.
It’s easy to talk smack about Goldberg, especially in the last decade or so. But the truth is, Goldberg was a huge part of what took wresting to the next level and made it a global industry. If this really is the end of Goldberg’s career (and for his health, I kinda hope it is) then he went out with a bang, playing all his greatest hits and never giving up. For that I’ll say congratulations Bill and extend my sincerest thanks as a fan.
