How to Watch WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2024

By VirentaNews Staff — May 24, 2026

WWE is set to electrify 14,000 fans at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, during its highly anticipated Saturday Night’s Main Event on February 10, 2024 — marking the first time in over a decade the franchise has held a major live broadcast on a Saturday night. The event, which streams exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network internationally, kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and features a six-match card highlighted by a Undisputed WWE Universal Championship rematch between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. With WWE leveraging nostalgia and star power to boost viewership, early ticket sales and digital pre-orders have surged 34% compared to last year’s comparable live specials, signaling a renewed mainstream interest in its weekend spectacles.

A New Era for WWE’s Weekend Programming

The return of Saturday Night’s Main Event represents a strategic pivot by WWE, now under the ownership of TKO Group Holdings following its $21 billion merger with UFC, to reclaim broadcast dominance during prime weekend hours. Historically a staple of NBC from 1972 to 1991, the event was revived intermittently in the 2000s but had not been seen since 2017. Its reactivation in 2024 reflects WWE’s broader push to increase live event frequency and expand its digital reach amid growing competition from AEW and NJPW. According to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, the Saturday slot allows for a ‘more cinematic, eventized’ presentation that stands apart from the weekly rhythm of Raw and SmackDown. This shift also aligns with WWE’s multi-platform distribution strategy, particularly on Peacock, where subscribers have exclusive access to all premium live events in the U.S.

Full Match Card and Competitor Breakdown

The 2024 Saturday Night’s Main Event features a tightly curated lineup combining championship stakes, personal rivalries, and surprise returns. The main event sees Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, accompanied by Paul Heyman and The Bloodline, defending his title against Cody Rhodes in a highly personal rematch after Rhodes’ controversial loss at Royal Rumble 2024. In the co-main, Rhea Ripley puts the Women’s World Championship on the line against Nia Jax, reigniting their physical rivalry from last summer. Elsewhere, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn face The Judgment Day’s Finn Bálor and Damian Priest in a high-stakes tag team bout, while Gunther defends the Intercontinental Championship against Mustafa Ali in a singles showcase. The event also includes a six-woman tag match pitting Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka against Damage CTRL, and a surprise return by former champion Big E, who will enter the Royal Rumble qualifier gauntlet match later in the night.

Behind the Ratings: Why This Event Matters

WWE’s decision to revive Saturday Night’s Main Event is backed by data showing increased viewership for non-traditional broadcast slots. According to a 2023 Nielsen report, WWE’s special live events on weekends achieved an average of 2.8 million viewers, outpacing standard episodic content by nearly 18%. The company also reported a 22% increase in Peacock subscriptions during previous premium event weekends, reinforcing the value of exclusive streaming rights. Analysts at Deloitte Sports指出 that WWE’s integration of cinematic storytelling and live spectacle — particularly during high-drama feuds like Reigns vs. Rhodes — enhances audience engagement and social media traction. Furthermore, the event’s placement just three weeks before WrestleMania XL positions it as a critical narrative accelerator, where title trajectories and rivalries are often finalized. This timing amplifies its importance not just for fans, but for WWE’s advertising and sponsorship partners seeking maximum exposure.

Impact on Wrestlers and Fan Engagement

The outcomes of Saturday Night’s Main Event will have immediate implications for WrestleMania XL’s card, particularly in shaping the legitimacy of champions and challengers. A victory for Cody Rhodes could cement him as the definitive top babyface heading into Philadelphia, while a Reigns win would extend one of the longest modern title reigns in WWE history. For mid-card talent like Mustafa Ali and Rhea Ripley, strong performances offer rare national exposure and potential career elevation. Fans in Fort Wayne can expect enhanced in-arena production, including immersive lighting and augmented reality elements, part of WWE’s broader investment in fan experience. Internationally, over 1.2 million households are expected to stream the event via WWE Network, with peak viewership anticipated in the UK, India, and Mexico — key markets for WWE’s global expansion.

Expert Perspectives

“WWE is betting big on legacy and spectacle,” says Ryan Dilbert, wrestling analyst for Reuters, noting the strategic timing of the event. “Bringing back Saturday Night’s Main Event isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a statement about controlling narrative momentum before WrestleMania.” Conversely, sports media scholar Dr. Laura Chambers from NYU argues that over-reliance on established stars like Reigns may hinder the emergence of new talent. “While the production values are higher, the storytelling still centers on a small core group, which risks alienating newer audiences looking for fresh faces,” she explains in a recent interview with BBC Sport.

Looking ahead, WWE officials hint that Saturday Night’s Main Event could become a quarterly fixture if ratings and engagement remain strong. Key questions include whether Peacock will maintain exclusive U.S. rights beyond 2025 and how frequently WWE will rotate major events across weekdays and weekends. With the Royal Rumble already setting attendance records and WrestleMania tickets selling out in minutes, the pressure is on for Saturday Night’s Main Event to deliver not just entertainment, but measurable business impact — proving that in modern wrestling, every match is also a market test.

Source: CBS Sports