For many wrestling fans, Saturday Night’s Main Event represents a golden era in professional wrestling history. This special program that aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992 revolutionized how wrestling was presented on television and played a crucial role in WWE’s transformation from a regional promotion to a global entertainment powerhouse. This retrospective explores the rich Saturday Night Main Event history, from its groundbreaking origins to its lasting impact on modern WWE programming.
Origins and Purpose: Wrestling Goes Prime Time
The inaugural Saturday Night Main Event broadcast on NBC in 1985 marked wrestling’s return to network television
Saturday Night’s Main Event debuted on May 11, 1985, as part of a groundbreaking partnership between WWE (then WWF) and NBC. The show represented something revolutionary at the time – professional wrestling airing in prime time on a major television network. This was a significant departure from wrestling’s typical weekend morning or late-night timeslots.
The program aired approximately once every two months, replacing “Saturday Night Live” in its timeslot. This prime-time positioning gave WWE unprecedented exposure to mainstream audiences and elevated the profile of professional wrestling as entertainment. For Vince McMahon, it was a crucial step in his vision to transform wrestling from a regional attraction into national entertainment.
The NBC Partnership
The collaboration between WWE and NBC was mutually beneficial. NBC gained programming that consistently delivered strong ratings, while WWE received the legitimacy and exposure of network television. The show typically aired from 11:30 PM to 1:00 AM Eastern Time, though this varied throughout its run.
Unlike WWE’s weekly television shows, which primarily featured squash matches (established stars defeating unknown wrestlers), Saturday Night’s Main Event showcased competitive matches between top stars. This made each episode feel special and appointment viewing for fans.
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Key Historical Moments in Saturday Night Main Event History
The formation of the Mega Powers between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage became one of the show’s most iconic moments
Throughout its original run, Saturday Night’s Main Event delivered numerous memorable moments that have become legendary in wrestling history. These special broadcasts often advanced major storylines and featured matches that fans still talk about decades later.
Iconic Matches and Moments
The Mega Powers Formation (1987)
One of the most significant moments occurred in October 1987 when Hulk Hogan came to Randy Savage’s aid after The Honky Tonk Man and The Hart Foundation attacked him. The handshake between Hogan and Savage formed “The Mega Powers” alliance that would dominate storylines for the next two years.
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (1988)
The February 5, 1988 edition of “The Main Event” (a Friday prime-time special) featured the rematch between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. This match delivered one of the highest television ratings in wrestling history and featured the controversial “twin referees” angle with Earl and Dave Hebner.
Perfect Destroys Hogan’s Belt (1989)
In a shocking moment, Mr. Perfect stole Hulk Hogan’s WWE Championship belt after costing him a match against The Genius. Perfect then used a hammer to smash the championship belt, creating one of the most memorable heel moments in the show’s history.
Steel Cage Classics
The show featured several memorable steel cage matches, including the January 1987 bout between Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff that ended with both men’s feet touching the floor simultaneously, leading to a dramatic restart of the match.
Behind-the-Scenes Production
The production quality of Saturday Night’s Main Event far exceeded typical wrestling broadcasts of the era
Saturday Night’s Main Event represented a significant upgrade in production values compared to WWE’s syndicated programming. The show utilized NBC’s production resources, resulting in higher quality camera work, lighting, and overall presentation. This elevated production helped wrestling appear more legitimate to mainstream audiences.
The show was typically taped several weeks before broadcast, allowing WWE to carefully edit and package the content. This was different from today’s live programming model and gave producers more control over the final product.
WWE Live Experience Awaits
Today’s WWE events feature state-of-the-art production that builds on the legacy of shows like Saturday Night’s Main Event. Experience the spectacle in person with premium seating options.
Impact on WWE’s Popularity and Growth
Saturday Night’s Main Event helped transform WWE from a regional promotion to a national entertainment phenomenon
Saturday Night’s Main Event played a pivotal role in WWE’s national expansion strategy during the 1980s. By bringing wrestling to network television, Vince McMahon was able to reach audiences that had never been exposed to WWE programming before.
From Regional to National Phenomenon
Prior to the mid-1980s, professional wrestling operated primarily as a regional business, with different promotions controlling specific territories across North America. WWE’s national expansion, bolstered by the mainstream exposure of Saturday Night’s Main Event, fundamentally changed this model.
The show consistently delivered strong ratings for NBC, often drawing shares between 8.0 and 10.0. These numbers helped validate wrestling as viable mainstream entertainment and accelerated WWE’s growth during this crucial period.
Competition with Other Wrestling Programs
Saturday Night’s Main Event gave WWE a significant advantage over competing wrestling promotions. While other companies like NWA/WCW had their own television programs, none had the reach or production values of a major network broadcast. This advantage helped WWE establish itself as the premier wrestling organization in North America.
The success of Saturday Night’s Main Event also led to the creation of other special WWE television events, including “The Main Event” Friday night specials, which further expanded the company’s television footprint.
Notable Wrestlers Featured on Saturday Night’s Main Event
The show featured the biggest stars of WWE’s golden era
The Headliners
Hulk Hogan
As WWE’s biggest star, Hulk Hogan was featured prominently throughout the show’s run. His matches against Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and others were highlights of the series. Hogan’s charisma and popularity made him the perfect centerpiece for WWE’s network television showcase.
Randy “Macho Man” Savage
Savage evolved from heel to fan favorite during the show’s run. His technical wrestling ability and intense character made him perfect for the longer, more competitive matches featured on Saturday Night’s Main Event. His bouts against Bret Hart and Ted DiBiase are particularly well-remembered.
Andre the Giant
The legendary “Eighth Wonder of the World” was a major attraction on Saturday Night’s Main Event. His heel turn and subsequent feud with Hulk Hogan played out significantly on the program, including their famous rematch on “The Main Event” that drew a record 33 million viewers.
Technical Showcases
Tag teams like The Rockers showcased a more technical style on the program
Bret “The Hitman” Hart
Both as a tag team competitor with The Hart Foundation and as a singles wrestler, Bret Hart delivered some of the show’s most technically sound matches. His bout with Randy Savage in 1987 is considered one of the best in the show’s history.
The British Bulldogs
Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith brought an innovative, high-flying style to their matches on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Their tag team battles with teams like The Hart Foundation and The Dream Team showcased a different style of wrestling than the power-based approach of many main eventers.
The Rockers
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had several memorable tag team matches on the program, particularly against The Brain Busters. These bouts often featured a faster pace and more athletic style than was typical of WWE programming at the time.
Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig’s technical precision made him an ideal opponent for many of WWE’s top stars on Saturday Night’s Main Event. His matches against Hulk Hogan and his feud with Tito Santana over the Intercontinental Championship were highlights of the later episodes.
See Today’s WWE Superstars in Action
While the era of Saturday Night’s Main Event featured legendary performers, today’s WWE roster continues this tradition of excellence. Experience the athleticism and storytelling of modern WWE superstars live.
Legacy and Revivals
The 2006-2008 revival featured modern production values but maintained the special event feel of the original series
The End of an Era
The original run of Saturday Night’s Main Event concluded in 1992 as WWE’s popularity began to wane. The final episode of this era aired on April 27, 1992, featuring matches like Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice versus Ric Flair and The Undertaker. Following this, the show moved briefly to Fox for two episodes before ending its original run.
The 2006-2008 Revival
After a 14-year hiatus, WWE and NBC revived Saturday Night’s Main Event in 2006. The revival ran for five episodes between 2006 and 2008, featuring stars like John Cena, Edge, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. While these episodes maintained the special event feel of the original series, they didn’t achieve the same cultural impact or ratings success.
The final episode of the revival aired on August 2, 2008. The main event featured Jeff Hardy versus Edge in what would be the last match in Saturday Night’s Main Event history until the program’s recent return.
The production techniques pioneered on Saturday Night’s Main Event influenced modern WWE presentation
Influence on Modern WWE Programming
The legacy of Saturday Night’s Main Event can be seen throughout modern WWE programming. The concept of special television events that feature significant matches and storyline developments continues with shows like WWE Raw and SmackDown, which regularly present special episodes with unique names and themes.
The production techniques pioneered on Saturday Night’s Main Event – including dramatic lighting, multiple camera angles, and carefully produced video packages – have become standard in modern wrestling presentation. The show helped establish the template for how wrestling could be presented as a major television spectacle.
Recent Return
In late 2024, WWE announced the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event after a 16-year absence. This revival represents WWE’s recognition of the nostalgic value and historical significance of the brand, as well as the continued appeal of special wrestling events on network television.
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From Saturday Night’s Main Event to today’s premium live events, WWE continues to create memorable moments. Join fellow fans at upcoming events and be part of wrestling’s ongoing legacy.
The Enduring Impact of Saturday Night’s Main Event
Memorabilia from the original Saturday Night’s Main Event run remains highly collectible among wrestling fans
Saturday Night’s Main Event holds a special place in professional wrestling history. During a pivotal time in WWE’s evolution, it brought wrestling to mainstream audiences and helped transform the business from regional entertainment to a national phenomenon. The matches and moments that played out on NBC created memories that fans still cherish decades later.
As WWE continues to evolve in the modern era, the influence of Saturday Night’s Main Event remains evident in how wrestling is presented as sports entertainment. The show’s legacy lives on through WWE’s current programming and through the memories of fans who experienced wrestling’s golden era through these special broadcasts.
Whether you watched the original episodes as they aired, discovered them later through the WWE Network, or are just learning about this important chapter in wrestling history, Saturday Night’s Main Event represents a unique moment when professional wrestling truly became mainstream entertainment.
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