Saturday night marked the end of a career for a WWE icon.
Saturday Night’s Main Event returned to WWE programming, and the July 12 show of the special event wasn’t just the 40th edition of it — it was headlined by the final match for Goldberg. The WWE Hall of Famer has been one of the most menacing wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring, and he went out with a match against Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship.
While the night was mostly dedicated to Goldberg, other bouts took place, and the course of WWE could be drastically altered by a major star’s injury.
Here’s what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event:
Cody Rhodes honors Goldberg
After Saturday Night’s Main Event went off the air, ‘The American Nightmare’ and fellow Georgian came out to give Goldberg his flowers and lead another chant.
World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg
Gunther learned quickly that Goldberg would be a different opponent when he tried his patented chop and all Goldberg did was smile. The champion looked stunned before he ate a clothesline. The challenger readied for a spear to end it quickly but Gunther got out of the ring. Goldberg tried the spear outside of the ring, and he instead went through the barricade.
The veteran was clearly hobbled and Gunther focused on his banged-up left knee. Still, Goldberg wasn’t backing down, and he tried a spear that ended up landing on referee Charles Robinson. With the referee down, Gunther ripped Goldberg’s knee brace off and used it to punish the WWE Hall of Famer.
Gunther went to Goldberg’s son at ringside and taunted him, with security having to hold him back. But when Gunther got back in the ring, he was met with a spear from Goldberg and then a jackhammer. A referee came out to count the pin, but Goldberg’s knee prevented him from doing it. He got the pin attempt and Gunther kicked out.
Goldberg was hurt, and Gunther locked the sleeper hold in, victory in sight. Goldberg made an attempt to get up, but Gunther brought the challenger back down. Goldberg was taken out and the referee rung the bell as Gunther retained.
Analysis: There were plenty of questions about how Goldberg’s final match would unfold, and the WWE Hall of Famer went out with a bang. He wasn’t going to be the quick, dominating force he once was, but he showed some of the flashes of what made him a superstar. Credit to him for getting prepared for one final stand.
Despite the unknown of how it would go, we did know there wasn’t much of a chance Goldberg would walk away with gold. Instead, Gunther got the chance to say he ended a legend’s career with a loss. Gunther’s legitimacy had been in question ever since his WrestleMania 41 loss, and he’s been up-and-down in terms of being a dominating presence.
Instead, Gunther reassures he is ‘The Ring General’ with a decisive victory, and that should carry his momentum toward a successful run.
Goldberg says farewell
The WWE Hall of Famer said goodbye with his loved ones joining him in the ring.
Goldberg makes final entrance
One of the most iconic entrances happens one last time. Surrounded by those closest to him, Goldberg leaves the locker room and heads into the ring.
LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins: Rollins suffers injury
Despite only being able to get sneak attacks in over recent weeks, LA Knight wasn’t backing down from facing Rollins out of the gate. He was on the attack and had Rollins scrambling to regroup. He was eventually able to, but LA Knight wasn’t going away easy. He wasn’t letting full control get away from him, and had an impressive flying elbow drop off the top rope.
Things started to really pick up with a flurry of blows from each star. However, LA Knight couldn’t keep up with his midsection clearly bothering him. Rollins was getting rolling but he landed hard on his right knee and it was clear he was legitimately hurt. WWE staff attended to Rollins and the star looked visibly shaken.
After he consulted ringside help, LA Knight quickly got a pin to win.
Analysis: A devastating moment. Rollins actually hurt his knee, forcing the match to end early. While the extent of the injury is unknown, it could have a massive impact on the entire roster given Rollins is Mr. Money in the Bank and was rolling with his stable.
SummerSlam bout announced
It’s official. Randy Orton issues a challenge to Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul to face him and Jelly Roll at SummerSlam.
United States Championship match: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jimmy Uso
The brothers had a tense stare down before engaging in battle, with hits traded before Uso went through the ropes to knock Sikoa outside the ring. The champion regrouped with his MFT members by his side, and was able to halt the momentum of the challenger. Uso stepped out of the ring and with the referee focused on Sikoa, Talla Tonga dropped a heavy clothesline to Uso.
Sikoa was dominant as ‘Big Jim’ tried to do anything to stop the punishment. He finally saw a window on the edge of the ring, dropping Sikoa and jumping off the top rope for a pin attempt that didn’t work. Uso stayed persistent and hit the Uso Splash to hopefully get the win. However, Sikoa kicked out of the pin.
Sikoa tried to turn the tide with a Samoan Spike, but it was countered with two superkicks from the challenger. Uso readied the Uso Splash once more when Sikoa went out of the ring and into the arms of JC Mateo and Tanga Loa. Uso instead leaped out of the ring and took all three out. Tonga attempted to get involved and he wasn’t able to avoid some shots from Uso, but it gave Sikoa a chance to roll up his opponent. He did, and with Tonga’s help, Sikoa got away with the victory.
After the match, MFT assaulted Uso, capped off with a Samoan Spike. Then Jacob Fatu’s music played and he entered the ring to help out. Fatu and Tonga then stared each other down, and the ‘Samoan Werewolf’ landed some hits before taking him and Sikoa out.
Analysis: ‘Big Jim’ finally got his shot, but unfortunately, the numbers were not on his side. There was little hope Uso would be able to get past Sikoa and his crew, especially with another dominating presence in Tonga now in the fold. Plus, Sikoa is just coming off the title win, and he has proven he is worthy of holding gold with his talent in the ring and on the microphone. The brothers have been in the ring before, but it was obvious how good the chemistry is between the two, which is the case anytime the family gets to tussle.
Fatu’s emergence was refreshing, showing he is not taking any time off and wants to get his title back. The battle between Sikoa and Fatu is entertaining and deserves some more time to unfold. It likely leads to another championship match at SummerSlam, but someone else will be needed to help deal with MFT and not make it a repeat of Night of Champions.
Naomi and Jade Cargill brawl before Evolution
Naomi couldn’t wait another day.
WWE commentators Michael Cole and Wade Barrett previewed Evolution with some of the stars that will be in the ring on Sunday, July 13. Cargill sat ringside but was blindsided by Naomi. Naomi dragged her over the barricade and the two stars tried to attack each other while security tried to break it off. Despite all the people in the middle, Cargill got hits and Naomi jumped off the announcer’s table.
Bianca Belair returns, will be special guest referee at Evolution
Evolution just got more interesting.
After the fight between Cargill and Naomi was broken up, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis announced there will be a special guest referee for their no-holds-barred match at Evolution. He said it would be someone that knew each star very well, and that’s when Belair’s entrance hit the speakers.
Belair emerged and the two opponents looked. Their former friend will determine who wins their heated battle.
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
With the celebrities by their side, McIntyre and Orton quickly got to work. A few big shots were traded before McIntyre launched Orton onto the announcer’s table for an early advantage.
McIntyre had a solid string of momentum before he started trying to get in the head of Orton. ‘The Viper’ wasn’t having any of it, absorbing chops to the chest like it was nothing. Orton then returned the favor with not one, but three drops of McIntyre on the announcer’s table before he stared down Logan Paul.
Vintage Orton hit in the ring and he readied for the RKO before Paul distracted him. When Orton turned his attention back, McInytre greeted him with a Claymore. It looked to be a finisher but Orton got his foot on the rope before the pin counted. Outside of the ring, Paul verbally assaulted Jelly Roll and pushed him several times before the artist had enough. He shoved Paul to the ground.
McIntyre saw it and had some words for Jelly Roll. But that was the mistake. McIntyre turned around and Orton had an RKO waiting for him. He landed his finisher and pinned McIntyre for the win.
Drew McIntyre takes out Jelly Roll
After the match, Paul snuck behind Orton and knocked him to the ground. Jelly Roll couldn’t let it happen, and he picked Paul up and hit him with a right hand. Paul retreated and Jelly Roll checked on Orton, but out of nowhere, McIntyre delivered a Claymore and knocked Jelly Roll out.
Analysis: The celebrity-involved battle between Orton and McIntyre is far from done. The two veteran stars can put on a stellar match, but it felt watered down with Jelly Roll and Paul ringside. It certainly had the feeling this would be building toward a match at SummerSlam, but the Claymore to Jelly Roll all but sealed it.
While the fans may have mixed feelings about how this is developing, it can’t fully be judged yet given we haven’t seen how the musician is in the ring. It’s not exactly the greatest start, but there’s potential this could be a fun feud − if executed perfectly.
Jelly Roll joins Randy Orton
After they aligned with each other at SmackDown, artist Jelly Roll accompanies Orton to the ring. McIntyre countered with Logan Paul on his side.
When is Saturday Night’s Main Event?
Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m. ET.
How long will Saturday Night’s Main Event be?
It will be a two-hour event.
How to watch Saturday Night’s Main Event: TV channel, streaming
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta
TV: NBC
Stream: Fubo, Peacock
Watch Saturday Night’s Main Event on Peacock
Where is Saturday Night’s Main Event?
The newest edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Goldberg is also billed from Atlanta.
Saturday Night’s Main Event match card
Matches not in order
World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg
United States Championship match: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jimmy Uso
LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
Goldberg calling it a career
It will be the end of the road for Goldberg, as he caps off a career that made him one of the most iconic powerhouse wrestlers the business has seen.
A former all-SEC linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs, Goldberg started his wrestling career for WCW in 1997. After competing in dark matches for the promotion, he made his television debut that September and went on a remarkable undefeated streak that catapulted him to stardom. He started his career with a 173-0 run, capturing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in the process.
He appeared briefly for WWE in 2003-04 and has made sporadic appearances as a wrestling icon since then, including being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. But he still had bright spots in the ring, including winning the WWE Universal Championship in 2017 and 2020.
Goldberg has the chance to add to his decorated career against Gunther, but if not, he will end his wrestling career a three-time WWE champion, a one-time WCW World Champion, two-time United States Champion and one-time WCW Tag Team Champion.
NXT The Great American Bash results
Saturday Night’s Main Event is just part of a big WWE weekend in Atlanta. Prior to the event, NXT held The Great American Bash. Here are the results from NXT’s show:
Je’Von Evens def. Jasper Troy
NXT Women’s North American Championship match: Sol Ruca (c) def. Izzi Dame
NXT North American Championship match: Ethan Page (c) def. Ricky Saints
Trick Williams, Joe Hendry and Mike Santana sign contract for TNA Wrestling World Championship match
NXT Championship match: Oba Femi (c) def. Yoshiki Inamura
Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe def. Jacy Jane and Fallon Henley
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