Column
By Zack Heydorn · July 18, 2026
Yeah, this is a weird one.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is back. This time from inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night and you’d think WWE would have a massive lineup ready to go. You’d think they’d have amassed a batch of intriguing title matches or rivalry bouts for the World’s Most Famous Arena. Instead, the show is just kinda there. Minus Danhausen, of course, but more on him in a minute.
Now, that’s what Saturday Night’s Main Event is supposed to be for WWE in 2026. The event isn’t designed to be a WrestleMania-level ordeal. It’s a PLE-light.
This is The Garden, though. Call me crazy, but I think it’s wondering what the hell happened. You want to know that the company remembered that they were running the show inside The Mecca and then toss a little extra spice into the mix. Triple H would argue that they have. I disagree. The pieces are there for a night worthy of MSG. The context? Not so much.
NBA World Champion and NBA Finals MVP, Jalen Brunson, is going to be live and in the building. This will certainly enthrall New York Knick fans. Brunson won’t just be in the crowd, either. He’s scheduled for a full segment with WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns.
In theory, this is Garden worthy, but what could they possibly have planned for this segment? Appropriately, this has gotten a lot of hype, but they won’t meet the expectations that come long with it.
Brunson isn’t taking any bumps. Reigns probably won’t either. This has a Kit Wilson or a Miz run-in written all over it. Fine. To that end, MSG will pop, but it will be entirely forgotten by Sunday afternoon when the social media news cycle pivots to the World Cup.
The main event match of the show is CM Punk teaming with his SummerSlam opponent, Cody Rhodes, to take on Gunther and Sami Zayn in a tag team match. This works well for the show because of the star-power in the match. Are we really heading down the path of a “can they co-exist” story with Rhodes and Punk?
It appears that way. Barf.
Now, both Punk and Rhodes have business with Sami Zayn and Gunther. Of all the matches on the show, this one has the most heat, and the most consequence to it. Should Gunther and Zayn win, they get added to the world title match between Rhodes and Punk at SummerSlam to make it a fatal four-way.
A pretty good angle, but not one that sticks. Rhodes vs. Punk is the match. The company is having a hard enough time selling tickets for SummerSlam as it is. Making the biggest match on the show a multi-person battle won’t put more asses in seats. Punk and Zayn for the win here.
Finally … Danhausen. I’d be tempted to drop Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh in the main event slot on this show. The New York Knicks just won the NBA Championship for the first time in decades and Danhausen was a central figure for the media buzz and hype that the team got on the road to that title. Curses, lifted curses, and more. Knicks fans will remember him always for being the symbol he was this year.
Danhausen gets to face JD McDonagh on this show. Make no mistake. This is your match of the night. McDonagh is a perfect opponent for Danhausen in this environment. He is going to flip, flop, and fly around and will help the MSG crowd eat right out of the palm of Danhausen’s hand.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event airs live on Peacock on Saturday night. The full card is below.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther and Sami Zayn — If Gunther and Zayn win, they get added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam
Roman Reigns and Jalen Brunson appear together
Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh — No Disqualification Match
Brie Bella and Paige vs. Fatal Influence — WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
Ok, you have one vote. What is your match of the night prediction for SNME his weekend? Go!
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