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Saturday Night's Main Event

Saturday Night's Main Event is an American professional wrestling television special series produced by WWE, originally under the WWF banner.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Saturday Night's Main Event is an American professional wrestling television special series produced by WWE, originally under the WWF banner. It first aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992, returned for a short run in 2006–2008, and was revived again in 2024 with performers from WWE's Raw and SmackDown brands.

History

Saturday Night's Main Event began in 1985 as a nationally televised WWF special on NBC. It was intended to present high-profile matches on network television and later received short revivals in the 2000s and again from 2024 onward.

Broadcast format

The original series ran intermittently rather than as a weekly programme. Its network history includes NBC as the main broadcaster, a brief Fox period in 1992, and later NBC-based revivals.

Modern revival

WWE brought back the name in 2024 for a new era of specials. The current version includes wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.

Cultural significance

The series is widely associated with WWE's expansion on major American broadcast television. It helped present wrestling to a broader mainstream audience through nationally televised specials.

Key facts

  • The series debuted in 1985 and was originally broadcast on NBC.
  • It aired through 1992, with NBC carrying it until 1991 and Fox airing it briefly in 1992.
  • WWE revived the format on NBC from 2006 to 2008.
  • The series returned again in 2024 and continues in the current era.
  • The modern version features WWE performers from Raw and SmackDown.
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Canadian context

Saturday Night's Main Event has Canadian relevance as a WWE-produced property that has long been broadcast to Canadian wrestling fans through North American television and streaming distribution.

Frequently asked questions

What is Saturday Night's Main Event?
It is a recurring WWE professional wrestling television special series that began in 1985.
When did it first air?
It first aired in 1985 on NBC.
Was it always called WWE?
No. The promotion was known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the original run.
Did it return after the original run?
Yes. WWE revived it from 2006 to 2008 and again in 2024.
Which WWE brands are featured in the current version?
The current version features performers from Raw and SmackDown.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night's_Main_Event
    Supports: Original run, broadcaster history, revivals, and current WWE branding
  2. Simple Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night's_Main_Event
    Supports: 2024 return, NBC/Peacock airing, and basic series description