Cody Rhodes retained the undisputed WWE Title against Kevin Owens in the main event of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Owens was challenging Rhodes for the second time in his 252-day reign, having previously fallen during their clash at Bash In Berlin in August, but this time was different given the animosity that had been building since October. Owens entered the fight with aggressive intent to follow suit, while Rhodes entered more jovial, wearing the famous “Winged Eagle” WWE Championship belt for one night only – although he ultimately matched the brutality of his opponent in the end.
With Owens taking the fight to the outside and onto the announcer’s desk, Rhodes responded with an RKO, followed back in the ring with a Cody Cutter for a near-fall. Owens responded with a fisherman off the top rope, similarly causing a near-fall before both men exchanged finishing attempts and subsequent escapes.
The match saw two referees inadvertently incapacitated; the former cost Owens the victory by delivering a Stunner and getting the visual pinfall with no one to count, while the latter paved the way for his demise in the match. Owens brought a steel chair into the ring and looked to use it against Rhodes, swinging and missing as Rhodes delivered a Cody Cutter, followed by Cross Rhodes on the steel chair for the pinfall and retaining the title.
