WWE returned to Madison Square Garden on July 18 for another edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, delivering a night packed with major SummerSlam developments and memorable moments. The special event featured championship action, a high-profile tag team main event, and appearances from several top WWE stars, while Danhausen also made his return to New York City after the Knicks’ historic NBA title-winning season.
The biggest storyline unfolded in the night’s main event, where CM Punk and Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn and Gunther, ensuring that the SummerSlam Undisputed WWE Championship match remains a one-on-one showdown between Punk and Rhodes. The closing segment added even more intrigue as Roman Reigns teamed up with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson to fend off Seth Rollins and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd home on a high.
Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley End Bella Twins’ Reign to Win WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
Paige and Brie Bella started the Women’s Tag Team Championship match with momentum, but Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley soon gained control after Reid slipped in with a blind tag. The challengers kept Paige isolated with quick tags before she finally reached Brie, who shifted the momentum with an energetic burst of offense, highlighted by a top-rope dropkick that brought the crowd to life.
The closing moments turned chaotic when Jacy Jayne repeatedly inserted herself into the action. After initially creating a distraction and accidentally taking a forearm from Paige, Jayne returned at the crucial moment, climbing onto the ring apron and pulling Paige out of what looked like a match-winning pin on Reid. The interference allowed Reid to quickly capitalize with a pinfall of her own, as she and Fallon Henley dethroned Paige and Brie Bella to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Karl-Anthony Towns Helps Danhausen Defeat JD McDonagh at Saturday Night’s Main Event
JD McDonagh tried to avoid Danhausen’s signature “curse” by rolling out of the ring before quickly taking control of the match. The action spilled to ringside, where McDonagh slammed Danhausen into the commentary desk, while Dominik Mysterio also got involved under the no-disqualification rules. Danhausen eventually fought back, reclaimed the stolen New York Knicks jersey from Mysterio, and briefly shifted the momentum before The Judgment Day duo ripped the jersey apart and overwhelmed him. As Danhausen retreated up the entrance ramp, a group of “minihausens” rushed in to even the odds, only to be quickly dispatched by McDonagh and Mysterio.
The bizarre contest took another turn when Danhausen placed a stuffed cat inside his so-called “cloning machine,” from which New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns unexpectedly emerged. Towns stormed to the ring, chokeslammed McDonagh and then drove Mysterio through a table before setting up Danhausen for the decisive Danhausen Death Drop. Danhausen capitalized to pin McDonagh, giving the Madison Square Garden crowd a memorable moment with the help of the Knicks’ NBA champion.
Nick Aldis’ Shocking Interference Helps Cody Rhodes and CM Punk Secure Victory
The main event quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle as Cody Rhodes and CM Punk exchanged momentum with Sami Zayn and Gunther. Gunther dominated Punk during his early spell in the ring before Zayn joined the attack, but Rhodes changed the pace after receiving the hot tag. He rocked Gunther with a Disaster Kick and two Cody Cutters, coming close to a victory. The action only intensified from there, with Punk trapping Zayn in the Anaconda Vice while Rhodes simultaneously applied the figure-four to Gunther. After a series of signature moves, all four competitors were left laid out in the middle of the ring.
The closing moments delivered the night’s biggest twist. Gunther appeared to seize control after using the championship belt and planting Rhodes with a powerbomb, but Nick Aldis unexpectedly intervened by pulling the referee out of the ring before striking Gunther with the title belt himself. Punk immediately capitalized with a GTS, and Aldis tossed the referee back inside to complete the three-count. The victory for Rhodes and Punk ensured the SummerSlam Undisputed WWE Championship match remains a singles contest, while Aldis’ shocking involvement seemingly set the stage for a future showdown with Gunther.
Jalen Brunson Joins Roman Reigns to Take Down Seth Rollins and Tyrese Haliburton
Roman Reigns made his entrance alongside New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, taking a moment to praise the point guard for leading the franchise to its long-awaited NBA championship. Reigns even presented Brunson with an honorary championship belt before the celebration was interrupted by Seth Rollins’ entrance music. Instead of Rollins appearing first, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton walked onto the stage carrying a steel chair, setting the tone for a chaotic closing segment. Rollins then ambushed Reigns from behind while Brunson could only watch.
The attack escalated when Haliburton handed the chair to Rollins, who looked ready to deliver a devastating stomp. Brunson stepped in to block the attempt, creating just enough of a distraction for Reigns to recover. The former champion responded with a Superman Punch followed by a Spear, forcing Rollins and Haliburton to retreat. The show closed with Reigns and Brunson celebrating together in the ring, posing with the World Heavyweight Championship and the Larry O’Brien Trophy in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Results: Full Winners, Match Recap and Biggest SummerSlam Moments
| Match / Segment | Result | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship | Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) def. Brie Bella & Paige (c) | Henley & Reid captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to end the Bella duo’s title reign. |
| No Disqualification Match | Danhausen def. JD McDonagh | Karl-Anthony Towns intervened to help Danhausen score the victory over McDonagh. |
| Singles Match | Lyra Valkyria def. Bayley | Valkyria secured a significant singles victory over Bayley. |
| Tag Team Match | CM Punk & Cody Rhodes def. Gunther & Sami Zayn | With the loss, Gunther and Zayn were eliminated from contention for the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, keeping it a one-on-one bout between Punk and Rhodes. |
| In-Ring Celebration | Roman Reigns & Jalen Brunson celebrate Knicks’ NBA title | Reigns honored Brunson before the celebration was interrupted. |
| Post-Segment Attack | Seth Rollins attacks Roman Reigns | Rollins launched a surprise assault, but Reigns eventually fought back with Brunson’s assistance to close the show. |
With SummerSlam fast approaching, Saturday Night’s Main Event reshaped several major storylines, leaving rivalries intensified and the road to WWE’s biggest event of the summer even more unpredictable.
