By the middle of 1985, the WWE became a major part of American popular culture. NBC jumped on the wrestling bandwagon and started to broadcast Saturday Night’s Main Event on weekends when Saturday Night Live would have been showing reruns. The benefits for the WWE were many. At this time, cable TV was still in it’s infancy and many markets in the country still did not show WWE programming. In addition to expanding their market, the WWE learned how to produce a better looking television programming by working with NBC and using their television crew. This show also helped the WWE to sign new stars as they were the only promotion to be recognized by most of the main stream media. If a wrestler wanted to be a star, he knew that he would have to sign with the WWE.
As great as this show was for the WWE, it was even better for the fans. Prior to this show, most WWE programming featured a star against a jobber in a squash match. They would then spend a good part of the show selling an event in your local area to see the stars battle. This was the first time in WWE history that great matches were shown for free.
With the success of the show, NBC broadcast yearly primetime specials from 1988 – 1991. In 1992, the show moved to FOX for two broadcasts before going on hiatus for fourteen years. In 2006, the show was brought back to life by NBC. In 2009, the WWE released a 3-disc DVD set entitled The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event.
SNME Title Changes:
2/5/88 WWF Title: Andre the Giant pinned Hulk Hogan
2/5/88 WWF Title: Andre vacates the title and gives it to Ted DiBiase. The title is later declared vacant.
7/29/89 Tag Team Title: The Brain Busters (Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson) beat Demolition in a best of 3 falls match
11/14/92 I-C Title: Shawn Michaels beat The British Bulldog
SNME Reuslts (the broadcast date is listed and all shows were on NBC unless otherwise noted)
SNME #1 – Nassau Coliseum; Uniondale, NY 5/11/85
- Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo, & Ricky Steamboat beat The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff & George Steele
- WWF Title: Champ Hulk Hogan beat Bob Orton
- Pipers Pit with Paul Orndorff: Bob Orton & Roddy Piper attack Orndorff. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T save Paul Orndorff
- Women's Title: Champ Wendi Richter beat The Fabulous Moolah
- Junkyard Dog beat Pete Dougherty
SNME #2 – Meadowlands Arena; East Rutherford, NJ 10/5/85
- WWF Title: Champ Hulk Hogan beat Nikolai Volkoff
- Uncle Elmer beat Jerry Valiant
- Uncle Elmer gets married. Roddy Piper interrupts the ceremony while Jesse Ventura makes fun of Elmer & his wife on commentary.
- Paul Orndorff & Roddy Piper fight to a double count out
- Andre the Giant & Tony Atlas beat King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd by DQ. Hulk Hogan makes the save.
- Tag Team Title: Champs Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine beat Lanny Poffo & Tony Garea
SNME #3 – Hershey Park Arena; Hershey, PA 11/2/85
- Terry Funk beat The Junkyard Dog
- Pipers Pit with Uncle Elmer, Hillbilly Jin & Cousin Junior
- Hulk Hogan & Andre the Giant beat King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd by DQ
- I-C Title: Randy Savage beat Champion Tito Santana by count out
- Ricky Steamboat beat Mr. Fuji
SNME #4 – The Sundome; Tampa, FL 1/4/86
- Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper & Bob Orton beat Hillbilly Jim, Uncle Elmer, & Cousin Luke
- WWF Title: Champ Hulk Hogan beat Terry Funk
- Randy Savage beat George "The Animal" Steele. George falls in love with Miss Elizabeth.
- Peace Match: Nikolai Volkoff beat Cpl. Kirchner
- Ricky Steamboat & Junkyard Dog beat Mr. Fuji & Don Muraco
