Analyzing The Controversial Finish At Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII

Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII in December 2024 marked a milestone in WWE programming and consisted of a series of intense, high-level bouts featuring some of wrestling’s biggest names. The headliner featuring Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship took center stage not just for being intense but for being highly controversial in its finish. The article below explores some of the finer aspects of this fight, including storytelling, audience reaction, and implications for WWE storytelling as a whole.

Background: The Match Arrangement

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes faced his counterpart in the form of Kevin Owens in a highly anticipated fight. The build-up towards this encounter had been heated, as opponents traded barbs and fists in the days leading up to it. The stage had been set for a nail-biting competition that would be able to push each wrestler to his limits. The animosity between Owens and Rhodes had been in place for months as each man had tried to outdo the other as the better champion.

Historical Context

The history between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens is one rooted in a series of past conflicts and a profound level of respect for one another. The duo has headlined WWE storytelling and has typically faced each other at major plot points. Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII saw them come head to head in a series of intense clashes, each leading towards and generating a level of expectation and tension in the crowd.

The Match: A Thrilling Confrontation

The actual bout evolved as much a storytelling and in-ring performance class as it was a wrestling competition. Owens and Rhodes exchanged a series of stiff-impact moves, each looking to outmaneuver each other. The brawl extended beyond the ring as each man took advantage of the surrounding topography. It was, however, the series of events involving the referees that would be at the center when it came to generating controversy.

The Referee Bump and Its Impact

During the course of the match, referee Charles Robinson had been knocked out, and Owens had no referee to pin when he delivered a Stunner to Rhodes. A substitute referee, Eddie Orango, had come in but had been taken out as well when Cody slipped and accidentally hit Orango while missing a disaster kick. The two referees had thus been taken out, and there had been pandemonium as a consequence.

In the next moments, Owens tried to pick up a chair, but he was thwarted by Rhodes, who hit a Cody Cutter. Then, later on, he used a Cross Rhodes on the chair, and it would play a key role in his win. Even in the mayhem, Robinson, who had just shaken off his previous knockdown, managed to fight back in and secure the pin, and thereby win for Rhodes.

Controversy and Storytelling

Controversy surrounding the finish saw use of the chair by Rhodes, and it wasn’t noticed by the referee. The win was questioned as being a tainted win, and Owens believed he had been denied his rightful claim for the title. The twist in this situation is pivotal: Owens’ perception he had been denied the championship unjustly makes for a good setup for future bouts.

Fan Reaction

Fan reaction to the game was divided. Some praised the game for being intense and for how it concluded, but some felt it wasn’t right. Social media sites offered them a place to voice their opinion, and some termed the finish as “cheated,” while some liked the storytelling opportunities it created.

Wider Consequences for WWE

Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII had a controversial finish and has serious implications for WWE’s current storyline. It:

Creates Future Feuds: The title dispute provides a certain direction for future plot lines, potentially leading to a second encounter or increased conflicts between Owens and Rhodes.

Strengthens Character Building: The fight enriched Owens and Rhodes, as Rhodes portrayed a cunning champion and Owens as a victimized contender who required vindication.

Sustains audience interest: The scandal sustains audience interest in the plot, generating expectation for things yet to come and creating debate amongst audiences.

The Role of Referee Bumps in WWE Storytelling

Referee bumps are a mainstay in professional wrestling and are used to create intrigue and unpredictability in matches. The use of referee bumps creates dramatic plot reveals, as in the situation involving the Rhodes vs. Owens match, wherein no official is involved and thereby creates controversial results. The method is effective in creating stories and creating controversy, and both are major elements in storytelling structure in professional wrestling.

Historical Use of Referee Bumps

Referee bumps have long been a staple in professional wrestling. They are normally used to enable plot reveals or to create moments of confusion and unexpected outcomes. In the case of the Rhodes vs. Owens match, the referee bumps created confusion and tension and thereby produced a finish that was even more dramatic and unforgettable.

Use of Props in WWE Matches

Chairs in WWE Matches

Chairs are typically used in WWE matches in an attempt to add unpredictability and danger. Its application in the Rhodes vs. Owens match involved playing a pivotal role in generating the controversy in the finish. Its use without being spotted by the referee created a dirty win perception and just contributed to the storyline.

Chairs in WWE matches are normally a reflection of desperation or being willing to do whatever is necessary in a fight in order to emerge victorious. As a fighting tool, chairs can be a tipping point in which opponents are willing to break or abandon the rules in a fight in a bid to emerge as winners. The deployment in the fight between Owens and Rhodes was a tool for victory for Rhodes but also a source of controversy.

The Influence of Social Media on Fan Participation

Social media platforms have played a major role in WWE fandom, as they allow audiences to share their opinions and respond to plot lines in real-time. The reaction to the Rhodes vs. Owens match created widespread online discourse, as audiences debated the legitimacy of the outcome and speculated about what would be next. That type of engagement is vital for WWE, as it makes audiences want to watch for what is next.

Power of Fan Interaction

Fan reaction on social media not only enriches the watching experience but is also good for WWE as it gives them feedback. WWE can improve and transform storylines based on audience reaction, ensuring that the plot is relatable and engaging.

The Evolution of Saturday Night’s Main Event

Saturday Night’s Main Event has evolved greatly since its start. From being a series of individual events produced for NBC, Saturday Night’s Main Event is nowadays a regular spectacular involving high-level bouts in conjunction with major plot reveals. The ability of Saturday Night’s Main Event to have moments like Owens vs. Rhodes’ controversial finish speaks volumes about how much it is involved in WWE programming.

Historical Significance

Historically, Saturday Night’s Main Event has given a platform for pivotal bouts and plot revelations. It has hosted some of WWE history’s biggest moments, and in some instances, it is a setup for future plot threads. The legacy of the program is still being felt in WWE storytelling and booking today.

Controversy as a Source of Power in Professional Wrestling

Controversy at Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII is a good example of how professional wrestling applies dramatic storytelling in involving audiences. By creating moments of tension and strife, WWE builds a level of engagement in audiences and makes them interested and invested in the story and looking for more. It is not only a method for making the watching experience better but is also reflective of why professional wrestling is a timeless form of entertainment.

Additional insights:

More than professional wrestling is as much about storytelling as sports. The ability to produce good stories is central to making a wrestling promotion popular. WWE is particularly good at this and employs things like Saturday Night’s hotly contested finish at Main Event XXXVII in making audiences want to follow the stories. Role of Heels and Faces

In wrestling, heels and faces (the good guys and bad guys) need to be established for storytelling. The heat for Rhodes winning can be read as blurring lines and making Rhodes out as sneaky and Owens as relatable. That is important in creating complex characters and stories for audiences to relate to.

The Future of WWE Storytelling 

With WWE continuously evolving and making things better, storytelling will remain at the center of WWE popularity. The use of controversy, as illustrated in Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII conclusion, will be at center stage in captivating audiences and propelling the plot. The fusion of captivating characters, plot twists, and intense fights ensures WWE maintains entertaining and current stories. The Importance of Adaptability WWE’s ability to adapt its storytelling in accord with current audience tastes and trends in culture is vital. By being responsive to audience reaction and trends in society, WWE can build stories that are attractive to today’s audiences and keep it current in entertainment as a whole.

Conclusion: The Lasting Appeal of Professional Wrestling

The controversy at Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVII proves once and for all why time-tested popularity exists in professional wrestling as entertainment. By implementing tools like storytelling in the form of controversy and characterization, WWE creates an engaging story that attracts audiences and leaves them yearning for more. It is not just good television but strengthens the unique blending of sports and theater typical in professional wrestling as well.

Final Reflections: The Consequences for Future Games

The fallout of the finish in the Owens vs. Rhodes match will no doubt affect future matches and storylines. The heat surrounding the finish builds for a potential series or series of bouts between the two wrestlers. As WWE builds on this plotline in its broader tale, audiences can be assured to be seeing much more intense and dramatic bouts that have them on the edge of their seats.