Saturday Night's Main Event (1985)

WWE's iconic primetime wrestling special, airing on NBC since 1985, delivering marquee matchups and unforgettable moments across generations of Superstars.

Saturday Night's Main Event - Series Information

  • Original Title: Saturday Night's Main Event
  • First Air Year: 1985
  • Last Air Year: 2025
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Drama, Family, Action, Adventure
  • Content Rating (US): TV-PG
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (90 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 14
  • Number of Episodes: 85
  • Status: Returning Series
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • First Air Date: May 11, 1985 (United States - TV-PG)
  • Networks: NBC, FOX
  • Alternative Titles: WWF Saturday Night's Main Event (US)
  • Production Countries: United States of America

Saturday Night's Main Event - Plot

A professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation banner on NBC airing in place of Saturday Night Live. The series was made up entirely of star vs. star bouts in a time when weekly programming consisted primarily of established stars dominating enhancement talent.

Saturday Night's Main Event - Trailer

Preview the action with this clip from Saturday Night's Main Event.

WWE's longstanding in-ring special showcases the top Superstars across generations in marquee matches and iconic moments.

Where to Watch Saturday Night's Main Event

Looking for where to watch Saturday Night's Main Event?

Saturday Night's Main Event - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • Hulk Hogan
  • James Ray Hart
  • Ray Heenan
  • Randy Poffo
  • Ken Johnson
  • Jesse Ventura
  • Elizabeth Hulette
  • Vince McMahon
  • Ted DiBiase Sr.
  • Gene Okerlund

Writers

  • Vince McMahon
  • Christopher DeJoseph
  • Virgil Runnels

Executive Producers

  • Vince McMahon
  • Dick Ebersol
  • Kevin Dunn

Saturday Night's Main Event - FAQs

Where can you stream Saturday Night's Main Event?

Saturday Night's Main Event is available to stream on Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. Both tiers offer full access to the series as part of their flat-rate subscription plans, making it easy to catch up on classic and recent episodes of this long-running WWE special.

Why did Saturday Night's Main Event replace Saturday Night Live?

NBC aired Saturday Night's Main Event in Saturday Night Live's time slot during the mid-1980s wrestling boom. The WWF's massive popularity under Vince McMahon made it a ratings-friendly alternative, and the special format allowed NBC to capitalize on the cultural phenomenon of professional wrestling without permanently displacing SNL.

When did Saturday Night's Main Event first air?

Saturday Night's Main Event premiered on May 11, 1985, on NBC in the United States. It was one of the flagship television events of the WWF's golden era, launching during the height of Hulkamania and the broader mainstream explosion of professional wrestling in American pop culture.

Is Saturday Night's Main Event still airing in 2025?

Yes, Saturday Night's Main Event returned as a recurring special in 2024 and continued into 2025, with Season 13 featuring five episodes. The series holds a 'Returning Series' status and remains in production, confirming WWE's commitment to reviving this beloved primetime format for modern audiences.

How many seasons does Saturday Night's Main Event have?

Saturday Night's Main Event has 14 seasons and 85 episodes in total. The series ran from 1985 through 1992 in its original run, was briefly revived in 2006–2008, and returned again in 2024 and 2025, reflecting its enduring appeal across multiple generations of wrestling fans.

Who are the main personalities in Saturday Night's Main Event?

The series features legendary WWE personalities including Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, Vince McMahon, Gene Okerlund, Ted DiBiase Sr., Randy Poffo (Randy Savage), Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Elizabeth Hulette, and Ray Heenan, representing some of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling history.

What is Saturday Night's Main Event about?

Saturday Night's Main Event is a WWE professional wrestling special that aired on NBC, replacing Saturday Night Live. Unlike standard weekly programming dominated by squash matches, it featured high-profile star vs. star bouts, delivering marquee matchups and memorable moments across generations of top WWE Superstars.

What shows are similar to Saturday Night's Main Event?

Fans of Saturday Night's Main Event may enjoy similar professional wrestling programming such as Lucha Underground, WCW Saturday Night, WCW WorldWide, WWE Heat, WWE Velocity, WWF Wrestling Challenge, WWF Superstars, and WCW Thunder — all series that share the sport's competitive in-ring action and larger-than-life personalities.

More About Saturday Night's Main Event

Explore further details about Saturday Night's Main Event on these authoritative resources.

Help Us Keep Our Content Accurate.

Report an Error