WWE Revives Historic Saturday Night Format to Boost Strategic Media Engagement
Washington, D.C., Sunday, 14 December 2025.
TKO Group Holdings strategically revived the iconic Saturday Night’s Main Event, featuring Cody Rhodes and John Cena, to leverage nostalgia and drive viewer engagement across streaming partnerships.
Strategic Revival in the Capital
Yesterday, on December 13, 2025, TKO Group Holdings’ WWE subsidiary executed a significant media play by reviving the “Saturday Night’s Main Event” brand at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. [3]. This event, broadcast live on Peacock in the United States and YouTube internationally, represents a tactical effort to capture weekend viewership, capitalizing on a scheduling philosophy championed by WWE leadership [2]. WWE President Nick Khan has previously noted that “big sports events were better on Saturday nights,” a data-driven insight that has seen the company shift its premium live events from their traditional Sunday slots to Saturdays starting in 2022 [4].
Navigating a Fragmented Media Landscape
The distribution strategy for this event highlights the complex streaming environment WWE now navigates. While the company’s main roster events in the U.S. largely shifted to ESPN’s streaming service beginning in September 2025, this special broadcast was retained on Peacock, which continues to hold livestreaming rights for the NXT brand until at least March 2026 [2][4]. Internationally, the media footprint has also evolved, with the WWE Network merging with Netflix in most countries as of January 2025 [4]. This multi-platform approach allows the conglomerate to maximize reach across different demographics and territories.
Generational Talent and Brand Integration
The event’s card was meticulously designed to bridge generational gaps and integrate the company’s developmental system with its established star power. In a historic “Champion vs. Champion” matchup, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes faced NXT Champion Oba Femi, a bout that served to elevate the NXT brand on a main roster stage [2]. Femi, a 27-year-old former shot putter from Nigeria who signed via the NIL program in 2021, represents the company’s investment in athletic recruitment, having already secured status as a two-time NXT Champion [3]. Additionally, the event marked a pivotal moment in wrestling history with the scheduled retirement of industry icon John Cena, whose final match was set for this card in the nation’s capital [3].