WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura Hypes His Return To Commentary For Saturday Night’s Main Event

WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura is returning to the commentary table for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. As part of a new partnership with NBCUniversal, WWE is resurrecting the weekend special that launched its product onto mainstream television for the first time in the 1980s. The 2024 edition of the show will be broadcast on NBC and will be headlined by WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending his title against Kevin Owens.

Ventura is no stranger to WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. The decorated wrestler competed on the fourth edition of the show in 1985, teaming with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Bob Orton in a victorious tag team effort. He would take to the announcers’ table for future iterations of the show, calling the action alongside Vince McMahon.

Ahead of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event‘s return to television on December 14, ScreenRant spoke with Ventura to discuss what the show has meant to his career, his future plans with WWE, and what current wrestlers he enjoys watching.

Jesse Ventura Reflects on His History With Saturday Night’s Main Event

“We were beating Saturday Night Live in the ratings…”

ScreenRant: Even before we get into what’s on the card tomorrow, just flashing back to this historic event throughout the 20th century, late 20th century in professional wrestling, what has Saturday Night’s Main Event meant to you and your career?

Jesse Ventura: That was at the time when we were coming out of the territory days, and Vince was going national. We were going across the country. Now we’re going much more mainstream and big time, and that’s truly what it was. I remember the first one where we all gathered in a hotel looking at a TV, and we were all kind of all beside ourselves. My God, this was on NBC and this was way back in the mid-’80s. And so when we made it to that level, it was the step in that wrestling had now gone mainstream. That’s what the original Saturday night main event did. It took it mainstream and then the fact that we were beating Saturday Night Live in the ratings.

Ventura Reveals His WWE Future Plans

The Body Will Be At The Announce Table For All Future WWE SNMEs

It feels like history’s repeating itself almost. This is not going to be the only Saturday night’s Main Event though. We have another one coming up pretty soon on January 25. Is this going to be a regular thing for you? You’re going to be behind the commentary desk for all Saturday Night’s Main Events going forward?

Jesse Ventura: It is for now. Right now I am starting to do them all.

That’s a lot to look forward to. What does the preparation look like for you when it comes to getting back in the booth this Saturday? Are you keeping up with the product? Are you refreshing yourself on storylines? What’s the vibe?

Jesse Ventura: Yep. Basically, when I left wrestling, I left it. I didn’t follow it anymore. I vaguely remember the Rock and Stone Cold and all that stuff, but I left it. And so for me, it’s been a review of coming back but then learning who’s here today, who are the young stars we got today, and that’s my job. My job is to take their stardom and take it even higher for them and make them bigger stars than what they already are. I don’t need to worry about me. I’m already over; this ain’t about me, it’s about them. And so that’s my job. My job is to come in and make the product even better, put the finishing touches on the product, and I’m pretty good at that. I haven’t lost it or any of that stuff.

And in fact, people need to understand I’m getting the handcuffs coming off. I mean, for the last 25 years I’ve been involved in politics, and I’ve had to worry about what I say. Well, I don’t have to do that anymore. I can say anything I want to say now. Freedom has arrived.

Who are some names that stick out, that have the Jesse “The Body” Ventura stamp of approval?

Jesse Ventura: Well, my favorite new wrestler since I’ve come back in the last month is Dominik. You want to know why? He gets the girls, man. I mean he’s a girl magnet. I don’t know what it is about him, but they flock to him and any guy that has his body and has the courage to stand in the middle of the ring and do a double bicep both unbelievable. I give him the “Ravishing” Rick Rude award. I just think he’s a great piece of talent.

I will add this too I will be honest with you. I questioned whether Rhodes was really the son of Dusty for a moment. You look at Cody Rhodes and you see this thin muscular athlete with a six-pack of abs. Now Dusty Rhodes couldn’t win Best Abs. His kid could. Dusty could only win most abs and that’s why I thought how could he come from Dusty? I don’t question it because I saw his ego get in the way, just like his dad. He did a stupid thing on SmackDown. He got involved in a match. He wasn’t scheduled to wrestle, got himself hurt and he’s going to be in trouble tomorrow night. He’s got a bad leg. Just watch the opening tomorrow night and I’ll tell you what Rhodes might be facing.

I never thought we’d see Jesse Ventura back in a full-time capacity. What was that first conversation with Hunter? Did you get on the phone? Did you hash things out? And how long did it take between him first reaching out and you putting pen to paper on your legends deal?

Jesse Ventura: Well, I can’t even recall if I talked to Hunter directly. Again, my son did the whole thing. My son was the go-between between the WWE and me and he negotiated it. He was the calm head, I guess, if you want to say, in the room and got the job done for both sides. I think they were shooting Raw on Minneapolis and I went down there. I’ll tell you what made me feel good and respected: when I got to the auditorium, Hunter was there to greet me. He was waiting for me to get there and arrive. And that to me showed a great deal of respect and that to me showed me he’s the guy that I can work for.

About WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (2024)

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event returns to television on December 14. The televised special will be headlined by WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defending his prize against Kevin Owens. Elsewhere on the card, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther puts his title on the line against challengers Damian Priest and Finn Balor, WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against IYO SKY, Michin and Chelsea Green meet in the finals of the WWE Women’s United States Championship tournament, and Drew McIntyre settles his blood feud with Sami Zayn in singles competition.

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

goes down on December 14 at 8 PM ET on NBC.