If Saturday Night’s Main Event were a four-course meal, the main course — a hearty steak of John Cena vs. Gunther — was spoiled by an unexpected foul hair at the end, judging by fan reactions.
Meanwhile, the appetizer, Oba Femi vs. Cody Rhodes, was a starter worth savoring. That is, until WWE pulled it away too soon.
In the battle between Undisputed WWE Champion Rhodes and NXT Champion Femi, fans were robbed of a clean, decisive finish after Drew McIntyre interfered, resulting in a no-contest.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a standout match, as Femi — just three years into his pro career — looked like a natural, a true fit for the main-event scene.
“Fans won’t be happy with a DQ finish to open Saturday Night’s Main Event, but it was a good showing for Oba,” wrote WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray on X. “Well-paced match. Oba is gonna be a big deal in WWE one day.”
Rhodes was equally impressive, leading the match and battling through a bloodied ear late in the contest. He absorbed heavy punishment from “The Ruler,” boosting Femi’s stock.
Unfortunately, McIntyre’s attack on Rhodes to further their feud soured the finish. The ending didn’t sit well with fans inside Washington’s Capital One Arena, nor with Tom Pestock, the former Baron Corbin, who echoed the arena crowd on social media: “Restart the match!! Come on!”
Forbes writer Alfred Konuwa offered a harsher view of the finish, while acknowledging the ultimate payoff.
“Such a spineless finish to Oba vs. Cody, especially given the average ticket price is ~ $1,000,” said Konuwa on X. “Having said that, this was a HUGE endorsement of Oba Femi. He’s been ready. Now the world knows.”
It can be argued that WWE booked itself into a corner with this match.
When John Cena said it was his idea to pit established WWE stars against NXT talent for his final show, he called NXT “minor leaguers.” Had Femi, the NXT Champion, lost, he would have returned to his show diminished, still carrying the label of “minor-leaguer.”
Alternatively, had Rhodes lost clean, he’d be vulnerable, making challengers like McIntyre or Roman Reigns appear more threatening. A rematch with Femi would also put Rhodes in the role of an underdog, adding more drama to a sequel.
But if WWE’s goal is to keep Rhodes strong until WrestleMania, it had no other choice but to go with a no-contest. In doing so, it laid the groundwork for a future McIntyre-Femi program, which could be how the Nigerian juggernaut makes his main roster debut.
On X, McIntyre, who got dropped by Femi then by Rhodes before the champions parted amicably, leaned into a potential showdown with Femi by taunting him in a video.
“I’m sure you’ve got a ton of potential. I’ve seen hundreds of you, though,” said McIntyre. “They’ve all come, they all go. They’ve probably got 20 more next big things in the PC, actually, so good luck, fella.”
Ultimately, fans left Washington unsatisfied, first by the non-finish in the opener, and then when John Cena, the man who never gives up, was forced to tap out to Gunther.
Still, WWE accomplished a key goal by keeping its brand champions strong while giving the world a first look at its next main-event star in Oba Femi, setting the stage for his eventual main roster arrival.