Why Jesse Ventura's Role At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Was Changed

With the return of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in 2024 came the return of Jesse Ventura, but Ventura’s role on the show has changed significantly since its re-debut.

The ‘Body’ originally returned to the commentary booth for Saturday Night’s Main Event 37, 38 and 39, but at SNME XL on July 12 Ventura briefly appeared on camera during the show’s opening segment with Joe Tessitore but was not seen again, with Ventura nowhere near comms for the night.

Per a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE made the decision to remove Ventura from the commentary team after the ‘fiasco’ that was Ventura’s performance at SNME 39 on May 24.

At SNME 39, Ventura was openly critical of the WWE rule to allow victory in a steel cage match via exit through the cage door, with Ventura calling the move ‘BS’ live on air. It should be noted that this rule has been in place for decades in WWE, even during Ventura’s heralded run on commentary in the 1980s alongside Gorilla Monsoon. Earlier reports stated there were ‘plenty of laughs’ backstage during Ventura’s on-air diatribe at SNME 39.

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