Backstage news on Triple H's massive surprise for WWE Saturday Night's Main Event - Reports

WWE is just days away from presenting the first Saturday Night's Main Event since 2008. The primetime special will feature a historic match to crown the inaugural Women's United States Champion, Jesse Ventura's return to commentary, and other happenings. Sources have just provided a big backstage update on one massive plan Triple H has for this weekend.

Cody Rhodes is set to defend his Undisputed Championship against Kevin Owens at SNME on Long Island, NY, this weekend. This will be a very special night for the son of Dusty Rhodes, as he is reportedly set to carry the legendary Winged Eagle version of the WWE Championship. Triple H teased the surprise earlier today on X, noting that this will be for one night only. Sources have since reported that the teased surprise is, in fact, the Winged Eagle belt, something Cody has publicly campaigned for and requested for years.

The American Nightmare increased the Winged Eagle talk in recent years, then confirmed in September that he was still working on the idea, noting then that it could be just for one night. Sources have just revealed to Fightful Select that there have been recent internal talks about the Winged Eagle belt. It was also confirmed that Cody has continued to push for the use of this particular championship belt, but he's not the only one in the locker room.

A number of talents have expressed interest in bringing back classic title belts, but Rhodes has been among the most vocal. This is also one of the reasons for the more classic look to the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Saturday Night's Main Event is very fitting for the return of the Winged Eagle, which is widely regarded as the greatest WWE Championship design ever. Hulk Hogan introduced the new look on February 5, 1988, right before dropping the strap to Andre the Giant on The Main Event, which was a spin-off of SNME. The Winged Eagle was held by numerous Hall of Famers and carried Vince McMahon's growing company through a new era and boom period.

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event updated lineup for this weekend

The first WWE Saturday Night's Main Event special since 2008 will air in less than four days, live from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, NY. SNME XXXVII will air at 8 p.m. ET, live on Peacock and NBC. Below is the updated lineup for the two-hour show:

• Jesse Ventura returns for commentary
• Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
• Bayley or Chelsea Green vs. Michin or Tiffany Stratton to crown the inaugural Women's United States Champion
• Women's World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. IYO SKY
• World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat: Gunther (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
• Undisputed Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens

World Wrestling Entertainment and NBCUniversal will air quarterly SNME specials under their new deal. SNME XXXVIII is scheduled for January 25 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The first Saturday Night's Main Event of 2025 will also be a two-hour simulcast on NBC and Peacock.