WWE returned to its home, the Big Apple, New York City for the July 18 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event streaming on Peacock headlined by a blockbuster tag team match featuring CM Punk and Cody Rhodes against Gunther and Sami Zayn.

The bout had an added stipulation: if Punk and Rhodes can co-exist and win the match, they will continue as planned to face each other at SummerSlam, where Rhodes has the chance to win the WWE Undisputed Championship from Punk. However, if they lose, Gunther and Zayn would make it a fatal four-way.

Being held at Madison Square Garden, the night was to be heralded return of Danhausen to New York City since he uncursed the New York Knicks and became a cultural phenom during the NBA team’s title run; where they captured the championship for the first time in 53 years.

Also, the show was going to close with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns alongside Knicks playoffs MVP Jalen Brunson for a special acknowledgment ceremony. Let’s take a look at what happened when the smoke cleared at one of the better SNME’s delivered by the WWE over the past year.

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Undisputed WWE champion CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn and Gunther

This star-studded match-up literally had a fantastic fast and frenetic pace which was great to see from all four men. Throughout the match, chants of “this is awesome” came from the audience in attendance, especially when after much high flying (especially from Cody Rhodes), the four laid spent flat out on the mat for what was a breather before the match’s final moments, leaving the drama to anyone’s guess at the finish and who would be the title picture at SummerSlam.

After referee Charles Robinson took a bump and was taken out, Gunther grabbed Punk’s title belt and clocked Rhodes in the head with it. As he was pinning Rhodes, he called for a new referee. As one came out from the back to deliver the three count, suddenly, he was pulled out by Nick Aldis (SmackDown GM, who has been feuding with Gunther) and yanked by his leg to the floor. Next, Aldis hit Gunther with the title belt, allowing Punk to deliver a Go to Sleep while Rhodes pinned the Ring General to secure the pin..

However, things got intense between Punk and Rhodes while after celebrating their victory in the ring, upon Punk making his entrance, he “accidentally” hit Cody in the face with his belt. Later, Rhodes came at Punk in a backstage segment that went viral. Leading the WWE Universe to ponder; Is Punk turning heel? Is Cody? Stay tuned as now the heat starts to build for their championship match-up in two weeks at SummerSlam in Minneapolis.

GRADE: A

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No Disqualification Match: Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh

Minihausens and New York Knicks center/forward  Karl-Anthony Towns gave an assist to the very nice, very evil Danhausen so he could defeat Judgement Day’s JD McDonagh with interference from Dominik Mysterio.

During most of the match, McDonagh was manhandling Danhausen, but when the NYC favorite was able to get up the ring ramp to his “Cloning Machine” and putting his cat in it … out came Towns! When the Knicks favorite made his way to the ring, it got a huge pop from the crowd, which led to Town chokeslamming Mysterio through a table, while Danhausen delivered his Triple D (Danhausen Death Drop) to JD for the win.

GRADE B+

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Bayley vs, Lyra Valkryia

Lyra Valkyria has gone off the rails and this match against Bayley, her former idol, tag-team partner and friend, illustrated fully her new heel character who has seemingly lost her marbles.

Early in the match though, Bayley’s elbow struck Lyra in the nose and she may have broken it and was bleeding during the entire match due to the mishap.

This unhinged version of Valkyria defeated Bayley, and then continued to give her a beat down after the match throwing Bayley into the ring post and then the steel steps before security and officials finally got her to back off.

GRADE B+

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Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Paige and Brie Bella vs. Fatal Influence

This was the least interesting match of the night, but due to interference from Jacy Jayne, Fatal Influence’s Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid are the new Women’s Tag Champs.

As to what happens now with Paige and Bella remains to be seen. Do they split and have a feud since Paige’s comeback was initially as a fill-in for Brie’s sister, Nikki Bella, in a tag team championship match, who was out with an injury? More soon.

Grade: C-

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Jalen Brunson and Roman Reigns Face off with Seth Rollins and Tyrese Haliburton

The world of microdramas (otherwise known as verticals) continue to be the burgeoning new form of entertainment storytelling often with romance novel-like soap opera storytelling, and all accessible in bite sized short 1-2 minute episodes on your phone.

After The Bold and the Beautiful’s Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer) land his son Oliver Bell announced that in August they will premiere their first microdrama Hollywood Startlet under their Red Flair Entertainment banner for aTwist (formerly MicroCo), comes word that now WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment is developing their first live-action microdrama series in collaboration with ReelShort, the world’s leading microdrama platform.

This new endeavor brings together WWE’s iconic Superstars, world-renowned creative strategy, and global fanbase with ReelShort’s expertise in premium vertical storytelling to create an entirely new entertainment experience for audiences around the world. Together, the companies are introducing a new way for fans to experience entertainment through mobile-first storytelling, while expanding the possibilities of the rapidly growing microdrama format.

WHICH WWE SUPERSTARS WILL APPEAR IN THE MICRODRAMA?

The initial series will feature WWE Superstars: Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry, among others, alongside fan-favorite ReelShort stars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson. Production is scheduled to begin next month, with the series expected to premiere this early fall.

“Brand partnerships are evolving beyond product placement. We’re creating entertainment ecosystems where brands, talent, and storytelling come together to build cultural moments that audiences actively engage with and share,” said Sammie Hao, Head of Talent & Business Development at ReelShort.

THE EVOLUTION OF STORYTELLING

“By bringing WWE Superstars into the ReelShort cinematic world, we are creating a new storytelling experience for the WWE Universe, while reaching a fresh audience with premium content on ReelShort’s innovative platform,” said Ben Houser, Head of Original Content and Development, WWE.

ReelShort is the world’s leading microdrama platform, delivering premium original scripted series through fast-paced, mobile-first storytelling. Available in more than 100 countries and reaching more than 70 million monthly active users, ReelShort is redefining how global audiences discover and engage with entertainment through original productions, bestselling IP adaptations, and collaborations with leading creators, brands, and entertainment companies. ReelShort is developed by Crazy Maple Studio, a global entertainment company behind some of the world’s most successful mobile storytelling platforms.

WWE is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network and The CW. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

So, what do you think about WWE, getting into the microdrama business? It’s seems like a great way to utilize the WWE superstars and mix them up with some of the top stars in vertical dramas and for consumption for the global pro wrestling fans who will have yet another platform to watch their favorites.  Weigh-in via the comment section below.

On the July 6 episode of WWE Raw on Netflix, CM Punk made his triumphant return to WWE programming and captured the Undisputed WWE Championship, in his hometown of Chicago, no less.

In the story, Punk stepped in at the last minute as a replacement in the title match against Sami Zayn, when Zayn’s scheduled opponent, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes was taken out at the beginning of Raw by sneak attack by Gunther.

The attack on Rhodes, left Cody out of the title picture for the night and chance to reclaim the championship he lost to Zayn at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia just 9 days ago.

Photo: WWE

LAST MINUTE OPPONENT

With Adam Pearce currently in charge of both Raw and SmackDown after Nick Aldis also got into an altercation with Gunther last week, Aldis returned and got into with Pearce over the booking of the title match.

Zayn, who thought he got out of a title fight, soon learned he has an unnamed challenger in the main event and headed to the ring for this title defense. Only, it was going to be a losing battle with CM Punk’s theme music hit, and the crowd in Chicago went nuts!

Despite Zayn building significant offense throughout his match,, Punk ultimately came out victorious after using Zayn’s patented victory following a Helluva Kick and a Go To Sleep.

PUNK BECOMES A WWE CHAMP FOR THE EIGHTH TIME

This makes CM Punk an eight-time WWE world champion.  Zayn’s reign as champion became one of the shortest ever. Previously, Punk dropped the WWE World Championship title to Roman Reigns in a classic bout at WrestleMania 42, and until now has been out of the storyline.

Since the Undisputed WWE Championship is associated with SmackDown, the WWE Universe can most likely to CM Punk heading to the blue brand as champ with Reigns the champ on Raw.

But all of this has to be leading to SummerSlam, where the smart money is that Cody Rhodes will demand a title shot at CM Punk for the Undisputed Championship, while we already know Seth Rollins is facing Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship.

WWE SummerSlam takes place in Minneapolis on August 1 and August 2 with the full match cards being revealed in the coming weeks.

So, what did you think of CM Punk returning in Chi-Town to win the Undisputed WWE Championship? Do you think we will now get a Cody or Punk heel turn? Happy or mad, that Sami Zayn’s title run was oh-so short? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out Punk’s winning moment below.