WWE Brought Back The Old School "Winged Eagle" Championship For The Return Of Saturday Night's Main Event

Tonight marked the return of 'Saturday Night's Main Event' - the old school "WWE on NBC" production - and the WWE leaned into the nostalgia HARD across the entire show. They scaled down the amount of LED lights around the entrance area, went back to red/white/blue ropes and metal barricades, referees were wearing bowties again, and Jesse Ventura was even back on commentary and the desk! He played the heel all night and it was awesome.

They really committed to the throwback bit in the main event, when they finally gave in to Cody Rhodes' longtime requests and allowed him to bring back the old "Winged Eagle" championship from the 1990s....

Most wrestling fans agree that was the best championship design the WWE ever had. Some prefer the Attitude Era title, and others are fans of the "Big Gold" belt (altho that's really more of a WCW Championship, as it was there first) - but I've always been a Winged Eagle guy myself. It's the title Warrior took from Hogan at WrestleMania VI….the title Bret won from Yoko at WrestleMania X….the title that made the boyhood dream come true at WrestleMania XII….it's just the best. 

I wish they would go back to that design permanently, and I know a lot of wrestlers would agree - but the WWE cares more about branding than having a "prestigious" title now. Gotta make that logo as big as possible so it can be seen from afar on championship parade floats!

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

I don't even hate the current title, it's sure as hell better than the spinner we had for WAAAAY too long….

Michele Sandberg. Getty Images.

….but when you see the Winged Eagle back tonight - there's just no comparing. That thing rules.

I know Saturday Night's Main Event is going to be a thing going forward into 2025 on NBC, and I feel like the whole throwback title thing shouldn't just be "one night only" as they advertised it. It should be a thing they do for every one of these! If the show is a throwback tribute, bring out the old championships! Don't even get me started on the titles, though. I could talk all night about how there's way too many nowadays.

P.S. They saved the best shit for after the show went off the air tonight!

Kevin Owens is the fucking best. We need a world title run for him soon.