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Saturday Night’s Main Event Start Time Confirmed After Fan Confusion

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Harrison | Last updated Jan 16, 2026 12:25 PM ET

WWE’s nostalgia-driven television special, Saturday Night’s Main Event, returns on Saturday, January 24, streaming live on Peacock. This will be the 43rd edition of the long-running series, and it takes place in one of wrestling’s most iconic cities: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The event is among the final stops on WWE’s January international tour, a schedule that reflects the company’s evolving touring and distribution model. That shift has also led to a common question among fans: When does the show actually start?

In the era of linear television, WWE events almost always began at predictable U.S. prime-time hours. In today’s streaming-first landscape, that consistency no longer exists. Major events can now start in the afternoon, late at night, or even early in the morning depending on location and platform.

Factor in WWE’s growing list of broadcast partners — Peacock, Netflix, and ESPN — and it’s easy to see why casual fans have struggled to keep track.

What Time Does Saturday Night’s Main Event Start?

There has been genuine confusion surrounding the start time of Saturday Night’s Main Event: Montreal, and it stems from two issues.

First, WWE was slow to update the event’s official landing page. As recently as earlier this week, it still promoted John Cena’s final match. Meanwhile, the ticketing page listed a 7:30 p.m. ET start time, leading many fans to believe that was when the broadcast would begin.

WWE has since corrected the listing and officially confirmed an 8:00 p.m. ET start time.

Was WWE Going To Move The Time Because of UFC?

Dana White at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NVDana White / Getty Images

There were also reports that WWE had internally discussed moving the show earlier to avoid overlapping with UFC 324, the debut event of WWE's sister promotion on Paramount+. While that scenario may have been explored, WWE has decided not to adjust the start time.

Although the main show begins at 8:00 p.m. ET, tuning in around 7:30 p.m. ET is still recommended. The final portion of WWE’s pre-show often features star-heavy segments, cinematic shots of the arena, and introductions that help set the tone. It’s the closest thing to feeling like you’re already in the building.

Saturday Night’s Main Event 43 is expected to carry real stakes, with direct Royal Rumble implications. Winners from SmackDown's qualifying matches will collide in a Fatal Four-Way Match to determine the No. 1 contender for Drew McIntyre’s Undisputed WWE Championship.

It truly feels like the window of opportunity is open—and that's what WrestleMania season is all about.

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Montreal — Announced Card

Fatal Four-Way Matchto determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship
RHIYO (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY) (c) vs. The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez) — Tag team match for the Women's Tag Team Championships