The latest edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event was built, at John Cena’s request, around the future of the company. No match embodied that vision better than the unexpected tag team showdown featuring AJ Styles and Dragon Lee against TNA’s Leon Slater and NXT standout Je’Von Evans.
With Styles’ WWE retirement currently slated for 2026, every appearance he makes now carries extra weight. Much like Cena’s farewell run, each match feels deliberate and meaningful. Pairing Styles with Evans was a clear statement from WWE—one that underscored just how highly the company views the rising NXT star. Reports suggest WWE has major plans for Evans, and this match served as an early step in what looks like a significant long-term push.
Only a select group of performers earned the chance to appear on the same card as Cena’s final match, and at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Evans and Slater made the most of that opportunity. The duo set out to steal the show against the veteran pairing of Styles and Lee—and they came very close to doing exactly that.
Styles and Lee vs. Evans and Slater — Match Highlights
Heading into the event, there wasn’t much in the way of traditional storyline development. Instead, Saturday Night’s Main Event leaned into its exhibition-style format, showcasing a mix of established stars and emerging talent. That approach paid off in a big way during this fast-paced, highlight-heavy tag team bout.
From the opening bell, Slater and Evans exploded out of the gate, immediately overwhelming their opponents with a pair of superkicks and a flurry of high-flying offense to the outside. The crowd was hooked almost instantly.
Slater tagged in Evans, who delivered a crisp splash onto Dragon Lee, the legal man. Momentum briefly shifted when Slater missed a shoulder tackle, crashing shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. Lee capitalized with a picture-perfect sit-out powerbomb before tagging in Styles, just as Slater brought Evans back into the match.
Styles took control with a thunderous clothesline, followed by a corner clothesline and a sharp knee to the back of the neck. He briefly neutralized Slater before attempting a springboard maneuver, only for Evans to knock him off the apron. Evans followed up with a moonsault to the outside, but Styles narrowly avoided the impact. Lee then flew in with a hurricanrana onto Slater, who landed awkwardly on Styles during a failed attempt at the Styles Clash.
Back inside the ring, Evans connected with an OG Cutter on Styles and tagged Slater in as the crowd erupted with chants of “This is awesome!” Slater followed up with a Swanton 450, and for a moment, it looked like the challengers had the match won. Lee broke up the pin just in time by drop-kicking Evans into Slater, drawing even louder reactions from the crowd.
Styles & Lee Retain the Titles
Lee then wiped out Evans with a running back elbow and a dive to the outside. Slater teased a Styles Clash of his own, but Styles reversed it and went for the finish. Slater countered again, sending Styles to the apron. Styles attempted a Phenomenal Forearm, but slipped on the top rope, allowing Slater to score a close two-count.
In the end, Slater went for one final leaping attack, but Styles caught him mid-air and delivered a decisive Styles Clash. That was all it took—one, two, three.
Styles and Lee retained the titles, continuing their reign that began on the October 20 episode of Monday Night Raw when they defeated The Judgment Day. Following this successful defense, all signs point to the duo remaining champions well into 2026, serving as a bridge between WWE’s present and its rapidly approaching future.
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