He walked out in a feathered boa and shades that looked like they cost more than a small house. That was Jesse "The Body" Ventura. If you grew up watching wrestling in the 80s, his voice was the soundtrack to your weekend. It wasn't just noise; it was an education in "journalistic integrity," or at least Jesse’s very specific, very loud version of it.
When WWE brought back Jesse Ventura for Saturday Night's Main Event recently, the internet basically had a collective heart attack. Some people loved the nostalgia. Others? Well, they weren't exactly thrilled with a 73-year-old legend calling modern matches. But honestly, whether he’s burying a babyface or complaining about cage match rules, there is nobody like Jesse.
The Voice of a Generation (And Why It Mattered)
Let's be real. In the 1980s, most announcers were just "rah-rah" guys. They told you who was good and who was bad. Then came Jesse. He was the first real "heel" commentator who actually made sense. He didn't just root for the bad guys because they were mean; he rooted for them because they were smart. "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!" That wasn't just a catchphrase. It was a philosophy.
On the original run of Saturday Night's Main Event, Jesse was the perfect foil for Vince McMahon. Vince would scream about "the power of Hulkamania," and Jesse would just sigh. He’d point out that Hulk Hogan was actually the one pulling tights or using illegal eye pokes. He made you question the heroes. That was revolutionary at the time.
Jesse brought a sense of "bigness" to those NBC specials. Remember, back then, wrestling on network TV was a massive deal. It wasn't on every Monday night like it is now. It was an event. And Jesse treated it like he was calling the Super Bowl, even if he spent half the time talking about his "lateral deltoids" or his time in the Navy SEALs.
The 2024 Return: Nostalgia or a Train Wreck?
Fast forward to late 2024. WWE decides to reboot the franchise on NBC. They bring back the classic theme song—"Obsession" by Animotion. They bring back the blue shirts for the referees. And, of course, they bring back The Body.
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The first show back in December 2024 at the Nassau Coliseum was a trip. Jesse was there, looking every bit the legend. He called the main event between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. For a few minutes, it felt like 1986 again. But as the shows went on into 2025, things got... interesting.
Wrestling has changed. The pacing is faster. The rules are different. And Jesse? Well, Jesse is still Jesse.
The "B.S." Cage Match Incident
This is the one everyone is talking about. In May 2025, Jesse was on the mic for a steel cage match between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest. Now, in the old days, you usually had to climb over the cage to win. But modern WWE rules allow you to just walk out the door.
Jesse absolutely lost it. He started yelling about how "walking out a door" isn't winning. He called the finish "B.S." right on live television.
- He ignored the referee's instructions.
- He buried the winner of the match.
- He basically told the audience that what they just saw was garbage.
Was it professional? Probably not. Was it entertaining? You bet. It reminded everyone that Jesse Ventura doesn't have a "corporate" filter. He says what he thinks, even if it makes the writers backstage want to pull their hair out.
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Why People Still Tune In for The Body
You might wonder why WWE keeps bringing him back if he's going to go off-script. It’s simple: authenticity. Most modern commentators sound like they are reading from a teleprompter. They use the same buzzwords. They "unpack" storylines and talk about "momentum" in the same way every single week.
Jesse is a wild card. When you hear him on Saturday Night's Main Event, you don't know if he’s going to talk about the match or a conspiracy theory he heard in the Baja. He brings a level of unpredictability that is missing from the over-produced world of modern sports entertainment.
Also, his chemistry with the new guys is hilarious. Seeing him sit next to Joe Tessitore or Michael Cole is like watching a grumpy grandpa try to explain to his grandkids why music was better in the 70s. It creates a tension that is actually fun to watch.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jesse’s Commentary
A lot of younger fans think Jesse is just "bad" now because he misses cues or forgets names. But they’re missing the point. Jesse isn't there to be a play-by-play robot. He’s there to be a personality.
In the 80s, he would talk about partying with REO Speedwagon or hanging out with Mick Jagger. He was building a world. Today, he’s doing the same thing—it’s just a world where he’s the elder statesman who doesn't take any crap from anybody.
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He treats wrestling like a real sport. If a rule is stupid, he says it’s stupid. If a wrestler looks weak, he calls them a "chump." That "tell it like it is" attitude is exactly what made him the Governor of Minnesota later in life. It’s the same guy.
Impact on the Ratings
The numbers don't lie. The December 2024 reboot of Saturday Night's Main Event pulled in over 2.3 million viewers. People want that old-school feel. They want the grit. They want the feeling that anything can happen. Having Jesse Ventura there provides that "bridge" between the glory days and the current product.
Is he going to be a full-time commentator? No way. He’s 73. But as a special attraction for these quarterly NBC specials? He's gold. Even if he ruins a finish or two by complaining about the rules, he's getting people talking. And in the wrestling business, "talking" is the only thing that matters.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning on watching the next installment of this series, here’s how to actually enjoy the Jesse Ventura experience without getting frustrated:
- Don't expect technical accuracy. Jesse is there for the "vibe," not to tell you the name of a 450-splash variation.
- Listen for the "Jesse-isms." He still uses terms like "Monsoon" (even when he's talking to Michael Cole) and refers to himself as a "journalist." It’s part of the bit.
- Watch the background. On the new SNME sets, they’ve gone back to the "minimalist" look. Jesse loves this because it focuses on the crowd energy rather than the LED screens.
- Embrace the chaos. When he starts ranting about a "crooked referee" or a "slow count," just go with it. It’s more fun than a perfectly scripted broadcast.
The reality is we won't have guys like Jesse Ventura around forever. He’s one of the last links to an era where wrestlers were larger-than-life characters who didn't care about "engagement metrics." Whether you think he's a legend or a "slack-jawed" old-timer, you can't deny that when Jesse Ventura is on Saturday Night's Main Event, you’re going to be entertained. One way or another.
To get the most out of his next appearance, try finding old clips of his 1980s work with Gorilla Monsoon first. It puts his current "grumpy" persona into perspective and helps you see the method behind the madness.