Danhausen faces JD McDonagh at Saturday Night’s Main Event in NYC

"

Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh is currently the featured bout for the next Saturday Night’s Main Event. | (Photo: WWE) Following May’s Saturday Night’s Main Event that was low on star power, WWE’s revised ’80s hit returns to Peacock on July 18. While it still has time to flesh out the card, if the featured bout is as good as it gets, it may be time to pull the plug. In less than two weeks, Saturday Night’s Main Event heads to Madison Square Garden for the first time. Given the arena’s historic ties to WWE — being the house that Bruno Sammartino built, and the explosion of Hulkamania — fans might expect a card stacked with the company’s biggest draws. Instead, the featured bout is currently Danhausen vs. Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh. For both wrestlers, performing under the bright spotlight of the Garden adds a personal element for fans to get invested in. In June, Danhausen reflected on his journey to WWE, writing on X, “5 months ago Danhausen was wrestling for independent wrestling promotions in clubs, bars, halls, gyms, theaters and abandoned buildings (thank you all for giving Danhausen a stage.).” In McDonagh’s case, the bout represents a first for him, though his character seemed less enthusiastic than his opponent. “My first singles match at MSG and I have to get in there with a clown,” he wrote on X last week. My first singles match at MSG and I have to get in there with a clown. 🤡😤 https://t.co/yLTQbUO7ls — JD McDonagh (@jd_mcdonagh) July 4, 2026 As a storyline, their brief rivalry is the latest chapter in an unusual feud that began when Danhausen cursed Dominik Mysterio and later Liv Morgan. Mysterio subsequently lost the Intercontinental Championship, while Morgan failed to win the Queen of the Ring tournament. In between, McDonagh was electrocuted after he and Mysterio confronted Danhausen for taking Judgment Day’s money without providing the services they requested. While fan investment may vary, the match follows a Saturday Night’s Main Event in May that featured two solid title matches but little in the way of main event-level talent after several advertised names disappeared from the card. Initially, local advertising in Fort Wayne, Indiana, listed Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and CM Punk. As the show neared, WWE quietly removed their names, and Penta became its biggest advertised attraction. While the luchador is one of WWE’s most popular performers, he has yet to reach the level of Rhodes, John Cena, or Goldberg, all of whom have headlined the revived Saturday Night’s Main Event since its return in 2024. Why WWE removed Rhodes and Gunther is unknown. Punk, though, had been away since after WrestleMania 42. Recent reports suggest his return could come as soon as this Monday when Raw heads to his hometown of Chicago. Whether Punk makes it to Saturday Night’s Main Event remains to be seen. If he’s not there, his absence, along with Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch, and others, will be difficult to explain since they’ll all be in town that weekend for Fanatics Fest NYC, an annual sports fan festival in the Big Apple. It’s hard to picture WWE returning to its former stomping grounds and America’s largest media market without its top acts appearing in some capacity. Then again, WWE may be banking on Danhausen’s newfound popularity in the area after he “uncursed” the Knicks, and they went on to win their first NBA Championship in over 50 years, to satisfy the New York faithful. But for everyone else, if that’s the direction WWE takes as it heads north, viewership might go south, as fans outside of New York may have little reason to tune in. The Card Besides Danhausen taking on JD McDonagh, Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige defend their titles against Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley of Fatal Influence. How to Watch WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event takes place Saturday, July 18, at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. The show streams on Peacock beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

"

When the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win their first NBA championship in decades, Danhausen was credited far and wide for “uncursing” the team. Plans were put in place by WWE to ensure one of its most unlikely stars would be a featured attraction when the promotion returns to Madison Square Garden, which will happen on July 18 for Saturday Night’s Main Event. What they came up with: .@DanhausenAD looks for REVENGE against The Judgment Day when he battles @jd_mcdonagh at #SNME! 🔥 🎟️: https://t.co/xWQ5WWaw53 pic.twitter.com/6rJQmlYWU4 — WWE (@WWE) July 4, 2026 If you’re a star of any stature in WWE over the past few years, you’ve run up against The Judgment Day. Danhausen has been a frequent thorn in their side, and they’re sending one of the members of the crew to attempt to deal with it. Something tells me it’s not going to go so well for them. Danhausen is also teasing some help from a special friend. Gee, I wonder who that could be. Meanwhile, Lainey Reid scored a victory over Brie Bella on SmackDown this week, clearing the way for Fatal Influence to go for the women’s tag team titles. Fallon Henley joins Reid against Bella & Paige. Like the way the card looks so far?