Report: WWE Hall of Famer Parts Ways With Company
The Body Has Left the Building
It looks like WWE’s reunion with Jesse “The Body” Ventura has officially reached its end.
According to a new report from the Wrestling Observer, the WWE Hall of Famer’s one-year deal with the company has expired and will not be renewed. Ventura’s brief return in late 2024 was part of the relaunch of Saturday Night’s Main Event — a nostalgic revival aimed at capturing the magic of the show’s classic 1980s and early ’90s run.
Ventura returned to the commentary desk for the first new edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, 2024, calling matches and lending his iconic voice to the main event broadcast. Fans praised the move at the time, calling it a perfect throwback to WWE’s golden era.
Why Ventura’s Run Ended
Reports indicate that Ventura’s commentary during a steel cage match between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest may have sealed his fate, as WWE executives reportedly felt the segment didn’t align with the tone they wanted for the modern version of the show.
Ventura was notably absent from the most recent episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, which featured CM Punk vs. Jey Uso for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Sources suggest the decision to move on was mutual — Ventura’s contract had simply run its course, and both sides opted not to extend it beyond its original term.
The Next Chapter for Saturday Night’s Main Event
The timing of Ventura’s exit comes just as WWE gears up for its biggest Saturday Night’s Main Event yet — John Cena’s final match, set for December 13 on Peacock. The event will serve as the culmination of Cena’s 2025 retirement tour and the finale of the ongoing “Last Time Is Now” Tournament, which will determine his last opponent.
Even without Ventura at the commentary desk, WWE appears ready to push Saturday Night’s Main Event into a new era — one that blends nostalgia with today’s star power.
A Legacy Like No Other
A former Minnesota governor and WWE Hall of Famer (Class of 2004), Ventura’s larger-than-life persona helped define wrestling commentary in the 1980s and early 1990s. His chemistry with Gorilla Monsoon remains the stuff of legend, and his sharp wit made him one of the most distinctive voices in pro wrestling history.
Before stepping into politics, Ventura’s final major WWE appearance came in 1999, when he served as special guest referee for the Triple Threat WWE Championship match between Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and Mankind at SummerSlam — a match that took place in his home state of Minnesota during his tenure as governor.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Jesse Ventura’s brief return was a feel-good moment for longtime fans who grew up during wrestling’s golden age. But his exit isn’t all that surprising — the modern WWE machine has evolved beyond nostalgia-driven commentary, leaning instead toward faster pacing and a more sports-style presentation.
That said, Ventura’s presence gave the new Saturday Night’s Main Event exactly what it needed at launch — credibility, nostalgia, and attitude. Losing him before Cena’s final match feels symbolic: the end of one era giving way to another.
WWE may move forward without The Body, but his influence on how wrestling sounds — the art of the heel commentator — will never fade.
