Jesse Ventura made his return to WWE in 2024 by signing a contract to join WWE Legends, marking his first involvement with the company since 1990. He came back as part of the Saturday Night’s Main Event series, lending his experienced voice and classic commentary style to the vintage-themed show airing multiple times a year on NBC. Despite Ventura’s legendary status, his role—especially his position in the commentary booth—might be nearing its end.
After retiring from the ring, Ventura built a second legacy as a wrestling commentator, often working as a heel alongside Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon. Known as "The Body," he left WWE in 1990 due to backstage disagreements. His distinctive voice perfectly complements the nostalgic atmosphere of Saturday Night’s Main Event. While mostly a heel commentator, Ventura wasn’t shy about praising babyfaces when deserved. His influence inspired many commentators, and his partnerships with iconic figures like Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan left a lasting impact. Fans were disappointed when he left WWE, but his 2024 return to the show was well-received initially, offering a refreshing throwback vibe.
However, Ventura’s commentary has recently been problematic, notably during matches like Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre vs. Damien Priest. In these events, Ventura miscounted pinfalls and publicly criticized match finishes in ways that clashed with WWE’s storytelling, distracting viewers and overshadowing the wrestlers’ efforts. His vocal disapproval of Damien Priest’s cage match finish, where Priest exited through the cage door instead of climbing out, was particularly disruptive, as Ventura called the finish "BS," shifting focus from the wrestlers to himself.
Despite these issues, Ventura could still contribute if paired with Joe Tessitore, provided WWE gives him proper briefing and limits his commentary on match outcomes. WWE’s failure to prepare Ventura for the show’s direction has hurt its presentation, and relying solely on nostalgia for his presence might be counterproductive. Although Ventura, now 73, insists he’s not done commenting, his style is increasingly out of sync with today’s WWE programming. It may be best to keep him in lighter roles rather than the commentary booth to maintain show quality.
Fan Take: Ventura’s return highlights WWE’s struggle to balance nostalgia with modern storytelling. For fans, this is a critical moment; embracing legends while evolving commentary styles could either revitalize or stall WWE’s broadcast appeal moving forward.
