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WWE returns to NBC after 13 years
MUMBAI: After a 13-year hiatus, World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) show Saturday Night’s Main Event returns to NBC on 16 March.
This two-hour special presentation of the raucous extravaganza that sparked a revolution in American pop culture and made international stars out of Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Jesse “The Body” Ventura, will herald the NBC primetime debut of WWE’s newest crop of superstars.
The show will feature Raw stars WWE champion John Cena, Triple H, and women’s champion Trish Stratus, along with Shawn Michaels, Edge, Diva and Playboy Cover Girl Candice Michelle, Shane McMahon and WWE chairman Vince McMahon, among others.
Saturday Night’s Main Event will provide storylines, betrayals and larger-than-life characters battling for championship glory.
McMahon says, “The original Saturday Night Main Event was a pop culture phenomenon with a rich history of big moments. We promise to make the new Main Event in prime time on NBC even bigger and better.”
NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says, “This special event will extend our ongoing relationship with WWE — as seen on USA’s popular Monday Night Raw,” said , “and it’s a genuine opportunity to do some real business in Saturday Night Primetime.”
Saturday Night’s Main Event debuted on NBC late night as a replacement for Saturday Night Live repeats in 1985, and ran through 1992. The show launched stars like Rowdy Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, and Bret Hart.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
