WWE Crown Jewel is this Saturday at the Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is a Champion versus Champion Premium Live Event which will feature the crowning of the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion. With tons of other deep storylines and great matches in store, let’s break down the card.
Which match are you most excited for at #WWECrownJewel THIS SATURDAY?@RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/9njEnO0asT
— WWE (@WWE) October 29, 2024
Let’s start with the news of the night – Cody Rhodes versus Gunther for the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Championship. It’s hard to imagine either champion taking a loss at this point, so who can carry the loss better? Gunther has been one of the most dominant heels in history, only losing to drop the Intercontinental Championship so he could move on to this current run. I would also argue that a babyface comeback story is more compelling to the audience, and Cody has a storyline on the back burner with Roman Reigns. Give me Gunther to become the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Champion.
.@Gunther_AUT had quite the message for @CodyRhodes ahead of #WWECrownJewel… 👀 pic.twitter.com/AzwtOUDdw6
— WWE (@WWE) October 27, 2024
The women will also compete for the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. Nia Jax and Liv Morgan will face off in a clash of heel champions. The match itself seems to be the least exciting on the card, not to mention Liv Morgan and The Judgment Day are currently getting a huge push. While I say that, Nia Jax is currently the -150 betting favorite;* my money is on the slight underdog in a rather boring match. The one holdup is Tiffany Stratton, the current Money in the Bank contract holder. Will she get involved during the match, or perhaps cash in on Nia after a win…or even a loss?
Women's Champion vs. Champion
Nia Jax (-150)
Liv Morgan (+110)#WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/Zexko5Bm7R— Betting on Bodyslams (@BetOnBodyslams) October 30, 2024
Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed have been having great non-match segments full of violence, and the payoff is sure to be worth it. Currently billed as a standard singles match, I don’t expect a technical masterpiece. Both men are certainly capable of doing so, but this backstage brawl of a storyline is leading to a fighting finish. This one will surely spill to the outside, if not further. How do we predict this one? Bronson Reed has been getting a push and has been making the best of it. His violent storylines with Braun Strowman and now Seth Rollins have elevated him to new heights. Seth Rollins, on the other hand, is one of the biggest draws in WWE history. Bronson has been coming out on top on recent WWE television, so let’s go with the babyface payoff. Even if Bronson wins, I don’t see him in the Heavyweight Championship picture, and even in a loss, he is already heavily involved with many stars in the Intercontinental picture. Seth Rollins can take this win, perhaps with an eye toward Gunther.
ICYMI: Bronson freakin' wrecked Seth!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/zRRFUIKEBi
— WWE (@WWE) October 29, 2024
Kevin Owens will look to fend off another heel turn at a PLE Saturday, this time against former tag-team partner Randy Orton. These men know each other very well, so the match is sure to be seamless, full of great reversals and false finishes. Kevin Owens surely has a further storyline with Cody Rhodes, and a win would seem to put him in position.
"I hope to god y'all know what you're asking for…"
Triple H just made it official!
Randy Orton will go one-on-one against Kevin Owens at #WWECrownJewel! 👏👏👏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GNcg6YIwJL
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
There will be a triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship featuring LA Knight, Andrade, and Carmelo Hayes. All three are great in the ring, so this one does look promising. After having a great match, WWE booked Andrade and Carmelo in a best-of-seven series. In fairness, the matches have been phenomenal, but even the biggest fan has to get bored of seven in a row. LA Knight would actually crash the seventh match, resulting in an unfinished feud between the two. It would seem unlikely the feud would end in a win in a triple threat, so give me LA Knight to retain.
THE WINNER OF GAME 7 IS… nobody. 😤
LA Knight has had enough of Carmelo AND Andrade! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kZwwgEDNW1
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship will be on the line in a fatal four-way tag team match featuring Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, Damage CTRL, Meta-Four, and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. The main storyline for this one as of late has seen Meta-Four getting involved in matches between the current champions and Damage CTRL. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven seem to have been added to represent SmackDown, but I think Chelsea will take the biggest bump of the night. I don’t believe Jade Cargill has reached the heights WWE had imagined when they signed her and played vignettes for months. Losing this title once again would essentially be a punt on Jade, and I don’t think WWE is ready to make that decision. Give me the champs to retain.
#WWECrownJewel is getting bigger by the minute!
Our #SmackDown, #WWERaw and #WWENXT GMs just announced a Fatal 4-Way Women's Tag Team Title Match for Crown Jewel! 👏👏👏
BIANCA & JADE vs. IYO & KAIRI vs. CHELSEA & PIPER vs. LASH & JAKARA! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8HqpjoLQpP
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
The Bloodline is set for a six-man tag team match against “The Old Bloodline.” It will be Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and/or Jacob Fatu, against Roman Reigns and The Usos. I mean, what are we even talking about here? We’ve got the Roman Reigns redemption story, we’ve got The Usos reunited, we’ve got the OTC and the bootleg Bloodline. I’m sure this match will deliver in a storyline/theatrical way, but I’m shocked Roman Reigns and The Usos are +200 betting underdogs.*
BREAKING: @WWERomanReigns teams with Jimmy & Jey Uso to take on Solo Sikoa's Bloodline THIS SATURDAY at #WWECrownJewel!@RiyadhSeason
🦚 https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23
🌍 https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/saLGDNaOfV— WWE (@WWE) October 29, 2024
That wraps up WWE Crown Jewel. Stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles.
Howe Fresh
for Greenville Sports Media
and check out my weekly opinionated podcast “The Wrasslin Corner”