Jeremy’s WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Review

Hello, everyone and welcome to our live WWE Crown Jewel coverage right here on 411! I’m Jeremy Thomas, and this morning WWE is in Saudi Arabia for two matches to determine the latest holders of the WWE Saudi Arabia Continental Classic Championships along with a big Last Man Standing Match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. Plus we have Bron Breakker and Austin Theory defending the World Tag Team Championships against Penta and Je’Von Evans — and that’s it today that we know of. Definitely doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that no one wants to go to this show for some reason of another. Ah, well; let’s get right into it.

As a reminder, the GoFundMe for Larry’s kids is still active and if you can make a donation, that would be awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who’s done so thus far.

* We’re LIVE in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

* THEN. NOW. BAD DECISIONS REGARDING SAUDI ARABIA… FOREVER.

* We’re LIVE in Riyadh where the ugly-ass Crown Jewel Championships were brought in like they’re nuclear codes. Meanwhile, Chelsea Green WALKS, Liv Morgan WALKS, Sami Zayn WALKS, and Roman Reigns WALKS (off a plane).

* We get the cold open.

* We’re opening with Cody vs. Randy.

Last Man Standing Match
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

They start brawling to start, trading strikes. Cody turns it around and hits some shots in the corner, but Orton escapes to the other corner and cuts Cody off with a kick. Boot choke, he backs up and charges — Cody dodges and Randy hits shoulder-first in the ringpost. The ref counts to three before Orton escapes to the outside — and Cody dives through the ropes onto him!

Shots to the back of Orton, and Cody goes for a ringsteps head slam but Orton blocks it and hits his own. Back suplex onto the commentary booth and then another. Orton sets Cody up next to the steps, the ref counts to four before Cody gets up and Orton drops him onto the booth again. Charles Robinson counts to five before Cody is up, and Randy has grabbed the commentary cowl and set it up. Back suplex through the cowl, the ref counts to six.

Cody gets cut off by Orton, and they fight into the crowd. Cody takes over with punches and tosses Orton head-first into a railing — but Orton fires right back. He gets a trash can and smashes it over Rhodes’ head. The count goes to six before Rhodes is up — and he quickly takes the trash can lid to the head for six. Another lid shot, and the ref counts to two before Cody is up. Cody gets some shots in and throws Orton back to the ringside area, taking some time to recover and have a drink of water.

Cody goes after Orton — who has a kendo stick! Shot to the gut, they go in the ring and Randy swings away like he’s Joaquin Phoenix. Count gets to five before Cody is up, he dodges a swing and grabs the stick, teeing off on Orton’s back and gut. Clothesline sends Randy to the floor. Lil Naitch counts to seven before Orton gets up, but then collapses going down the ramp. Cody pounces on him and lays in punches until the count starts and gets to five. Rhodes keeps battering Orton up the ramp, Orton fires back. Cody with a kick to the gut and sends Orton head-first into the entrance stage. Naitch counts, Cody leaves and comes back with a trash can for a shot to Orton’s head, then the lid to the dome. The count gets to seven but collapses and the count begins again.

Cody is back with a table! He sets it up and grabs the trash can, slamming it over Orton’s back. Orton with a poke to the eyes, he slams Cody’s head into the table, sets up a powerbomb — Cody through the table! The ref count gets to nine but Cody is up! Orton with a clubbing blow to the back and wrenches the arm, before delivering a shot to the chest and posing. Rhodes is sent into the ring while Orton takes a moment to recover, he goes to step in — kick by Cody! Hangman DDT to the Viper! Lil Naitch counts to seven, Orton gets up but Cody is already on top — and Orton cuts him off! Orton with shots to Cody’s dome, he gets up there but Cody decks him. They trade punches on the top but Orton with a superplex!

Cody gets up at five, but Orton with a couple clotheslines and then a powerslam off the ropes. Hangman DDT for Orton, but Cody is up at five — Orton preps for the RKO, but Cody catches him. They swing away, Cody takes over and leaps over a charging Orton in the corner to hit a powerslam. Cody Cutter! The ref counts to seven before Orton is up, right into eating the Rhodes punches — but an RKO OUTTA NOWWHERE ends them early!

Cody gets up at nine as Orton stares at him. Orton pushes Cody under the ropes and comes out, grabbing the ringside steps. Cody is against the guardrail, Orton swings but Cody moves! He grabs the steps and nails Randy with them. Lil Naitch counts to seven before Cody cuts off an Orton climb. He puts Orton on the commentary booth and lays into him with punches after a second thought, then goes under the ring for a ladder. Ladder is set up and Cody beats Orton a little more, nails him with a kendo stick, and climbs up top! He takes aim, leaps — and Orton moves! Cody goes through the table solo! The ref counts, Orton is up, Cody gets up just before 10.

Orton decks Rhodes and grabs him, pulling him over to the ring and rolling him in. The crowd thinks “This Is Awesome”; I shrug. Both men in the ring now, Rhodes falls and finds himself staring at Orton. Rhodes is in position for a punt, Orton backs up — Cody dodges the punt! Super Cody Cutter! Orton gets to his feet with the ropes’ help and gets caught in a Cross Rhodes! The ref counts to nine as Rhodes grabs the ringsteps and shoves them into the ring.

Rhodes in now with a chair, and he positions the steps as Orton favors his elbow. Shot to the gut and back with the chair, putting Orton sitting on the steps. Cody batters him and grabs the chair, standing over Orton on the steps. He raises the chair — Orton with a low blow! Lil Naitch counts to eight before Rhodes is up.

Randy goes for an RKO — countered into a Cross Rhodes, and a second! And a third! Orton is busted open but he falls to his knees. Cody stops the count and stands over Orton, staring down. He backs up! He takes aim — PUNT TO ORTON! Cody finally hit it! That’s the 10 count.

Winner: Cody Rhodes (27:32)
Rating: ***
Thoughts: Listen, I’m an avowed hater of Last Man Standing matches. They destroy any match momentum by the nature of needing to count every 30 seconds or so. That said, the story here was good, even if the match often felt like it was going at about 80% of the speed it should have. Not my favorite by any remote stretch, but as Last Man Standing matches go, it was solid.

* We get a recap of the 946 and Bloodline war from Raw, with Cruz Montana joining the group and the Bloodline being laid out before Sami Zayn showed up to attack Reigns.

* AD TIME!

WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Vision vs. Penta & Je’Von Evans

Evans and Theory start off and circle before locking up. Theory backs Evans into the corner, kick and then a beatdown until the ref backs him off. Shot to Evans in the corner, sends him across the ring, Evans up and over and decks Evans. “I’m about to beat your ass!” And he does. Penta tags in, kick to Theory’s face, springboard rana by Evans. Breakker is in but gets hit with stereo kicks and goes out of the ring — the challengers dive onto them!

Penta rolls Austin in and follows, but Theory with a kick. Penta fires back with a backstabber, Evans tags in and hits a frog splash for two. Breakker pulls Evans out of the ring and throws him into the barricade as Maxxine distracts Penta, who takes a Theory elbow to the face. Maxxine distracts the ref as Theory works over Penta.

Breakker tags in and decks Penta. Penta into the ropes for a back elbow, cover gets two before Penta grabs the bottom ropes. Penta sent across the ring into the corner and drops. Shoulders to Penta’s gut in the corner, Bron puts Penta on the top and climbs but Penta knocks him down — crossbody for two, but Bron with a big punch immediately for a two-count.

Bron locks in a rear chinlock and bodyscissors it to slow things down. Penta manages to slip free and gets to his feet, laying in punches. Superkick, another and Penta off the ropes — Bron with a German suplex! He tags in Theory and they hit a double suplex for two. Theory knocks Evans to the floor and mocks him, then lays in mounted punches to Penta.

Breakker tags in and the double team Penta for a moment before Theory leaves and Bron hits a belly to belly throw. He sets up for a spear and charges, but Penta with a knee to counter! Hot tag to Evans, who comes in and lays waste to Breakker and a now-legal Theory! He knocks Breakker to the floor, goes for the Red Dot Kick but Theory catches him on his shoulders for a Rack Bomb that gets two!

Bron is in now, he bounces off the ropes but Evans kicks Bron! The numbers game gets Evans, who takes a clothesline/German combo for a nearfall. BRON’S STRAPS ARE DOWN! Shit is getting real now! He comes off the ropes — BIG KICK by Evans! Penta tags in! Rapid fire kicks to Bron, a Sling Blade, Evans tags in, Penta kicks Bron and hits a levered dropkick! Standing SSP by Evans, pin but Theory breaks it up!

Theory tags himself in and grabs Evans, but the fans distract him. Evans with a kick and Penta with a blind tag. Superkicks to everyone and a springboard tornado DDT! Cover, but Maxxine gets Theory’s foot on the top at two! She gets up to distract the ref — and Bronson Reed is here! He pulls Penta out of the ring, DVD on the floor! He takes out Evans, Penta pulled back in — DOOMSDAY MACHINE! Cover gets thr-NO!

OBA! OBA FEMI HAS ARRIVED! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, VISION!

Bronson goes after Oba, Oba goes after Bronson, and Bronson goes down! Bronson is shot put off the stage through a table! And Oba isn’t done yet, as he comes to the ring and Bron starts to approach!

Evans with a kick to Theory in the ring, he dives on Bron but Bron catches him! Penta dives onto Bron! Mexican Destroyer to Theory! OG Cutter! Pinfall victory!

Winner: Penta & Je’Von Evans (14:32)
Rating: *** 1/2
Thoughts: Very overbooked, but also VERY fun. Everyone worked hard here and say what you want about Theory; he’s good at his role. Very solid work here, I can’t complain about anything.

* We get a John Cena Classic announcement recap.

Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Match
Chelsea Green vs. Liv Morgan

A little trash talk from Liv before we lock up. Liv with a headlock, shoved into the ropes and knocks Green down. Circle and another lockup but Green goes under. Headlock by Liv, shoved into the ropes and counters a hiptoss into a judo throw. She mocks Green, who gets a rollup for one. Liv into the ropes, she holds on to avoid the dropkick and hits a basement dropkick before laughing and mocking some more.

Green looking frustrated, Liv offers a hand and gets pulled into a foot shove. AND GREEN WITH THE SLAP! Green with a couple dropkicks and Liv to the outside. She goes to climb back in but is knocked off, Green into the ropes and Liv in to clothesline her down. She batters Green, then ties her up in the ropes for a bit. Punt to the gut, and then Liv stomps Green down in the corner for a four-count.

Avalanche in the corner, Green to the center of the ring and gets hit with a dropkick. Liv goes in but gets backed up, back elbow and a boot. She goes for a roll but Liv holds on, Code Breaker gets two.

Liv throws Green HARD into the ringpost, then climbs up to apply a half crab in the turnbuckle. Leaping bulldog, cover gets two and Liv goes right into a chinlock. Green struggles to get to her feet but gets there, fights free but gets thrown back onto the mat. Morgan sets up a snap suplex, then another, then the third. Eddie shake and then a leaping heel kick for two.

Liv with a kick to the back and then mounted punches. She goes up top, but took too much time and Green is up to deck her! Green climbs but gets kicked down. Liv takes a moment to recover, Green back up — SUPERPLEX! Both women are down and recovering.

Green and Morgan are up, Green with a series of clotheslines and an enzuigiri! Meteora against the bottom rope. Green went for the Flatliner, but Liv blocks it with back elbows. Green up top and leaps into a Code Breaker! Cover gets two-plus.

Both women up, Liv goes for the backstabber but Green holds onto the ropes. Liv goes into the corner against Green but is thrown into the corner. Green goes for a Rough Ryder but Liv catches her and slams her down. Liv kicks at Green’s head and picks her up for an Unpretty-Her — Green reverses, into the ropes, Liv goes for Oblivion, countered! Rough Ryder gets two!

Liv and Green are now up and trading shots in the center of the ring. Liv takes over but gets slapped! Punches by Green, but Liv manages the Code Breaker. Cover for two, Liv right into a half crab! Green is fighting to get to the ropes, but she’s pulled back to the center of the ring. Green fights and struggles — she gets to the rope! Liv lets go after four.

Liv stomps away at Green now and then plays to the crowd, she goes up to the second rope — leap into a superkick by Green! Green is selling the leg from half crab as Morgan is down. Green gets to her feet as Liv rolls to the outside — Green DIVES through the ropes onto Liv! She does it again! Green rolls Liv in and goes up top — missile dropkick! Unpretty-Her attempt countered, Liv’s Oblivion countered, Unpretty-Her! Cover but Liv gets her foot on the rope!

Green is going back up top — and the Judgment Day are here. Raquel and Roxy distract Green, and Liv shoves Green to the floor. Liv tells them to go – “It’s just Chelsea!” They go and Liv throws Green around the ringside area, rolls her in, and goes up top. Code Breaker, she goes for Oblivion — Green counters and pins Liv!

Winner: Chelsea Green (16:14)
Rating: *** 1/2
Thoughts: Very well booked here. The match wasn’t the fastest paced, but the story was great and gives Green the obvious but rewarding underdog victory where Morgan underestimated her. Good stuff.

Trips is out here to award Green with the ugly-ass title. Liv is still sitting at ringside in the background, we’ll see if she attacks and causes the MITB cash-in. Chelsea hugs Triple H and gets the mic to speak. She says “WWE Universe, we did it!” She says it’s been a long 13 years — the crowd gives her a “You Deserve It” and Green says she does deserve it. She was she left blood, sweat and tears in the ring for 13 years and she was told she didn’t deserve it; she was a placeholder and a stepping stone. 13 years she was overlooked and now, we did it baby. So they can officially call her the greatest Women’s Champion of All —

And that’s when Liv attacks! AND HERE COMES TIFFANY! She lays out Liv with the briefcase and cashes in. But the Judgement Day are here! So Tiff lays out Chelsea. She’s cashing in in Chelsea. Prettiest Moonsault Ever, she gets the pinfall. Yep, saw that coming.

Winner: Tiffany Stratton (00:05)

Tiffy even takes the Crown Jewel Championship and the ring. As Michael Cole said, what a bi–

* Post-ADS, we get a recap of the Team USA vs. Team Mexico announcement for Survivor Series: WarGames.

* We then get a montage of clips of the international announce teams’ work from the past few matches, because this show needs to hit its minimum runtime SOMEHOW.

* Then we get a hype for the post-show. The main event is up next, so yeah we’re going with all of four matches for this show.

Men’s Crown Jewel Championship Match
Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn

A little trash talk before a stare off. The crowd is obviously pro-Sami here. Circle and lockup, Reigns backs Zayn into the corner, but Zayn turns it around. Clean-ish break, but Sami shoves Reigns as he steps back. Circle and Reigns does in, Zayn goes under into a headlock on Reigns. Roman backs Zayn into the corner and manhandles him, break and Zayn is laughing because Reigns is frustrated.

Another circle and lockup, Zayn with a headlock. Reigns backs Zayn in tot he ropes and pushes him off, bodycheck off the ropes and then another shoulder tackle. Punch to the dome by Roman and another. Headlock by Reigns, he gets sent into the ropes, Sami under and then leapfrog — he sends Reigns out of the ring! Reigns back in — and gets clotheslined right back out!

Zayn comes out and nails Reigns from behind. Reigns goes headfirst into the guardrail, and then again. Shot to the head and Reigns’ head gets bounced off the commentary table. Zayn rolls Reigns back in and follows, but Reigns cuts Zayn off with a shot to the gut and elbow to the back of the head. Irish whip, Zayn leapfrogs off the rope and hits a clothesline for one.

Measured shots by Zayn to Roman, he slams Roman headfirst into the turnbuckle and goes to the second rope for an axehandle that gets one. Two more stackup pins for one. Zayn up to the second rope, he leaps off but is hit with a right by Reigns. Clothesline by the OTC, Irish whip reversed but Reigns comes off with a clothesline. Zayn backed into the corner for several clothesline blows, Reigns off the ropes for a big boot.

Reigns talks some shit and decks Sami, who gets up to his knees. He stands and decks Reigns in the gut, then a couple shots to the head. Irish whip, reversed by Reigns who ducks the head and gets kicked. Zayn goes for a suplex but can’t get him up, Reigns hits his own for two. Reigns up and chokes Sami against the bottom rope for three.

Reigns now outside of the ring to talk shit tot he crowd, then runs along the apron for a drive-by dropkick that gets two. Reigns decks Zayn and lies in wait as Zayn gets to his knees. Zayn hits a shot and Reigns kicks him back down to the mat. Stomp to Zayn before Reigns talks shit to the crowd again, then backs Sami into the corner for an open-hand chop and then a forearm to the chest.

Reigns puts Sami on the top and says “We came all the way out here, I might as well superplex his bitch ass!” I love sassy Roman. He climbs up — but Sami cuts him off! Sunset flip powerbomb gets two-plus! Zayn is up and goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb, but Reigns blocks it with punches. Zayn almost gets it again, but Reigns counters with a uranage. Reigns locks and loads, takes aim — Zayn blocks the Superman Punch and hits the Blue Thunder for a nearfall!

Zayn preps and takes aim — he charges for the Helluva Kick but Reigns slides to the outside. So Sami DIVES onto Roman! Sami rolls Roman in and goes up top — he leaps but Reigns moves! SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover gets thr-NO!

Both men slow to get to their knees, and Reigns lays in a couple punches. A third, and Zayn fires back! They be clubbering! But not for long, Reigns hits a clothesline in the corner. But Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick, Reigns moves, Superman Punch! Reigns sets up the spear — HELLUVA KICK! Zayn gets almost three!

Zayn is taking aim with a punch — He goes for it but Reigns dodges and the ref almost gets hit. Reigns goes for the Superman Punch — CHAD PATTON DOWN! Zayn with an Exploder Suplex! Helluva Kick! Pin but the ref is down. Lil Naitch is here, he counts but Reigns out at two-point-eight! And Zayn HELLUVA KICKS LIL NAITCH out of frustration!

Zayn rolls out of the ring and grabs his Undisputed WWE Championship. He considers, and slides into the ring! He takes aim — SUPERMAN PUNCH by Reigns! Spear! Cover, Chad Patton covers — ZAYN KICKS OUT at 2.99! Reigns and Zayn are both down, and Reigns says he respects Zayn’s effort, but he’s Tribal Chief and it’s gonna take more. Reigns says this is the main event. Zayn SLAPS Reigns! Reigns SLAPS Zayn! Punch by the OTC! Zayn and Reigns are forehead to forehead, and they trade shots in the center of the ring!

Reigns decks Zayn to the mat — and Zayn is back up! He demands more, and he takes another shot before getting up again. He demands everything Reigns has and gets Superman Punched! And Zayn is up again — Superman Punch countered into the Exploder! Zayn takes aim — Superman Punch by Roman! Spear BLOCKED by Zayn’s Superman Punch! Zayn sets up the Spear, but Roman spears Sami! They are both on their knees, leaning on each other. Reigns says something to Sami – SPEAR! That’s it.

Winner: Roman Reigns (24:07)
Rating: ****
Thoughts: Fantastic story here, and both men gave it in the ring. We talk a lot about how you can get a rub by losing, and that’s not always true in those matches. It feels true here, as Zayn earned Reigns’ respect in storyline. Follow-up is key, but this felt legitimizing for Sami and the (relative) lack of chicanery helped this stand out. I gotta give them respect for this.

Triple H is there to present the belt but Sami wants a moment first. He says he needs to get something out of Reigns. He tells Reigns it was a hell of a fight and extends his hand. Reigns considers, and Sami asks what there is to think about. Zayn says he deserves this and demands the shake. Reigns slaps the hand away — and embraces Sami. He said Sami is an Uso. Awww. They hold each others’ hands up. Sami gets his title and leaves, and Triple H presents Reigns with the ugly-ass Crown Jewel Championship belt and the ring.

Reigns points and then gets the mic. He says there’s only one thing left to do. “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” And they do. Reigns poses with the title.

And with that, we’re done for the night!

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

WWE holding Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this year was a bad idea that fortunately backfire. There's plenty to talk about regarding that decision, but the show itself was... fine. The main event was good and all the match stories were solid to great. I'm not a big fan of the first match because of the stipulation, but everyone did what they could. The show was a bit of a throwaway, as Crown Jewel often is, but it was not a bad show by any means.