WWE Crown Jewel 2024: A WWE PLE as Good as Any Other

WWE Crown Jewel 2024 delivered an unforgettable night, headlined by epic showdowns between the men’s and women’s champions for the Crown Jewel Championship, as well as the highly anticipated Bloodline match. The Saudi fans defied stereotypes, showcasing an energy reminiscent of European wrestling crowds.

Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. The Bloodline

This opening match was a last-minute addition to the card, and the buildup felt rushed. We are accustomed to the slow, layered storytelling of the Bloodline saga, but this time, everything happened quickly. Jey Uso lost his Intercontinental Championship, reconciled with Jimmy Uso, and then Roman—all within just two weeks.

Jey’s separate entrance highlighted him as a singles star. The match began like a typical Bloodline encounter, with a slow start and Solo’s Bloodline taking control, leaving Jey and Jimmy to fend off the offense. All signs pointed to a Roman hot tag. When that moment came, the pace picked up, and Jacob Fatu went wild. A unique referee bump added excitement, followed by Solo delivering consecutive spikes on Reigns, securing a clean win for the Bloodline. This result was a strong choice, establishing Solo and his Bloodline as a credible threat and showing that Roman and the Usos must be on the same page to prevail.

The real story unfolded after the match, as the Bloodline launched a brutal assault on Jey, positioning him in a corner with a chair. But then Sami Zayn charged down the aisle, leading to a tense standoff before suplexing Solo Sikoa. In the chaos that followed, the original Bloodline united once more. However, Zayn accidentally hit Reigns, leaving lingering questions. Despite the fast-paced buildup, it’s exciting to see the Bloodline storyline return as a central focus.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way Match

The feud among the four tag teams has built up across WWE’s shows—RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. It’s refreshing to see the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship highlighted at a Saudi event. This match was fast-paced and action-packed, with each team enjoying their moment in the spotlight. The match ended thrillingly when Piper Niven flattened Chelsea Green with a splash due to comedic miscommunication. Then Jade Cargill hoisted Niven onto her shoulders while Bianca Belair executed a flawless Doomsday Device, allowing the champions to retain their titles.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. “Big” Bronson Reed

Bronson Reed has been on fire recently, with standout matches and brawls with Braun Strowman being highlights on the new two-hour RAW. The buildup to this match was excellent. Rollins ambushed Reed on the aisle, setting a fast-paced, intense tone. The storyline played into Rollins’s injury and his need to avoid Reed’s Tsunami. After a thrilling exchange, Rollins dodged Reed’s Tsunami attempt, smashed him with steel steps, and delivered a curb stomp on the steps. He sealed the victory in the ring with a high-impact curb stomp from the top rope. Although Reed lost, he looked strong, getting up right after the match to stare Rollins down, hinting that their feud isn’t over yet.

Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan for the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship

Like many, I was skeptical about the concept of the Crown Jewel Championships, as these exhibition matches seem to halt ongoing storylines. However, the buildup between Nia and Liv, including Tiffany Stratton and Raquel Rodriguez’s involvement, has been solid. The match itself wasn’t bad, though it was hard to get excited about it with so little at stake.

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens

This was the match I was most excited about in terms of storyline. Owens recently turned heel on Cody Rhodes, and later on Randy, making him a compelling character. Before the bell even rang, Owens ambushed Orton with a chair. The ensuing brawl was thrilling, exactly what these two needed. Highlights included Owens hitting the referee with a Stunner and Orton delivering an RKO on Adam Pearce. In a stunning finale, Owens performed a jaw-dropping elbow drop from an upper level, crashing through a table with Orton. I’m now even more eager to see where this story goes and when Owens will face Cody in an inevitable match.

United States Championship Triple Threat Match

After a month-long series of grueling matches between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight defended the title against both in this thrilling triple threat. The chemistry between Andrade and Carmelo was already strong, but Knight’s involvement elevated it. The match was energetic, with each competitor trading blow after blow. The creative ending saw Carmelo attempting a tornado DDT on Andrade, only for Knight to seize the moment with his BFT finisher, allowing him to retain the United States Championship. This rivalry likely isn’t over.

Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the WWE Crown Jewel Championship

This was a clash between two of WWE’s top champions, and the match was as excellent as expected from an in-ring perspective. The crowd was electric, especially during this match, which pitted two of the world’s best wrestlers against each other. However, from a storyline perspective, it didn’t progress much.

The ending was cleverly executed, with Rhodes attempting a super Cody Cutter, only for Gunther to counter mid-air with a sleeper hold. Rhodes skillfully rolled through, pinning Gunther’s shoulders to the mat for a three-count and capturing the WWE Crown Jewel Championship. Both champions emerged looking strong.

Final Thoughts

Overall, WWE Crown Jewel 2024 exceeded expectations. The matches were engaging, and while world championship storylines didn’t advance significantly, several other major storylines did. Now, we eagerly await how these plotlines will unfold as WWE heads toward Survivor Series.