The WWE Rewind: WWE Crown Jewel 2026 – 11.07.26

For the eighth time, we have arrived at Crown Jewel season. We’ve had various levels of panic over the years, but this year takes the cake. Very few talents are being sent over, bonuses are being given out to essential personnel, and the production and broadcasting will be happening in the very safe WWE Headquarters in Stamford as there’s a whole war happening in the area.

Scott has no desire to cover this, but I jumped right in after my last Saudi trip for the Royal Rumble. Sure, the Saudi overlords again demanded that I wear a fully covering yet somehow more sexy bodysuit so that men in Saudi don’t get a glance at a wrist or ankle and send them into panic. Scott has given me hazard pay (a coupon for 20% off a Moons Over My Hammy sandwich from Denny’s and a punch card for Tim Horton’s coffee). I’m sure any explosions I hear are just leftover fireworks, right? I’m ready to stop, drop and roll if needed. Everything is FINE. If you’re interested in the two-hour countdown show, it is here while the post-show is here.

The last week in the WWE Universe: Halloween Havoc / AAA / Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown

Extra credit reading: The NXT 2.0 Rewind – WarGames 2021

Then, Now, Forever, Together (in small essential groups)

THIS is the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opened in 2024, the ANB Arena has hosted a UFC show and the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival. With a capacity of 8,000, we’re just packing in the most dedicated members of the WWE Universe that are in Saudi compared to the 25,000 that could fit in the larger Riyadh Season Stadium that was originally set to host the show before the international incidents. We are live(ish) on ESPN Unlimited in the US and Netflix internationally and presented by Ridayh Season.

Arrivals! The Prestigious Crown Jewel Titles, Chelsea Green, Liv Morgan, Sami Zayn, and Roman Reigns have all safely arrived.

The voices of Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from WWE Headquarters while Mark Nash is on the ring mic and in attendance. Our only ring ad tonight is Riyadh Season. There is also an Arabic announce team present at ringside with Faisal Al-Mughaisib and Jude Al-Dajani.

Last Man Standing Match: Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton

This is the fifteen televised singles match between the two men, the most recent on September’s Sunday Night’s Main Event. Even more, this is their second Saudi PLE match in as many years as Cody defeated Randy at the 2025 Night of Champions event to become King of the Ring. Cody won the 2024 Crown Jewel Championship. Charles Robinson, who had a rough time during their SNME match, is here again to do the honors.

The fans, to their credit, are very into things and singing along with every word of the entrance themes. Randy has a lot of fun taunting the children around the ring on his slow walk to the ring. You win when your opponent can’t answer the ten count. The fight goes outside quickly with Cody suicide diving onto Orton. Orton drops Cody twice on the Arabic announce table and Cody responds to the four count. Orton answers the fans chants by dropping Cody a third time on the table. Randy takes the cowl of the table off and drops Cody through it, getting a five count out of it. They brawl into the crowd and Orton takes a trash can lid to Cody. Cody dumps Orton over the barricade and limps his way behind him. Orton gets himself a kendo stick and hits a triple into Cody’s legs.

Cody is up at five and ducks a swing, grabbing the stick and taking it to Orton. Cody clotheslines Randy back to the floor and the very pro-Orton crowd boos. Orton drags himself up at the eight count and crawls towards the entrance where Cody straddles him with punches. Cody bounces Randy off the video wall and wanders to the back, coming back out with a trash can that he dents over Orton’s head. Cody heads back and this time comes back with a table (but not the Slim Jim Table that did not make the flight). Orton snatches up Cody and power bombs him right through the table, Cody barely making it up at the eight count. They fight back down the ramp and into the ring as Randy rolls his shoulder a bit. This gives Cody a chance to boot Orton in the head and drop Randy with what is usually Randy’s draped DDT. Rhodes heads up top and Orton knocks him to a seated position, superplexing him. Orton gets his big powerslam and Cody rolls to the apron, Randy pulling him in for, as Cole calls it, Vintage Orton and the draped DDT.

Cody drags up at five this time and Orton signals for the RKO, Cody poking him in the eye and powerslamming Orton to boos. Cody gets a Cody Cutter but then Orton gets the RKO out of nowhere. Cody stumbles up to beat the count and rolls outside, Orton snatching the kendo stick he is trying to grab. Orton unstacks the steel steps and Cody ducks, Randy bouncing off the ringpost. Cody clonks Orton on the head with the steps. Charles counts as Cody clears the announce table. Cody places Orton on the table and searches under the ring, finding a ladder. Cody leaps off the ladder and Randy rolls so Cody bounces through the table. Cody gets up at nine. Back in the ring, Randy sets up the punt and Cody dodges, nailing a Super Cody Cutter. Cody hits Cross Rhodes as the fans chant “you suck” and Randy is up at nine. Meanwhile, Cody heads out to throw the steel steps into the ring as well as a steel chair. Cody smashes Orton with the chair and onto the steps. With Orton on the chair, Cole wonders if Cody can do this. Cody walks up the stairs and stands over Orton with the chair, Orton popping up to low blow him. Cody grabs Orton for the trifecta of Cross Rhodes. The top of Orton’s head is cut open and Cody wipes a little across his “Dream” tattoo on his chest. Cody tells Charles to not count and pulls the trigger, punting Orton. As Orton bleeds all over the place, Charles counts to ten. Cody gives us “conflicted” as his music cuts off on his walk down the ramp and then restarts again.

Cody Rhodes defeats Randy Orton when Orton can’t answer the ten count. This was fine but too long. I feel like I’m going to write “too long” four times tonight. A decent Last Man Standing match but nothing extraordinary.

Here’s a look at the latest chapter of the 946/Bloodline saga and the Solo vs Royce Keys match from Raw as well as Sami Zayn taking advantage of the post-match attack.

WWE World Tag Team Championship: WWE World Tag Team Champions The Vision (Bron Breakker and Austin Theory with Maxxine Dupri) vs Senor Deniro en el Banco Penta and Je’Von Evans

Je’Von is our modern day DDP, always bandaged up due to getting himself into situations. Penta has his briefcase set on “extra pyro” tonight. Cole mentions the two world champs are in the main event and Penta could cash in, so Penta probably won’t cash in. This is the first televised World Tag Team Championship defense since The Vision won the belts in July from the Street Profits. We’ve seen this match once before in October on Raw.

Evans and Theory start it off and we quickly get to Penta and Evans diving outside onto the Vision boys. Penta hits a backstabber on Theory and tags Evans back in who hits a big frog splash, only getting a two out of it. Bron yanks Je’Von to the outside and into the barricade. Theory tags in Bron and and Bron works over Penta for a bit and Penta works back to a vertical base, hitting Bron with forearms and two superkicks before Bron German suplexes him across the ring. The Vision keep working the tags to wear down Penta until Penta hits a desperation superkick and makes it to Evans.

Theory tags in as well and Je’Von hits Bron with a Blockbuster and Theory with a spinning kick. Theory catches Evans out of a Red Dot and drives him down for a two count. The Vision outnumber Evans to slow down the rally and Bron lowers the straps. Evans intercepts a spear attempt with a kick and tags in Penta who lays in the licks to Bron. Penta drops the corner boots and tags in Evans who hits a standing shooting star press for a two count. Theory drags Breakker to the corner and tags himself in. Penta tags himself in and superkicks some more, dropping Theory with a springboard tornado DDT for a two before Maxxine puts Theory’s boot on the rope to break the count. She hops on the apron and Big Bronson Reed appears from the crowd, hitting a Jagged Edge on the floor on Penta and clotheslining Evans into the timekeeper’s area. Bron gets the corner Steiner bulldog for a two but Penta kicks out.

The music of Oba Femi hits and interrupts everything, lighting and all, as he struts down the ramp. Much like everywhere else, the fans are ridiculously loud for Oba. Oba and Reed brawl on the entrance stamp, Oba dropping Reed right through a nearby table off the stage. Oba taunts Bron and Je’Von takes the opportunity to leap into Bron’s arms before Penta dives onto Bron. Penta rolls in and hits a Mexican Destroyer on Theory, Je’Von tags in with an OG Cutter and we have new World Tag Team Champions.

Penta and Je’Von Evans defeat The Vision to become the new WWE World Tag Team Champions when Evans pins Austin Theory. A pretty good Raw tag match with the right result. Maybe now – and probably not – the tag titles can mean something for a bit and Bron and Oba have some unfinished business as well.

WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship: WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green

We have a first time singles match here, though Liv previously won the Crown Jewel Championship in 2024 against Nia Jax. A wilder fact is that this is Chelsea’s first singles PPV match since No Surrender 2017. The female screams are deafening when Liv’s music hits and you can hear them singing along with “Trouble” which is adorable. Cole notes that Liv is all alone, though Rox has posted pictures of herself in Saudi so I’m sure she will appear and isn’t coincidentally on vacation in Saudi Arabia.

Morgan has her way at first before Chelsea finally fights back. Liv unloads on Chelsea and stomps her down in the corner as the fans chant “let’s go Chelsea.” Liv nails the knee in the corner and boots Chelsea to the opposite corner as Cole questions Cheslea’s confidence. Liv nails a Codebreaker for a two. Liv works a headlock, Chelsea tries to fight out and Liv slugs her down. Liv gets all three of the Three Amigos and kicks Chelsea to the mat, getting a two count once again. Corey notes Liv’s lack of urgency as Chelsea slugs Liv on the top rope but Liv knocks her back down. Green leaps back up and superplexes Morgan and follows it up with clotheslines and a Meteora. Green tries for a Flatliner, Liv elbows out. Green jumps into another Codebreaker and Liv covers for the near fall.

Liv tries for the backstabber, Chelsea shoves her off and runs right into a power bomb, Morgan covering for two. Chelsea hits a Rough Ryder for a two, a tribute to her husband who is probably smoking a cigar in his pool right now. The women trade slaps and punches and Liv hooks a half crab and Chelsea gets to the ropes for the break. Chelsea dives outside onto Morgan twice and rolls her in, climbing to the top rope as Cole tells us Chelsea believes in herself now. Chelsea kicks Liv down with a missile dropkick and sets up the Unprettier, Liv bouncing past before bouncing back into the Unprettier for a two count thanks to Liv’s foot on the rope.

Chelsea heads up and here is WWE Women’ s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez in their own bodysuits, Liv telling them to leave because she can do this herself. Feels like she should’ve told them that before they bought bodysuits and got on the plane, but a check is a check. Liv gets another Codebreaker and tries for Oblivion, but Chelsea stacks her into a pin and holds it down for a three.

Chelsea Green pins Liv Morgan to become the 2026 Women’s Crown Jewel Champion. A so-so match that got going towards the end. Happy for Chelsea to have this spotlight though.

Triple H appears to presents Chelsea with the Crown Jewel Title and ring as the fans sing along with her music. Good for Chelsea. He gives her a mic. “WWE Universe, we did it It has been a long thirteen years.” They chant “you deserve it.” “You know what? I do deserve it. Thirteen years I left blood, sweat and tears in this ring. They told me for thirteen years I didn’t deserve it. They told me for thirteen years that all I was was a placeholder for everybody else.” She tries to call herself the greatest women’s champion of alllllllll time and Liv attacks.

Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton attacks from the crowd and slugs Liv with her briefcase. She wants to cash in and here’s Rox and Raquel to attack, Chelsea slugging them off the apron. Tiffany nails Chelsea with the briefcase and does cash in.

WWE Women’s Championship: WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green vs Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany moonsaults onto Chelsea and gets the pin. New champ.

Tiffany Stratton pins Chelsea Green to become the new WWE Women’s Champion. Graves:” That wasn’t a briefcase, that was a dagger.” Great call. Tiffany takes the ring and Crown Jewel belt as well. I’m not mad at this and it was probably the most obvious result with the briefcase.

Thanks to Ava Max for “Don’t Click Play,” the official theme song of WWE Crown Jewel.

On What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon, Rey Mysterio announces a classic Survivor Series elimination match with Team USA vs Team Mexico. And he’ll probably make himself the team captain of his own team.

Here’s a listen to some of the international calls of the matches from earlier.

WWE Men’s Crown Jewel Championship: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn

A lot of history here, but surprisingly only two singles matches between the two. Great reception as usual for Sami in Saudi. Sami and Roman fight outside, Sami clotheslining Roman out and following. Things start pretty slowly really with Sami working over Roman for a while. Sami finally leaps into a right hand and Roman overpowers him for a suplex and a two count. The fans chant for Sami and Roman chokes Sami on the ropes in their direction, going outside to taunt them. The fans chant for Oba Femi and Roman mocks them for that too.

Roman works over Sami in the corner and this feels veeeeery sloooooow. Roman tells the camera he is going to “suplex his bitch ass” and heads up to do it, Sami thwarting it and power bombing Roman via sunset flip for a two count. Sami tries for a Blue Thunder Bomb, Roman turns it into a Urinagi to the displeasure of the Saudi Arabian crowd. Roman loads up for the Superman Punch but Sami dodges, hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two. Sami leaps from the top, Roman ducks under and smacks a Superman Punch for a two.

Roman ducks a Helluva Kick and gets another Superman Punch. Roman lines up for the spear and Sami appears with that Helluva Kick, covering for a near fall. Sami loads up his own Superman Punch and Roman ducks, Roman comes in with his own and accidentally takes down Chad Patton. Oops. Sami hits the Exploder and Helluva Kick, covering with no official. Charles Robinson makes the sprint down the ramp and Roman kicks out before three. Sami Helluva Kicks Charles out of frustration and heads out for his belt. He takes too long and swings at Roman who hits a Superman Punch and a spear. Roman covers and Patton slowly crawls in, getting to about a 2.5 count.

Roman talks some trash as both men work to their feet before they trade slaps and then punches. Sami won’t stay down and Roman Superman Punches him again. Sami gets back to his feet and catches Roman into an Exploder. Another Superman Punch hits and Roman tries for a spear, Sami hitting his own Punch. Zayn calls for the spear and Roman spears him down instead. Roman nods in respect at Sami as the fans chant that this is awesome. It is pretty good! Back to their feet again, Roman spears Sami down one more time and covers for the three.

Roman Reigns pins Sami Zayn to become the 2026 Men’s Crown Jewel Champion. This started slow for me but once they kicked it into gear, it was very, very good. Sami having the crowd in his hands and Roman heeling it up to them helped a lot. I do like the story of Sami earning Roman’s respect, something we can circle back to again one day.

Triple H comes to present the title but Sami stops him, saying he needs to do something first. He offers his hand to Roman and wonders “what the hell there is to think about, you owe me that handshake.” Reigns slaps his hand away and hugs him. Trips offers Sami his own title and then awards the Tribal Chief his Crown Jewel Title and ring. Roman gets a mic. “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, acknowledge me.”

A decent to good show overall. Roman/Zayn was very good and everything else fell into the “average to good” category. You’re not missing much by not sinking three hours into it, but the final match is well worth your time.

Recommendations to watch: Zayn vs Reigns