WWE Crown Jewel results: Powell’s review of Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes for the Crown Jewel Championship, Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Crown Jewel
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Mohammed Abdu Arena
Streamed live November 2, 2024 on Peacock 

WWE Crown Jewel Countdown Show Notes

-Michael Cole spoke while footage aired of Cody Rhodes arriving at the building and exiting the passenger’s seat of a car. Gunther was shown walking outside the building. The Judgment Day were shown arriving at the venue.

-Cole, Corey Graves, and Big E hosted the pre-show from a desk set up outside the venue. Cathy Kelley and Jackie Redmond checked in as the interviewers.

-Joe Tessitore’s a sit-down interview with World Heavyweight Champion Gunther aired. Gunther looked back on beating Randy Orton in Saudi Arabia. Gunther said Cody Rhodes doesn’t come alone, he comes with the support of everyone. Gunther said it goes in the favor of the company if the poster boy is victorious. Gunther said he would choke out Cody, who will wake up and realize that he’s a secondary champion. Tessitore asked if Gunther was calling his shot that he will win with the sleeper or by submission. Gunther said yes. Gunther said winning the Crown Jewel Championship will allow him to refer to himself as the No. 1 champion in WWE. Tessitore wished Gunther good luck and then they shook hands.

-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill were shown arriving in a car. Cole mistakenly listed Cargill as Cora Jade. He was quickly corrected. The challengers were also shown arriving.

-Seth Rollins was interviewed inside the venue by Seth Rollins, who said he’s not 100 percent, but that’s never stopped him before. Rollins said facing Bronson Reed is one of the biggest test of his life because it’s about finding out who he is and what he has left in the tank.

-Kevin Owens was interviewed by Cathy Kelley in a backstage area. Owens wore a “Cowboy” Bob Orton t-shirt. Owens said the company planned some activities for the wrestlers. Owens said they went on a dune buggy ride and the vehicle flipped several times. Owens blamed Owens or Cody Rhodes for paying off the driver. Kelley noted that she was in the accident, and the panel also confirmed that it happened.

-Footage aired of Nathalie Mamo of the company’s Middle Eastern social media team interviewing Paul “Triple H” Levesque on Friday. Levesque spoke glowingly about running in Saudi Arabia and “the progress” when it comes to women being featured on the shows. They also spoke about the WWE Experience being located in Riyadh. Levesque said it’s “the perfect” location for it. They also spoke about the Crown Jewel Championships.

-Jackie Redmond and Sheamus replaced Cole and Graves at the host’s desk.

-Cathy Kelley’s interview with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes aired. Cody said he’s the happiest he’s ever been in terms of where he wants to be professionally. He said there’s an element of leadership involved. He said it excites him. Cody said he thinks he failed in a leadership role in the past, but he knows why. He said this has been an opportunity to plug back in. He said maybe there’s a future beyond the actual wrestling with WWE. Cody spoke in storyline about The Rock showing up at Bad Blood, and his own match with Gunther.

-Kelley interviewed WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax in the backstage area. Jax said she would squash Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Dominik Mysterio. Jax said Tiffany Stratton knows it’s not her time yet, so she will sit back and watch.

-U.S. Champion LA Knight was interviewed by Kelley in the backstage area. Knight said he didn’t celebrate his birthday. He said he spent it in the gym or staring at the wall while figuring out what he’s going to do during his title match. Knight spoke about the lack of a champion’s advantage in a Triple Threat match. He said the odds have been stacked against him his entire career and nothing will change.

-Michael Cole made his entrance dressed in a white suit and bumped fists with fans, took a selfie with a young fan, and signed an autograph at ringside before going to the broadcast desk. Corey Graves’ entrance followed.

-Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline was shown walking toward the Gorilla Position to close out the countdown show.

WWE Crown Jewel Main Card

Michael Cole and Corey Graves were on commentary. The handlers were shown unloading the Crown Jewel Championship belts. Repeat shots from the countdown show aired with Cody Rhodes exiting a vehicle and Gunther walking backstage. Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton were shown walking outside the venue, Liv Morgan was shown arriving with Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio. Randy Orton was shown entering his trailer. Kevin Owens was shown walking backstage wearing a “Cowboy” Bob Orton t-shirt… A Crown Jewel video package aired…

Pyro shot off inside the ring and on the stage. Cole checked in and noted that The Battle of The Bloodlines was about to begin. Solo Sikoa’s crew made their entrance and were introduced by ring announcer Mike Rome. Cole and Graves checked in from ringside, and then the Saudi broadcast team checked in momentarily.

Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso made their entrance to Roman’s theme while an “OTC” chant broke out. Roman and Jimmy held their index fingers up and then pyro shot off before they headed to the ring. Jey Uso made a separate entrance through the crowd. The fans were red hot for Jey’s entrance. Sikoa spoke to his crew at ringside and Tonga Loa remained on the floor…

Powell’s POV: It was a nice touch to give Jey his own entrance given how much of a crowd pleaser it is.

1. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga (w/Tonga Loa) in a six-man tag. There were loud OTC chants right before the opening bell. Jey told Reigns that he wanted to start the match. Reigns nodded approvingly. Tama started the match for his team.

Jey got the better of Tama. Jimmy called for a tag and got it. The Usos put Tama down and then they both dropped elbows on him simultaneously. Jimmy covered Tama for a one count. Tama fired up and got Jimmy in his corner before tagging out. Fatu put the boots to Jimmy.

Jey made a blind tag and caught Fatu with a kick from the apron. Jey superkicked Fatu. The Usos did a big wind up double punch. Solo huddled with his crew at ringside and told them to wake up. Reigns called for a tag, but Jey tagged in Jimmy instead, which led to some bickering. The broadcast team said this was Jey’s way of reminding Reigns that there is no leader.

A short time later, Fatu hit Jey with a popup Samoan Drop. Fatu barked at Reigns, who had yet to enter the match. Jey was isolated by the heel trio. Jimmy was knocked off the apron. Jey caught Tama with a clothesline and then dove to his corner and tagged out.

Reigns and Sikoa both entered the ring and traded punches and then threw simultaneous headbutts. Reigns put Solo down with a clothesline and then followed up with a uranage slam. Reigns looked to the crowd and held up his index finger. Reigns did his locked and loaded bit in the corner and went for a Superman Punch, but Solo stuffed it. Reigns hit a Superman Punch seconds later.

Reigns went to his corner and did the war cry before going for a spear that Solo cut off with a kick. Solo hit Reigns with a Samoan Spike. Solo had the pin, but Jimmy broke it up at the last moment. Fatu cleared Jimmy from the ring. Jey superkicked Fatu to ringside and went for a suicide dive, but Fatu caught him and then dropped him with a headbutt.

Reigns hit Solo with a Superman Punch. Reigns set up for the spear, but Tonga climbed on the apron. Reigns pulled Tama inside the referee where he collided with the referee. REF BUMP!!! Reigns knocked Loa off the apron. Fatu stuffed a Superman Punch. Fatu put Reigns down and hit a top rope moonsault. Fatu performed a suicide dive onto the Usos on the floor. Solo hit Reigns with a pair of Samoan Spikes and then pinned him.

Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga defeated Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso in 16:35.

After the match, Solo and his crew attacked the babyfaces. They cleared the broadcast table and set up for a powerbomb at ringside, but Jey broke it up. Solo’s crew brought Jey back inside the ring and wrapped a chair around his neck.

Sami Zayn’s entrance theme played and he walked out. Sikoa motioned for Zayn to enter the ring. Sikoa opened his arms for a hug once Zayn was in the ring. Zayn acted like he was going to hug Solo, but gave him an exploder suplex instead.

Sikoa ended up in the middle of the ring and was surrounded by the OG Bloodline members in each corner. Reigns went for a Superman Punch while Zayn went for a Helluva Kick. Sikoa ducked the moves, and Zayn ended up putting Reigns down with the Helluva Kick. Solo rolled to the floor and laughed. Jimmy was pissed. Jey stood between Sami and Jimmy. Zayn left the ring while Reigns recovered and looked unpleased…

Powell’s POV: A fun match with the right finish of Solo’s crew going over to get heat heading into WarGames, complete with Reigns taking the loss for his team. Roman doesn’t lose many matches, so it’s a big deal whenever he’s pinned. The post match angle with Zayn was really well done. Just when it seemed like the OG Bloodline reunion was coming together too easily, they did the spot with Zayn accidentally taking out Reigns. I’m sure they will all get together in time for a WarGames match at Survivor Series, but a lot of the fun is seeing how they get there.

After ads or videos, entrances for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match took place…

2. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill vs. Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane vs. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson vs. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in a four-way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Joe Hendry’s popularity surge has spread to Saudi Arabia, as a fan on the main floor held up a sign with his name on it. As usual, the women wore attire their covered their arms and legs.

There was a botched spot when Sky was launched toward Jackson, who was seated on the top rope. Sky came up short and called an audible. Green did a comedic spot where the teased going up top for a moonsault to the floor. She lowered to the bottom rope and reconsidered. Green jumped from the apron instead and was caught. Sky hit a top rope moonsault onto three opponents on the floor. Jackson jumped off the shoulders of Legend in the ring and onto opponents on the floor.

In the ring, Sane hit a spinning back fist on Belair. Sky suplexed Belair. Sky popped up Sane, who dropped an elbow on Belair. Legend tossed Sane into a powerbomb by Jackson. The rapid fir spots continued with Green hitting a Codebreaker on Jackson and then Niven splashed Jackson while she was on Green’s knees, yet somehow Green was unaffected. Niven accidentally splashed Green moments later and she sold that one. Belair and Cargill hit a Doomsday Device on Niven and then Belair pinned her too win the match…

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defeated Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in a four-way match in 12:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Powell’s POV: A lot of big spots and dives. Green was the most entertaining performer in the match.

After ads/videos, entrances for the Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed match took place. Rollins came out first and then attacked Reed while he was making his entrance. Reed slammed Rollins into the timekeepers area…

3. Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed. The bell rang once the wrestlers were inside the ring. Reed immediately hit a Tsunami. Reed went for another, but Rollins moved and hit him with a Stomp. Rollins covered Reed for a two count. Cole said Reed made a critical error by not covering Rollins after he hit him with the Tsunami.

Rollins went for a sunset flip, but Reed sat down on him to regain offensive control. A short time later, Rollins performed a frog splash and went for the pin, but Reed kicked out at one. Reed went on the offensive for a prolonged stretch. Reed superplexed Rollins for a near fall.

Reed jawed at Rollins, who said Reed should have finished him on Raw. Rollins slapped Reed, who put him down and went up top again. Rollins rolled out of the way. Reed dropped back down and hit Rollins with a senton. Reed went up top again, but Rollins rolled to the floor.

Reed went to ringside and no-sold a punch from Rollins. Reed slammed Rollins’ head on one of the broadcast tables. Reed picked up the top half of the ring steps. Rollins clipped Reed’s knee. Reed came up bleeding above his left eye. Rollins Stomped him onto the piece of the ring steps that Reed had been carrying.

Reed rolled back inside the ring and was hit with a Stomp. Reed got back to his feet and then Rollins hit him with a Stomp from the top rope and scored the pin.

Seth Rollins defeated Bronson Reed in 12:20.

After the match. Reed got back to his feet and glared at Rollins, who looked shocked that Reed was up. Reed motioned for Rollins to return, but Rollins jawed at him while backing up the ramp. Rollins told Reed that he knows where to find him. Rollins said the same thing would happen again if Reed came looking for him…

Powell’s POV: Really? Sure, Reed looked good when he stood up afterward, but not nearly as good as he would have looked had he gone over. Whatever Rollins got from going over pales in comparison to what a win would have done for Reed. I enjoyed the match and I guess we’ll see if there’s a storyline reason for Rollins going over, but it’s disappointing in the moment as someone who was hoping that this would be a big night for Bronson.

The handlers were shown with the women’s championship belt and then Cole hyped that the match was coming up next. Ads/videos aired… Entrances for the match took place with both women coming out alone. Footage aired from NXT of the Rhea Ripley injury angle. Cole said Ripley suffered a fractured right orbital socket and would be out indefinitely…

4. WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. Both women brought their title belts to the ring and the Crown Jewel Championship was on a podium set up in the ring while Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions. Both women wore gear that covered their arms and legs.

Morgan hit an early DDT and covered Jax for a two count. Cole said it would have been an upset in his mind had Morgan won. Jax came back with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Jax performed a Samoan Drop from the middle rope for a near fall. Morgan came back with a sunset bomb from the ropes that left both women down.

Tiffany Stratton ran out in full body gear with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Jax confronted Stratton at ringside and told her to leave. Stratton walked up the entrance ramp while Jax returned to the ring and hit another Samoan Drop. Morgan hooked Jax into a pin for a two count.

Stratton stopped on the ramp and returned to ringside to cheers from the fans. Jax stuffed Oblivion and then slammed Morgan to the mat and got a two count. Stratton climbed on the apron and tried to tell the referee she was cashing in, but Raquel Rodriguez showed up and stopped her. Dominik Mysterio was also at ringside.

Morgan and Rodriguez confronted Stratton at ringside. Jax hit Morgan and Rodriguez from behind, which sandwiched Stratton between them and the barricade. Back in the ring, Jax hit a leg drop on Morgan and went to the ropes for her finisher. Dom distracted the referee by sliding the MITB briefcase inside the ring. Rodriguez knocked Jax off the ropes with a kick. Morgan hit Jax with Oblivion and pinned her.

Liv Morgan defeated Nia Jax in 8:15 to win the Crown Jewel Championship.

After the match, Paul “Triple H” Levesque entered the ring and presented Morgan with the Crown Jewel Championship. Morgan actually appeared to be emotional for a moment. Pyro shot off as Levesque held up Morgan’s hand and then he hugged her…

Powell’s POV: So the ultimate authority figure in the storyline universe isn’t bothered by the way Morgan won? Strange. Does the Raw women’s champion going over make it more likely that the Smackdown men’s champion will win to even things up? Or will it be a clean sweep for the Raw champions?

A video package set up the Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton match. Owens made his entrance wearing a “Cowboy” Bob Orton t-shirt and was booed. Randy Orton made his standard entrance and a lot of fans sang along with his theme song. Owens ducked out to ringside while Orton played to the crowd.

Orton climbed onto the ropes for his signature pose and then Owens returned and hit him from behind with a chair. Owens cleared the broadcast table. Owens set up for a powerbomb, but Orton fought back and ended up performing a side slam on the table, but it did not break.

Orton slammed Owens’ head on the other broadcast table. Owens stuffed another side slam attempt. Orton slammed Owens’ head on the ring steps and then clutched his left knee while Owens entered the ring. Ortorn entered the ring. Owens kicked Orton’s knee. Orton tried to hit Owens with a chair, but referee Eddie Orengo took it away from him. Owens kicked the referee and gave him a Stunner.

Orton kicked Owens and slammed the chair over his back while a group of producers and referees ran out. Cole said the match had been called off. In the ring, Orton wound up to slam the chair over Owens’ back, but producer Shawn Daivari ran in and took it away from him. Orton took out Daivari and then dropped Owens with a Draping DDT.

Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce entered the ring and tried to talk Orton down. Orton gave Pearce an RKO. Aldis fled to ringside. Owens raked the eyes of Orton, pulled him to ringside, and ran him into the ring post. Orton tossed Owens over the barricade and then followed him.

Owens grabbed a small road case and slammed it over Orton’s head (Orton wisely put his hands up). Orton hit Owens with the case multiple times and then placed him on a table. Orton climbed onto a staircase above the main floor and then dropped an elbow on Orton to put him through the table. Both men stayed down as they cut to ads/videos…

Powell’s POV: The lack of an actual match was disappointing in the moment, but it plays into the intensity of the feud and the idea that Owens is unhinged. They also gave the live crowd a pretty good brawl to make up for it.

The broadcast team recapped highlights from the Orton and Owens brawl. Graves played up the idea that Owens is a danger to himself and everyone else in WWE. They shifted the focus to setting up the U.S. Championship match and then entrances for the match took place. Graves mentioned that Carmelo Hayes intends to bring back the spinner title if he wins. Cole said that would be interesting. Andrade did his black mask entrance, which isn’t over in Saudi Arabia either. LA Knight made the final entrance…

5. LA Knight vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes in a Triple Threat for the U.S. Title. Andrade and Hayes threw forearms at one another while Knight stood back and watched to start. Knight threw punches at both challengers. Knight set up to slam their heads together, but they both kicked him simultaneously and went back to fighting one another.

Knight returned and went for a pin after hitting a DDT on Hayes, but Andrade quickly broke it up. Andrade hit an inverted Spanish Fly from the middle rope on Hayes. Andrade put Knight down with a flying forearm. Andrade kipped up and played to the receptive crowd before hitting double knees on Hayes. Knight charged Andrade, who sent Knight over the top rope to the floor.

Andrade went up top and pointed at Hayes, who was down in the ring, and then performed a moonsault onto Knight at ringside. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Andrade tossed Knight back inside the ring and then Hayes hit Andrade with a flip dive. Hayes returned to the ring and blocked a BFT from Knight. Andrade hit a back elbow on Knight. Hayes hit a move on Andrade and then covered both men at the same time for a two count.

Andrade got both opponents down and then went up top. Andrade went for a moonsault and then landed on his feet when both men moved. Andrade performed a standing moonsault onto Knight and had him pinned, but Hayes broke it up. Moments later, Andrade performed a fallaway slam into a moonsault press on Hayes for a near fall.

Knight recovered and went to the middle rope and played to the crowd. Knight jumped up to the top rope and hit both men with elbow drops that led to him covering both opponents for a two count. Andrade set up Hayes for a move on the ropes, but Knight came up behind him and suplexed him. Hayes leapt from the top rope and hit Nothing But Net on Knight and had him beat, but Andrade broke up the pin. Hayes set up for a facebuster, but Knight cut in and hit Hayes with the BFT and then pinned him…

LA Knight defeated Carmelo Hayes and Andrade in a Triple Threat in 9:10 to retain the U.S. Championship.

Powell’s POV: A strong match that exceeded my expectations. The crowd was into the action and there were multiple “this is awesome” chants that broke out during the match.