WWE Crown Jewel Was Predictable for the Wrong Reasons

Three new champions were crowned while the Last Man Standing match was the tamest in years. Crown Jewel was this past Saturday at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The set was a great change of pace with the green background and lights. The commentators weren’t in the building, but did an outstanding job from the WWE HQ.

The Last Man Standing match kicked off the show, but it wasn’t rated E for Everyone, even if Orton’s head bled. It was milk toast at best, and subpar at worst. Kendo sticks, tables, ladders, trash cans, and the announce table were in play. A highlight of this bout was referee Charles Robinson’s facial expression when Orton hit a low blow on Rhodes. Props to Robinson for being involved in two matches at Crown Jewel on Saturday.

Cody Rhodes refused to let the ref count to ten, so he could pull the trigger and win with a punt kick to Orton. The crowd booed Rhodes, and this should be the end of their rivalry. The American Nightmare is the Last Man Standing, and the heel/face dynamic overall didn’t work as WWE hoped.

The biggest sigh of relief at the PLE was Penta and Je’Von Evans winning the tag titles. Maxxine Dupri's distractions and Bronson Reed’s involvement weren’t enough for the Vision to win. Instead, Oba Femi appeared and put Reed through a table off the ramp. The tag team division is still in shambles, and the Creed Brothers' departure doesn’t help.

Where any of these superstars go from here is anybody’s guess. Je’Von Evans stock has risen in WWE, and Penta should be champion soon. Breakker needs to spear everyone in the Vision and leave. Lastly, can Femi get ANY storyline before he wins the Royal Rumble to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 43? Fan love strutting during his entrance, and he needs to appear more.

After a tag title celebration win, we got another title change. Chelsea Green defeated Liv Morgan to become the women’s Crown Jewel Champion. Corey Graves had excellent commentary, critiquing both women’s motivations in the match. Green gave a victory speech before Liv Morgan ambushed her. Tiffany Stratton cashed in on Chelsea Green to win the WWE Women’s title, and the crowd went mild. The Judgment Day also played a role in this segment.

Michael Hayes probably fist-bumped Triple H backstage for the whole segment. The creative team sure swerved us, especially after witnessing Tiffany Stratton do the same thing to Nia two years ago. Stratton left with the Crown Jewel belt too, but Chelsea Green won that match. SmackDown will be worth watching to see how fans react to arguably one of the worst cash-ins in modern WWE history. Austin Theory still holds the honors there, but this was uninspiring and predictable even by the standards of successful cash-ins. Multiple teases and the same superstar with identical motives from her first time as MITB winner.

Tiffany Stratton is the first female to cash in successfully twice. In return, WWE: Unreal season 4 should give insight into Chelsea Green’s title reign and Stratton’s cash-in. Fightful reported that the superstars were told the winner two days before MITB and were flabbergasted.

In the main event, Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns put on the match of the night. Zayn pushed Reigns to the limit, even hitting the Tribal Chief with his own move set. The Undisputed WWE Champion was one step ahead the whole time in a match where two referees took a bump. The first bump came from Reigns’ Superman Punch, and the replacement got a Helluva Kick from Zayn, who was frustrated he couldn’t get the three-count.

He even begged for Reigns to bring it on. The two champions had a fantastic false finish when Reigns kicked out of a Helluva Kick while preparing for a spear. However, the Tribal Chief beat the Honorary Uce clean with a spear. Before Triple H handed Roman Reigns his title and ring, Zayn interrupted, demanding Reigns shake his hand. The two hugged it out, and Reigns acknowledged his Honorary Uce before the show ended.

WWE is officially on the road to Survivor Series Wargames, which means fans will clamor for a special appearance from William Regal, who yells ‘WARGAMES.’ In honor of Tiffany Stratton’s cash-in, next week delve into several superstars who thrived or floundered after debuting.