WWE returns to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for the 2023 version of Crown Jewel. As common, the promotion is bringing loads of large matches to the occasion, together with 5 championship bouts.
Roman Reigns will defend the undisputed WWE common championship within the night time’s essential occasion, placing his belt on the road in opposition to LA Knight. It is going to be Reigns’ first title protection since going through Jey Uso at SummerSlam in August.
The opposite high males’s title may even be on the road when Seth Rollins defends the world heavyweight championship in opposition to Drew McIntyre. Rollins has been extremely lively since incomes the title, together with a pair of headlining roles in opposition to Shinsuke Nakamura. Now, he welcomes a better check within the imposing Scot.
The highest ladies within the promotion may even be in motion on Saturday night time. Girls’s world champion Rhea Ripley will face off with 4 challengers all vying for her title in a fatal-five method match. Ripley will tackle Nia Jax, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler and Raquel Rodriguez. In the meantime, WWE ladies’s champion Iyo Sky places her title on the road in opposition to former champ Bianca Belair. Sky cashed in her Cash within the Financial institution contract on Belair at SummerSlam to say the championship, so Belair is on the lookout for a little bit of revenge after dropping the belt below less-than-ideal circumstances.
Let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities specialists are choosing to win every match at WWE Crown Jewel, which streams reside on Peacock at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with a kickoff present starting one hour earlier than.
2023 WWE Crown Jewel card, predictions
Undisputed WWE Common Championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. LA Knight
It is nice to see Knight get the chance to essential occasion a pay-per-view, with WWE lastly stepping on the fuel and benefiting from him getting over large with the followers. Nonetheless, Knight would not actually match within the “larger story” of Reigns and The Bloodline to the place it feels this may be the place WWE would take the title off of him. It is also price noting that Reigns’ prolonged run with the belt is beginning to method Hulk Hogan’s longest title reign of 1,474 days. With how a lot focus has been placed on the historic nature of Reigns’ title reign, and with him at present not set for an additional match till the Royal Rumble, it seems like it’s kind of too apparent that he will come out on high right here. Decide: Roman Reigns retains the title — Brent Brookhouse (additionally Shakiel Mahjouri)
World Heavyweight Championship — Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
The world heavyweight championship wants a facelift. Rollins has executed a strong job as the primary champion since WWE revived the title. The tales had effort, superstars have been spotlighted and nice matches have been produced. However the plots had holes, elevations did not stick and Gunther is placing on a greater workhorse championship reign with the intercontinental title. McIntyre is overdue for a world title and is without doubt one of the extra compelling characters on Uncooked as a tweener bordering on villain. A McIntyre title run may produce recent feuds with guys like Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes, who’re eternally trapped in a stale feud with the Judgement Day, culminating with Jey Uso successful the title at WrestleMania. Decide: Drew McIntyre wins the title — Mahjouri
There’s loads of logic in McIntyre successful the belt and presenting a recent face as champion. Nonetheless, the shadow of Cash within the Financial institution contract holder Damian Priest looms over this match. WWE has gotten into one thing of a rut with Judgment Day “operating Uncooked” and the one actual step to freshen issues up for the group is to interrupt them up or to have Priest money in and take the large belt. Priest may money in after Rollins retains and is left damaged down after a brutal match, however put me down for Priest cashing in mid-match so as to add a little bit of drama earlier than successful the belt to offer Crown Jewel its common “large second.” Decide: Damian Priest cashes in and wins the title — Brookhouse
Girls’s World Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax vs. Zoey Stark vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Rodriguez
WWE did an attention-grabbing factor with this match, tossing 5 ladies within the ring all gunning for each the title and the standing of “baddest lady in WWE.” Jax has been a wrecking ball since making her return and would take advantage of sense because the victor ought to any of the challengers take the belt. Stark’s momentum was mainly useless as soon as she cut up from Trish Stratus, which was a misstep in that it wasted months of effort to determine her. Rodriguez nonetheless would not really feel like she has clicked with the gang. And Baszler is unbelievable however WWE hasn’t felt very dedicated to her place on the high of the cardboard exterior of her feud with Ronda Rousey. Given Ripley’s momentum and the way a lot she’s getting out of being champion, it would not really feel like Crown Jewel marks the top of her reign. Decide: Rhea Ripley retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
United States Championship — Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Logan Paul
In opposition to all odds, Paul has confirmed himself a pure within the ring. He is athletic and his persona simply “works” as a pure heel. He additionally used the stage of his actual boxing match with Dillon Danis to advertise a match with Mysterio. The luchador is a legend and it has been good to see him get one other run with a belt however that is WWE’s likelihood to place a belt on Paul, which everybody is aware of they wish to do. It is going to be a bit tough for SmackDown if their two high males’s titles are held by part-time abilities, however Paul may put in a bit extra time on TV forward of main occasions like Survivor Collection, Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Decide: Logan Paul wins the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest
Apart from Ripley, WWE continues to flip-flop between reserving Judgement Day as a dominant power and feeders to Uncooked’s high faces. Rhodes is an A+ participant on Uncooked however may use a robust victory. Priest’s standing as Cash within the Financial institution winner and undisputed tag staff champion is probably going padding sufficient within the firm’s eyes to have him take a loss. Decide: Cody Rhodes wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa
Cena has been very beneficiant throughout his current stint with the corporate and it appears Crown Jewel could be the final we see of him for some time. The continued story revolves round Cena’s self-doubt having not received a singles match in 5 years. I doubt WWE extends this story for an indefinite time frame. These Saudi Arabia occasions usually do not function a ton of improvement and are extra of a shiny showcase than a cornerstone occasion. Giving Cena the win is the easy play. Decide: John Cena wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
WWE Girls’s Championship — Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair
Sky’s reign has been wonderful however unspectacular. It is solely attainable that WWE places the belt again on the dependable Belair, however I feel her newfound edge would profit from her getting screwed out of the title once more. Belair is trending in an analogous route to McIntyre’s character and she or he’ll want all of the bitter motivation she will be able to muster to totally embrace her character tweak. Decide: Iyo Sky retains the title — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh (Kickoff Match)
McDonagh is continuous to wrestle to achieve acceptance from Judgment Day whereas Zayn misplaced his tag companion and finest buddy Kevin Owens to SmackDown. Each males want a win in storyline, however Zayn wants a win in actuality as a result of he is the larger participant of the 2. The primary match on a Saudi present often may be very by-the-numbers to heat the gang up. Meaning placing Zayn over in a really easy method. Decide: Sami Zayn wins — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)