WWE returns to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for the 2023 version of Crown Jewel. As normal, the promotion is bringing loads of massive matches to the occasion, together with 5 championship bouts.
Roman Reigns will defend the undisputed WWE common championship within the night time’s foremost occasion, placing his belt on the road in opposition to LA Knight. The opposite high males’s title may also be on the road when Seth Rollins defends the world heavyweight championship in opposition to Drew McIntyre.
Each ladies’s championships may also be on the road, with Rhea Ripley defending the ladies’s world championship in a deadly five-way and Iyo Sky defending her WWE ladies’s championship in opposition to former champion Bianca Belair.
Let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities specialists are selecting to win every match at WWE Crown Jewel, which streams stay 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 foremost occasion a pay-per-view, with WWE lastly stepping on the fuel and making the most of him getting over big with the followers. Nonetheless, Knight does not actually match within the “greater story” of Reigns and The Bloodline to the place it feels this could 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 the moment not set for an additional match till the Royal Rumble, it seems like it is a bit too apparent that he’ll come out on high right here. Choose: 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 among the extra compelling characters on Uncooked as a tweener bordering on villain. A McIntyre title run may produce contemporary 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. Choose: Drew McIntyre wins the title — Mahjouri
There’s loads of logic in McIntyre successful the belt and presenting a contemporary face as champion. Nevertheless, 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 “working 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 normal “massive second.” Choose: Damian Priest cashes in and wins the title — Brookhouse
Ladies’s World Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax vs. Zoey Stark vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Rodriguez
WWE did an fascinating factor with this match, tossing 5 ladies within the ring all gunning for each the title and the standing of “baddest girl 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 does not really feel like she has clicked with the gang. And Baszler is incredible however WWE hasn’t felt very dedicated to her place on the high of the cardboard outdoors of her feud with Ronda Rousey. Given Ripley’s momentum and the way a lot she’s getting out of being champion, it does not really feel like Crown Jewel marks the tip of her reign. Choose: Rhea Ripley retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
United States Championship — Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Logan Paul
Towards 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 probability to place a belt on Paul, which everybody is aware of they wish to do. It will likely 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. Choose: Logan Paul wins the title — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)
Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest
Excluding Ripley, WWE continues to flip-flop between reserving Judgement Day as a dominant drive and feeders to Uncooked’s high faces. Rhodes is an A+ participant on Uncooked however may use a powerful victory. Priest’s standing as Cash within the Financial institution winner and undisputed tag group champion is probably going padding sufficient within the firm’s eyes to have him take a loss. Choose: Cody Rhodes wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa
Cena has been very beneficiant throughout his latest stint with the corporate and it appears Crown Jewel may be the final we see of him for some time. The continued story revolves round Cena’s self-doubt having not gained a singles match in 5 years. I doubt WWE extends this story for an indefinite time period. These Saudi Arabia occasions usually do not characteristic a ton of growth and are extra of a shiny showcase than a cornerstone occasion. Giving Cena the win is the straightforward play. Choose: John Cena wins — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
WWE Ladies’s Championship — Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair
Sky’s reign has been superb however unspectacular. It is totally 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 path to McIntyre’s character and he or she’ll want all of the bitter motivation she will muster to totally embrace her character tweak. Choose: Iyo Sky retains the title — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse)
Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh (Kickoff Match)
McDonagh is constant to wrestle to realize 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 normally could be very by-the-numbers to heat the gang up. Meaning placing Zayn over in a really easy manner. Choose: Sami Zayn wins — Brookhouse (additionally Mahjouri)