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At one point, I had zero interest in watching Crown Jewel shows just because of how shady and awful the Saudi government is, but I guess the WWE's normalization of putting on shows like this has worked over time as there are no longer loud protests against them and I find myself watching them despite my moral misgivings. Anyway...
The show kicked off, somewhat surprisingly, with Roman Reigns and the Usos (the original Bloodline) taking on The New Bloodline of Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga. Roman got a massive pop from the live crowd, but Jey Uso's "Yeet" entrance was also super over. With entrances and the post-match segment, this one went 20+ but none of it had the magic of the Bloodline's peaks in 2022 and 2023. Roman still has plenty of aura and, by limiting his minutes in the match, you did get the sense that they were holding back a ton and really trying to spotlight the other five men involved...but that also meant the match was stagnant at times as viewers waited for Roman's shine and nothing really mattered until he came into the match. There were also some noticeable nearfalls where the kickout either wasn't captured on camera effectively or just didn't occur at all. Credit to Roman for giving Solo "the rub" but, no matter how many guys they put Solo over - Cena, Cody, KO, Orton - the real issue is that he's a one-dimensional heel that isn't very captivating in the ring in a time when it takes serious star power and charisma to get over if you're not very special between the bells. Contrast that with Jacob Fatu, the clear MVP of the match and easily the most interesting and exciting member of the New Bloodline, who has leapfrogged ahead of both of the generic Tongas and, arguably, has the highest ceiling of anyone in the match (aside from Roman, who is already a tip-top main eventer with no more mountains to climb). The crowd went wild for Sami Zayn, but even his reunion with Roman and the Usos felt a little underwhelming and lacking the emotional impact of their better work together two years ago. This wasn't bad and it certainly set the table nicely for Survivor Series where I'm guessing we're all but guaranteed a War Games match. (2.5/5)
Next up - a Fatal Fourway Tag Match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships with the champions, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, defending against the teams of Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane, and relative newcomers and NXT graduates Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson. This was okay and I'm glad the performers received a "This Is Awesome" chant at one point for their efforts, but I was not as big a fan. The team of Legend and Jackson hit a ridiculous double-team maneuver towards the end that was incredible to witness but could easily cripple someone. IYO and Kairi had a rare botch, but I don't necessarily mind that sort of stuff as it shows that "high risk maneuvers" really are high risk. Overall, not a bad match and another "table setter" as I expect Belair and Cargill to split up sooner than later to build towards Mania. (2.5/5)
Seth Rollins took on Bronson Reed in the next match. Rollins and Reed did some brawling before the bell, which was a nice way to sell the intensity of the feud. Unfortunately, it would be repeated later in the night, which hurt the show overall by coming off as repetitive. I really dug Bronson Reed's MF Doom-inspired gear. I haven't been following this rivalry super close but this felt a lot like the Hogan/Earthquake or Bret/Bigelow matches of the past where Rollins spent most of the match bumping and selling and trying to avoid Reed's dreaded top rope Tsunami splash. He didn't do a bad job of it and he certainly tried his best to help make Reed come across as a monster, but this didn't hit an emotional higher gear and I'm not sure anyone believed Rollins was ever in real danger. I doubt that this feud will go anywhere as Rollins will likely head into WrestleMania for a more substantial feud with CM Punk. This was so-so, another average match. (2.5/5)
The first ever Women's Crown Jewel Champion would be crowned in the next match as Women's World Champion Liv Morgan took on Women's WWE Champion Nia Jax. They were in a bit of a tough spot as both Morgan and Jax are heels and neither one is known for being much of a ring general. Morgan and Jax had a decent contest but things definitely got more interested and exciting once Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez, and Dominik Mysterio showed up, all of whom got huge responses. This match didn't overstay its welcome either, which was another positive because the dynamic of two villains duking it out would've likely led to Morgan getting babyface reactions just because of the size difference. Morgan's Crucifix Bomb looked awful and Jax rolling herself up after it was a bad bit of improv; they really should've sold it as Morgan being unable to hit the move. (2.5/5)
Randy Orton and Kevin Owens were supposed to compete in a grudge match next, but Owens attacked Orton with a chair before the bell the match never got started as they proceeded to brawl inside and outside of the ring, their war ending when Owens hit a cool-looking elbow drop onto the Viper through a table in the crowd. We also saw both Orton and Owens toss around random referees and authority figures, which is why the match was "waived off" according to Cole. This was a nice way to build Orton and Owens' feud, but I would've likely been disappointed if I was a fan in attendance and expecting to see a real match, especially considering that none of the matches on the card before this were very good.
LA Knight defended his United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes and Andrade in the next match. Finally, something fast-paced and energetic and featuring guys that were clearly working to impress and pop the crowd. This was a whirlwind of action with lots of clever sequences and not too much of any guy playing dead on the outside of the ring, something I appreciate. This wasn't as good as the Ospreay/Takeshita/Ricochet match that we got at WrestleDream, but nobody should've or could've expected that level out of these three. Still, this was a ton of fun and maybe even the best LA Knight match I've seen in terms of workrate and energy (which may have something to do with his opponents, who both work a much faster and high-flying style that contrasted with Knight's meat-and-potatoes approach nicely). I wouldn't call this must-see, but it was the first match that came close on this card. (3.5/5)
Main event time - Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER for the Men's Crown Jewel Championship. The crowd was super behind Cody here, but GUNTHER had his fair share of supporters too, which isn't too much of a shock because his chops and strikes are so good. Rhodes and GUNTHER have great chemistry and they're both incredibly skilled at working a "WWE style" match that builds up over time and tells a clear, methodical story...it just doesn't always make for the most captivating bout and the crowd engaging in a "wave" didn't help one bit (though I loved GUNTHER mocking the crowd's behavior). When trading simple bodyslams is a major part of a wrestling match, you know you're not getting a match at the level of a Will Ospreay showcase in terms of innovation, but that doesn't mean this wasn't good for what it was. GUNTHER countering a Disaster Kick into a Boston Crab and then into a sleeper and then into a german suplex (and another sleeper) was a real nifty sequence and this match could've used a couple more of those, if you ask me. Cody eventually connected with a Cross Rhodes (which drew another "This Is Awesome" chant that I'm not sure was quite warranted) but GUNTHER came back with a big dropkick and then a powerbomb for 2. Rhodes comeback from here almost felt like something out of a Hogan match as he fired up and withstood a whole slew of slaps and strikes before hitting another Cross Rhodes for 2. From here, we got something a fluky finish as Cody attempted a Super Cody Cutter from the top, GUNTHER countered it into sleeper but then Cody rolled over and pinned his shoulders to the ground for a clean three count. Not a terrible ending as it protected GUNTHER a bit to have it end in such a sudden "out of nowhere" way rather than GUNTHER suffering a more definitive, decisive loss, but also somewhat unsatisfactory in the same way. (3/5)
With a Kwang Rating of 2.58-out-of-3, Crown Jewel 2024 was a decent show featuring a bunch of okay-to-good matches but nothing I'd go out of my way to see unless you're super passionate about the United States Title scene. The opener and main event brought the star power, but nobody involved had a career night save for maybe Jacob Fatu. Neither of the women's matches were anything special, though neither was especially bad either and the booking throughout the night definitely set the stage nicely for the Survivor Series coming up at the end of November.
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