It’s time, once again, for one of the crown jewels of WWE’s PLE schedule – WWE Crown Jewel! Tonight (or, more accurately, this afternoon) featured a wide array of matches, moments, and moves that allowed WWE Superstars to shine bright like a diamond. Or a jewel. The OG Bloodline reunited to take on their devilish doppelgangers — Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes took on WWE World Champion Gunther. Randy Orton received his match against Kevin Owens, and so much more! But let’s stop talking about the matches and…start talking about the matches!
It’s time for WWE Crown Jewel!
Bloodline Civil War: Roman Reigns, Jimmy and Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga
Like Ricky Bobby says, if you’re not first, you’re last. Likewise, if you’re not last, you’re first when it comes to wrestling shows. The OG Bloodline versus the…New?…Bloodline is kicking off Crown Jewel and it’s the absolute best choice for the opening match.
The New Bloodline came out first and Solo was laser-focused.
In a surprising move (but not really if you’ve been paying attention) The OTC, Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso came out by themselves, first. It was “Main Event” Jey Uso that got to come out last and receive the hero’s welcome.
It’s hard to tell if Roman Reigns is proud or jealous of Jey and that’s part of what makes this story so compelling.
Tama Tonga started things off against Main Event Jey Uso, who got the nod of approval of Roman to begin the match!
The crowd started chanting Sami Zayn’s “Ole” chant, which almost distracted Jey, because Tama got the upper hand already. He delivered a series of punches before throwing Jey into the corner. Jey reversed though and hit a series of his own punches, followed by an enzigurl.
Jey tagged brother Jimmy and the two delivered their old-school handshake elbow drop (I’m not cool enough to know what it’s actually called).
Tama tagged in Jacob Fatu who immediately regained control, before “acknowledging” Solo.
Jey tagged back into the match and the brothers Uce delivered another double team maneuver, sending their opponent to the outside as Roman waved bye-bye, LOL.
Jey continued to battle his brother and quasi-cousins, but when he had the change to tag Roman in (and the crowd was begging for it), he tagged in Jimmy. Roman looked annoyed. Jimmy looked confused. Jey looked kind of hungry. But Jimmy entered the match and got a bit of offense in before Solo Sikoa tagged in and took control. He maintained eye contact with Roman as he continued to punish Jimmy for his insolence.
Tama tagged in and the crowd began chanting that they wanted Roman again.
Jey tagged in again and hit his ‘Yeet’ punch combination, followed by another enziguri. Then he hit his corner hip attack and attempted the pinfall, for two-and-a-half. Jey followed that up with an attempted Samoan Drop, but Tama grated his eyes and tagged in Jacob, who hit his own version of a Samoan Drop, followed by a senton. Jacob continued to punish Jey, Solo got in a cheap shot and then Solo and Jacob performed a double team move of their own.
Solo and Jacob continued to dismantle Jey before tagging in Tama, who hit his rolling senton over the ropes before tagging Solo back in.
Jey was backed into the corner and, as you know, nobody puts baby Jey in the corner. He hit each member of the Bloodline while the crowd ‘Yeeted’ him. But then Tama got the upper hand again, while Roman looked on, clearly frustrated.
Jey rebounded with a clothesline and finally jumped into a tag to Roman Reigns, who stood face-to-face with his heir-unapparent, Solo Sikoa.
The two traded punches in that typical WWE Yay/Boo fashion.
Roman won and hit a big clothesline on Solo, while the crowd acknowledged him. He held control of the offense and attempted to go for the spear, but Solo reversed it and hit his Samoan Spike. Solo went for the pin and it looked as though the spot go botched, as the ref stopped counting but Roman didn’t kick out. The camera panned to see that Jimmy had attempted to make contact but….eh.
Jimmy and Jey took out the New Bloodline, with Jey delivering super kicks and sentons out of the ring.
As Roman tried to spear Solo once again, Jacob Fatu interfered and rescued his Tribal Chief, delivering his version of the Best Moonsault Ever.
Solo then hit two Samoan Spikes on Roman Reigns for the very, very clean win. Solo Sikoa has sleighed and slayed and it is the New Bloodline that stood victorious.
Winners: Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga
The New Bloodline continued to beat down Roman and the Usos. They attempted to triple power bomb Roman through the announce table, but Jey rescued his cousin. For that effort, he himself was demolished. Solo was going to try his hip attack but SAMI ZAYN CAME OUT!!!
BUT WHOSE SIDE IS HE ON!!!???
Good news, he was on the side of The OG Bloodline. Sami went to hug Solo but then delivered his suplex and the gang warfare continued, with the OG Bloodline gaining the advantage. Eventually, Solo found himself as a chief without an island…or Tongans. Each member of the original Bloodline stood in the corner, with Solo in the middle. It seemed as though Roman Reigns was going to spear Solo, but it also looked like Sami was going to hit him with the Helluva Kick. The two men both wanted to be the hero and that’s where the miscommunication occurred. Both Sami and Roman hit each other, as Solo ducked and bailed out of the ring.
Tremendous segment that sets the stage for WAR GAMES at Survivor Series.
Following that, it was time for about an hour of commercials, promo videos, and advertisements.
But then it was time for the ladies to shine!
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 Tag Team Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Big moment for Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, as they were sharing the ring with six bona fide future hall of famers. All of the women were covered from head to toe, because politics. But that didn’t stop them from putting on a very entertaining match.
Towards the beginning of the match, is looked as though there was a mistake made, when Iyo Sky was launched toward Jakara Jackson, but they recovered well afterwards and people quickly forgot.
Chelsea Green teased hitting a top rope moonsault, but then got on the bottom rope. She decided that was too dangerous as well, so she just tried to jump from the apron, btu she was caught. Sky, however, did do a top-rope moonsault onto her opponents that were on the floor.
Back in the ring, Kairi Sane hit her spinning back fist on Bianca Belair, and Iyo Sky followed that up with a suplex. Sky and Ito hit a pop-up elbow drop, but then Chelsea Green hit a Codebreaker on Jakara Jackson, and Piper Niven splashed Jackson who was on Green’s knees. There was a pop-up powerbomb spot which was very impressive.
The match ended when Piper Niven accidentally splashed her own partner, which allowed Belair and Cargill to hit a Doomsday Device on Niven for the win.
Winners: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed
Then it was time for the irreverent force versus the abominable object, as Seth Rollins took on Big Bronson Reed.
Rollins came out first in his usual way-too-big ring jacket. The crowd loved him and showered him with ‘Burn it Down’ chants.
As Bronson made his entrance, Rollins ran up and ambushed him and the two began the “match” on the entrance ramp.
Reed and Rollins brawled on the ramp. They made it back to the ring and the bell officially rang. But as soon as it did, Bronson knocked down Seth and hit him with his Tsunami Splash. Instead of pinning him, he attempted another splash, but Seth moved and his a curb stomp. Seth ALSO got a two-count and then the two both made it back to their feet, beginning the match again at square one.
Reed attempted a Samoan drop, but Seth got out of it, hit a big kick, and tried to pedigree him. When that didn’t work, he attempted a sunset flip, but that also didn’t work, and Reed ended up squashing him.
The two traded blows and maneuvers and then Seth attempted to body slam Bronson. But, in a move very reminiscent of WrestleMania III, Seth lifted him up halfway, but couldn’t get him all the way up and he ended up collapsing under Bronson’s weight.
The two traded blows again, with Bronson getting the upper hand. He attempted a powerbomb, but Rollins countered it into a gorgeous looking DDT. The two tried to gather their bearings as they got to their feet. Seth hit a few clotheslines, but Bronson just would not go down. He attempted a jumping clothesline, and then a top-rope clothesline, but Bronson still wouldn’t go down. He attempted a second top-rope clothesline but Bronson reversed it and the two ended up battling on the top rope. Seth eventually knocked Bronson off and followed it up with a frog splash. BUT BRONSON KICKED OUT AT ONE!
The match continued and Seth looked absolutely phased. What does he have to do to beat this man?? Bronson regained control and ended up hitting Seth with a top-rope superplex. Seth kicked out at two, and it was time for Bronson to look dismayed.
Bronson pulled Seth up by his beard, telling him to stay down. Seth screamed at Bronson, “You should have finished me when you had the chance.” Bronson took that as a challenge and knocked Seth back down. He tried to splash Seth again, but Rollins logrolled away LOL. Then, Bronson tried it from the other turnbuckle, and Seth did it again, this time out of the ring.
Bronson tried to hit Rollins with steel steps, but Seth moved out of the way and ended up hitting his Curb Stomp on Bronson, on the steps. Seth attempted to win by count out, but Bronson made it back in the ring. So Plan B: hit him with another Curb Stomp. And then another, this time from the top rope.
Was that enough to put Reed away?
It was.
Seth Rollins defeated Bronson Reed
Following that match, it was time for the first Champion versus Champion match to determine the very first Women’s Crown Jewel Champion.
WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan
The match began with a lockup, followed by a headbutt from Nia to Liv, which coldcocked her. Liv responded with a slap, but was terrified when she remembered she was facing Nia Jax. Nia hit a big corner splash, followed by an attempted splash, but Liv ducked and began going after Nia’s limbs.
Liv focused on Nia’s legs, and ended up hitting a tornado DDT, for a two-count. Liv kept attacking Nia’s legs, but then Nia hit a pop-up Samoan Drop that absolutely squashed Liv.
Nia continued to squash Liv, but then…hold on…check your watch? IT’S TIFFY TIME!
Tiffany Stratton came out with her Money in the Bank briefcase, and claimed she was going to cash in on Liv Morgan. But Nia told her it wasn’t the time, so she headed to the back.
Nia hit another pop-up Samoan Drop, but Liv turned it into a pinfall attempt. Nia kicked out at two and turns out, Tiffany didn’t actually go all the way to the back. Tiffy got on the ring apron and teased cashing in the Money in the Bank, but Raquel Rodriguez pulled her off the apron, which distracted Nia and allowed Liv to hit a Codebreaker.
Both Liv and Raquel cornered Tiff outside of the ring, and Nia ran out and splashed all three of them. Nia hit another splash, and attempted her Vader Bomb. Dominik interfered, however, and caused a distraction, which allowed Liv to hit her finisher and get the win!
Winner: Liv Morgan
After the match, Triple H presented Liv with the very first Crown Jewel Championship, as her entourage cheered her on!
Following that, it was time for a BLOOD FEUD between Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton
Kevin Owens made his entrance first, followed by The Legend Killer-turned-Legend, Randy Orton. Saudi Arabia LOVED Orton, and sang his theme song for the entire entrance. Probably, this only ticked KO off even more.
…which is why Owens attacked Orton with a steel chair before the match even began. Owens hit him a few times with the chair and sent him to the outside. Then he dismantled the announce table and attempted to powerbomb Orton through it.
Luckily for Orton, he reversed it and back body dropped Owens onto the table.
KO recovered and slammed Orton’s head into the steel steps. Orton did the same to Owens and the two got back into the ring. Owens continued to target Orton’s knee, however, and kept hitting him with a chair. The referee tried to intervene and ate a Stunner for his troubles.
Orton grabbed the chair from KO and offered his own beatdown. The two got out of the ring again, and Orton once again dropped Owens onto the announce table. Daivari tried to intervene and Orton beat him up.
Orton hit Owens with his draping DDT, and Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis tried to stop the two men. Pearce ate an RKO for his troubles. Orton and KO fought their way through the crowd and hit each other with a variety of implements, including a road case.
Owens then elbow dropped Orton from one level to another, through a table in a very cool spot. The crowd started chanting ‘This is Awesome,’ and boy was it!
That, however, ended the “match.”
Randy Orton versus Kevin Owens ended in a no-contest
Next up was the triple threat match between three of WWE’s hottest acts.
LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade for the WWE United States Championship
All three men made their entrance and got a good reception, but it was LA Knight who got the biggest ovation.
Hayes and Andrade started things off, trading blows. But then they both turned their attention to Knight, double super-kicking the champion out of the ring.
And then, Hayes and Andrade did what they do best — wrestle. The two traded offensive maneuvers and Hayes sent Andrade to the outside, but before he could jump on him, Knight pulled Hayes out of the ring and slammed his head into the announce table.
All three men were back in the ring and traded blows, before Andrade hit a reverse Spanish Fly on Hayes. Andrade then hit his double knee on Hayes, and ducked a move from Knight, and laid out Hayes. The crowd thought Andrade was going to jump on Hayes, but he ended up moonsaulting onto Knight, who was on the outside. Then, all three men traded some signature moves. The match is actually hard to keep up with, so apologies. It’s definitely a match you should go out of your way to watch.
Hayes tried a tornado DDT, but Andrade reversed it and hit a Panama Sunrise on Hayes followed by his trick moonsault onto Knight.
Andrade hit a top rope fallaway slam for a two-count, and then Knight hit a top-rope double elbow drop onto both of his opponents, which also got a two-count.
There was a semi-Tower of Doom spot, with Knight attempting to take both men out. Hayes reversed it and hit his ‘Nothing but Net,’ onto Knight, but Andrade broke up the pin attempt.
At the end of the match, Hayes attempted a tornado DDT on Andrade, but he lined himself and Andrade up perfectly for Knight to hit his finisher on both of them, at the same time. It was bonkers. And awesome.
Winner: LA Knight
That was an incredible match that set the table perfectly for the main event. After an impressive promo video, which asked the question, ‘What if?’ What if Flair fought Hogan? What if Austin fought Goldberg?
What if Cody Rhodes fought Gunther? We’re about to find out!
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the First-Ever Men’s Crown Jewel Championship
Gunther made his entrance first with his typical scowl. Rhodes followed and the crowd sang his entrance song the entire time!
The two challengers were announced and the match was on.
It started out slow, with a lockup and some chain wrestling. Like, a lot of chain wrestling. Like, George Hackenschmidt would be proud-levels of chain wrestling.
But finally, as Rhodes tried his daddy’s bionic elbow, Gunther gave the champ his very first chop. And now, as Michael Cole said, the beatdown is on.
Gunther leapfrogged Cody, but Cody dropped to his back and performed his ode-to-Goldust throat chop.
Cody tried to get Gunther off his feet, hitting a variety of clotheslines and even a drop kick from the top rope, but Gunther still stood. Cody tried diving onto Gunther, but G caught him and sent him crashing to the floor.
Cody beat the count out and tried to mount an offense, but he just couldn’t find his rhythm. Every time he tried, Gunther chopped the champ down. Gunther hit an uppercut and Cody struck back, so they did the Yay/Boo spot again, but this time Gunther was victorious.
Cody and Gunther also did the Hogan/Andre WrestleMania 3 body slam spot and, predictably, Cody kicked out after Gunther landed on him.
The crowd kept chanting ‘Ole!’ which, as Michael Cole inferred, was done to get inside Gunther’s head, since his only loss was to Sami Zayn.
Gunther responded with a variety of chops and slams. But then Cody responded with a body slam of his own. Cody then lifted up Gunther for a suplex, kept him there for a while, and then slammed him face-first. Gunther responded with his own move and then went to the top rope. Cody followed him and performed a top-rope super plex. Both men recovered and Cody started building some momentum. He snap-powerslammed Gunther and then finally hit his version of the bionic elbow, which the crowd responded to in-kind.
Cody then hit the Cody-Cutter, but Gunther kicked out at two!
Cody signaled for his CrossRhodes, but ended up in a Boston Crab, courtesy of the former-Walter.
Gunther transitioned that into his sleeper hold, but Cody made it to the rope. Angered, Gunther hit a German Suplex, and went right back into his sleeper.
Cody attempted to reverse the sleeper, using a jawbreaker, but Gunther kept it locked in. Finally, however, Rhodes was able to reverse the sleeper into the CrossRhodes, but was too tired to make the pinfall attempt.
Gunther recovered, hit a drop kick on Cody, followed by a power bomb for a two-count on Cody.
Cody tried to mount a comeback and even pulled Gunther up for another CrossRhodes, but Gunther reversed hit into some chops. Cody attempted his Super-Cody Cutter, but Gunther caught him with a sleeper!
But! Cody reversed that into a pinfall and won the match, making him the very first Crown Jewel Champion!
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After an incredible match, Gunther ended up shaking Cody’s hand and acknowledging that he was, indeed, the better wrestler on that night. Is this the start of Gunther as a good guy, or just a one-time acknowledgment? We’ll find out in the coming weeks!
Thanks for joining us for WWE Crown Jewel 2024! We’ll see ya next time.