Roman Reigns Barely Gets By LA Knight
Mia Walsh Quick Links
WWE Crown Jewel was a stacked card. The show promised a thrilling lineup of championship matches and intense face-offs. Roman Reigns was set to defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, while Seth Rollins battled Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship. Iyo Sky aimed to challenge Bianca Belair for the WWE Women's Championship, and a fierce Women's World Championship match featured Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark. The U.S. Championship bout saw Rey Mysterio taking on Logan Paul, and a compelling clash between Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest was on the horizon. Additionally, John Cena would face Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn squared off with JD McDonagh on the pre-show.
Here are your winners and losers for WWE Crown Jewel 2023:
Winner: Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh (Pre-Show)
Setting the tone for the rest of the event was Sami Zayn who got a huge ovation as he was taking on JD McDonagh. This marked the third encounter between these two, but the matches have always been solid. Each had a win, so technically, this was the rubber match. For Zayn, he needed the win after declaring on Raw he was going to do everything in his power to stop Judgment Day from gaining any more momentum.
Zayn, the clear fan favorite, dictated the tempo, and got the win to open the show. Credit to McDonagh for putting up a good fight and continuing on when he got a huge welt on his hip during the matchup. He also took a nasty bump into the ropes in the early going. Zayn hit a Helluva Kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb to secure the victory.
Winner: Seth Rollins Defeats Drew McIntyre
WWE really took the time to tell Drew McIntyre's story prior to him challenging for the World Championship. As such, he entered the ring with a burning desire to rectify what he perceived as past injustices in his career. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so. Seth Rollins picked up the win and successfully retained his title in a fantastic match that made both stars look great, but will leave questions about McIntyre's future.
The match kicked off with a frenetic pace, showcasing their agility and determination. Throughout the intense battle, both men showcased remarkable resilience, enduring each other's finishing moves.To get the win, Rollins sealed the victory with a superkick, a Pedigree, and a second Stomp, finally pinning McIntyre for the three-count. As Rollins recovered in the ring, Damian Priest hurried down, attempting to cash in his MITB contract. However, Sami Zayn ambushed Priest, seizing the opportunity and fleeing with the briefcase, leaving the arena in uproar after an exhilarating sequence of events.
Winner: Rhea Ripley Successfully Retains TItle
In a chaotic Fatal 5-Way match for the Women's World Championship, Rhea Ripley received a grand entrance befitting her championship status. She was the underdog based on the odds as she faced off against Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Raquel Rodriguez, and played crucial roles, the focus often shifted to Ripley and the powerhouse, Nia Jax.
The match unfolded as a dynamic display of athleticism and strategy. Despite moments where it seemed like the spotlight was solely on Ripley and Jax, Stark, Baszler, and Rodriguez made significant contributions, creating a compelling dynamic in the ring. The competitors showcased their skills, feeding off the crowd's energy, which elevated the atmosphere in the stadium.
In the end, Ripley secured her title defense by executing a remarkable move, slamming Stark onto Rodriguez and Baszler with the Riptide from the middle rope. The match, filled with memorable moments and high-energy sequences, concluded with Ripley standing tall, retaining her Women's Championship and leaving a lasting impression on the enthusiastic crowd.
Winner: Solo Sikoa Has Star-Making Moment
In a career-defining moment, Solo Sikoa faced off against John Cena in a match that most fans likely assumed Cena would win. But, as a G.O.A.T. would do, Cena allowed Sikoa to get a major rub by not just losing clean, but being dominated in the closing moments to put Sikoa over. The Street Champ was already a big deal, but he became a star on Saturday thanks to Cena's willingness to make someone else look like an unbeatable force.
Cena initially evaded Sikoa's Samoan Spike attempts until the end when he ate nearly a dozen of them. While the match itself was a bit slower, the result was ideal for the long-term success of the company. Cena is inevitably going to leave (if not right away based on his goodbye to the crowd) and Sikoa will be left to become a top draw.
Winner: Logan Paul Becomes The United States Champion
Despite his limited experience, every time Logan Paul wrestles, fans are reminded about how quickly he's picked up the skills to be a top performer. HI match against Rey Mysterio was among the better matches on the night. Paul's performance surprised many and captivated the audience with his unexpected maneuvers. One of Paul's podcast buddies tried to help him cheat to get a win, but Santos Escobar made an appearance, attempting to help. Paul managed to outsmart him, employing a set of brass knuckles to land his Knockout Punch. Paul secured the victory, emerging as the new United States champion.
Winner: Kairi Sane Returns to WWE
Kairi Sane's unexpected appearance in the wrestling world sent shockwaves through the WWE as she resurfaced during the title match between Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky. Sane's apparent affiliation with Sky was made evident as she leaped over the barricade, targeting Belair. Her assault allowed Sky to seize the moment and secure her WWE Women's Championship with a moonsault, to retain the title.
WWE has confirmed that Sane is back on the SmackDown brand but it's unclear if she's offically a part of the Damage CTRL faction.
Winner: Cody Rhodes Defeats Damian Priest
With the MITB briefcase still in Sami Zayn's possession, Damian Priest entered his match against Cody Rhodes carrying only his tag title belts. Clearly frustrated, he was looking to take it out on Rhodes by launching an attack before the match officially began. Rhodes recovered for a shor time, but Priest gained control and the battle spilled outside the ring. Priest hit The Reckoning on top of the announce table. They made their way back to the ring and Cody fought back eventually landing his signature Cross Rhodes move.
Finn Balor made his way to ringside, distracting the referee, allowing McDonagh to assist Priest. A surprise appearance by Jey Uso helped clear the interference by Judgment Day, forcing them to retreat. Ultimately, Rhodes emerged victorious after successfully executing three consecutive Cross Rhodes, sealing his win in a match that had its fair share of unexpected twists and turns.
Winner: Roman Reigns Retains The Universal Championship
In the main event, Roman Reigns defended his Universal Championship against the popular LA Knight. Knight got a huge pop from the live crowd and he was the clear favorite among the fan base. It wasn't enough as Reigns got help from a number of outside forces and ultimately landed a huge spear for the win. The match itself wasn't all that different than many of Reigns' previous bouts, as the bout moved slowly at first, picked up steam towards the end, and then got chaotic in the finish to allow Reigns to escape with the championship.
Fans are going to argue this similar booking is getting old. That will especially happen if Reigns takes off again. The good news is,even in defeat, Knight became a big star, proving he's worthy of being one of the company's big draws.
