WWE Crown Jewel 2023 is coming up this Sunday and before the event takes place, let’s run down everything you need to know about the upcoming pay-per-view.
Who is scheduled for the card? How interesting does the show seem? What’s going to happen with all the matches?
Here is a full preview of WWE Crown Jewel 2023.
Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
Start Time: 12 p.m. ET (kickoff), 1 p.m. ET (main show)
Location: Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
(as currently advertised; card is always subject to change)
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.
Thoughts: Look, I’m a fan of LA Knight. I’m really hoping he continues to get pushed. But if you’re being realistic by any means, you know full well he’s not winning the title here. Not only is that such an abrupt end to this whole Roman Reigns story, but for Knight to be the guy to beat him, at THIS event of all things, just doesn’t fly. Reigns isn’t dropping that belt until WrestleMania 40, if not later than that, and only seemingly to either The Rock or Cody Rhodes, likely. I do think we’ll see yet another “opponent was doing well and had the match won, but Solo Sikoa interfered and Reigns was able to capitalize on a referee being down in order to retain” situation, since that’s mostly what WWE does in these scenarios, but Knight isn’t walking out champion.
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.
Thoughts: I want to see Drew McIntyre fully turn heel. Maybe that should come about after losing this match and being frustrated, but it would be fun to see him win and then turn. There’s also the chance Damian Priest cashes in Money in the Bank here. That would be interesting. Ultimately, I think this is going to be the best match on the card regardless of the outcome, but I do think Rollins walks out with the title still in his possession.
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Rhea Ripley wins.
Thoughts: You know the rule of thumb. If you don’t have a good enough singles feud going on, toss a bunch of people into the match to make up for it. Go for quantity if you’re lacking quality. Rhea Ripley’s been one of the many absentee champions in this current era who is booked to win a title and then not defend it on a regular basis, and yet, despite not running through all the competitors, WWE found itself in this territory of tossing a bunch of women in a match because a regular one between Ripley and Nia Jax just wouldn’t suffice. I’m sure this will be a fine enough contest and that Ripley will retain. At least, I can hope that will be the case.
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Logan Paul wins.
Thoughts: This is one of the matches I could potentially see including a title change. That in and of itself has me interested. I don’t think it would necessarily be the best idea, as SmackDown needs a title that can be defended more than once every 4 months. Plus, what about Bobby Lashley, Grayson Waller, LA Knight or any others who could have it? But putting this belt on Logan Paul might not be the worst idea, either, as he’ll bring it around all over the place and promote WWE for the next few months and likely drop it at WrestleMania, maybe to LA Knight.
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Bianca Belair wins.
Thoughts: The prediction for this one is tough. I can see a scenario where Iyo Sky retains here in order to have a feud against Kairi Sane (when she comes back) and even Bayley. However, I just don’t picture Iyo holding this title heading into WrestleMania. That seems like more of a Bianca Belair or Charlotte Flair thing. Belair and Flair felt like the obvious Mania match to me until Jade Cargill showed up. Now, I keep going back and forth between whether it will be Flair vs Cargill and we’re revisiting Iyo vs Charlotte down the line in some fashion (maybe even having Iyo drop it at Elimination Chamber or something crazy like that) or will it be Belair vs Cargill? Or, will it be a Triple Threat? If that’s the case, what’s Iyo doing? It’s lame to just drop her off the WrestleMania card like that. I’m starting to think Belair will win the belt here, but I’m not sold on that prediction by any means.
Heat Index = Chilly
Prediction: Cody Rhodes wins.
Thoughts: I’m a big fan of both of these guys, but c’mon. This is filler crap. We’ve seen this happen or some variation of it on every single episode of Raw for months. Why isn’t it a gimmick match at least? Or why isn’t the Money in the Bank briefcase on the line? They just aren’t trying at all, and that’s lame. WWE is stalling for time the entire 2023 after WrestleMania, it feels like.
Heat Index = Chilly
Prediction: John Cena wins.
Thoughts: Mehhh…..look…I like Solo Sikoa. I do. But I don’t see this future world champion in him just yet that other people are saying. I’d likely have booked John Cena in another match, rather than this. This just doesn’t do much for me, as we’ve seen Cena and Sikoa against each other in a tag match on the previous event. It’s just a rerun with a tweak and it means zilch as nothing’s on the line whatsoever. Even if Cena loses, and “doesn’t turn the math around”, who cares? He’s John Cena. The guy could win the world title tomorrow and nobody would bat an eye.
Heat Index = Cold
Prediction: Sami Zayn wins.
Thoughts: Hey, look up and see what I said about Cody and Priest. It’s the same thing. This is a Monday Night Raw match. Complete and utter filler being tossed on there to eat up some time with zero effort or thought whatsoever. It’s pointless, and that sucks, cause I love Sami Zayn and I think JD McDonagh has more to offer than this, too.
Heat Index = Temperate
Thoughts: WWE has to know that they could’ve done more for this card. The company’s gotten way too comfortable phoning it in, having a couple big names on the lineup and deciding that’s “good enough” and then, waiting a few more months until the next “big show” that doesn’t go all out. Even WrestleMania these days doesn’t feel like they really care about all the matches being special, but only three or four. While there’s certainly potential for this card, I feel like half of it is an episode of Raw and the other half is pretty low-effort compared to what it could’ve been if they WANTED to make it fantastic.
What do you think is going to happen at WWE Crown Jewel? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!