WWE Crown Jewel 2023 Review

Greetings to the readers! I, Prince Osborne, am back after a very long time and in this post, the recently concluded PPV from WWE in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will be reviewed.

Pre-Show

Sami Zayn vs. JD McDonagh

Sami Zayn def. JD McDonagh by pinfall in 9:46

The pacing of this match was rapid enough for a match in the pre-show stature and the raucous response for whatever Zayn does gave a tremendous feel even though it’s obvious. JD delivered his best shot in such a big state and if he hasn’t reached the attention of fans so far, he’s definitely reached by now.

• Rating: 3.25

Main Show

World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (C) vs. Drew McIntyre

Seth Rollins def. Drew McIntyre by pinfall in 18:24

A very good opener from two of the top-tier wrestlers in the current crop of WWE, but considering the talent they possess, they could’ve gone an extra mile for a far better outing. The backstory took a while to create the conviction for Drew and it almost paid off at certain moments. The cash-in tease by Priest and Sami’s reappearance in the show for a robbery turned the track of the MITB briefcase to an intriguing path. Another intriguing path that everyone should look for is the next step Drew’s going to take. Possibly a heel turn?

• Rating: 3.75

Fatal Five Way Match for the Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (C) vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Zoey Stark vs. Nia Jax

Rhea Ripley retains the title by pinfall in 11:04

I had my fair share of doubts in this match only because of a single woman’s involvement – Nia Jax! Other than her moments, all gave a tough time to the champion especially Zoey with her red-neck offense. Some cool spots, Zoey’s performance, the mini match between Rhea and Raquel and the sick finish saved this match from reaching the drain.

• Rating: 3

John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa def. John Cena by pinfall in 16:10

This worked great for me! Cena’s veteran start in targeting Solo’s arm was a nice touch. Some might’ve felt boring while seeing the long toll it took to end, but I actually enjoyed how Cena’s smartness played out in evading Solo’s Samoan Spike. The final moments created a statement in the rise of a new threat among the division.

• Rating: 3.5

WWE United States Championship: Rey Mysterio (C) vs. Logan Paul

Logan Paul def. Rey Mysterio by pinfall in 17:52

Despite the polarizing popularity, Logan’s quick rise from a learner of the craft to a formidable wrestler is something that really needs to be applauded. His chemistry with Rey was fantabulous as the game of speed vs. power was executed flamboyantly. There were moments where we could’ve reached a gnarly halt, but it was saved to a much interesting path to follow. Santos’ accidental costing to Rey is something to watch on as well as Logan’s new stature as a champion.

• Rating: 4

WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (C) vs. Bianca Belair

IYO SKY def. Bianca Belair by pinfall in 16:32

The spirit of this rivalry was very high, but the action wasn’t that enthralling like their match in Puerto Rico. Still, both women maintained a steady game of the challenger’s brute strength and the champion’s tactical combat. The comeback of Kairi Sane was felt from a mile away, but her siding with IYO is not how I envisioned and there’s another key takeaway to follow on for the next few weeks – the allegiance of IYO either with her Joshi buddy or the group that brought her to the spotlight in Damage CTRL.

• Rating: 3.5

Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest

Cody Rhodes def. Damian Priest by pinfall in 11:03

There was an actual “big fight feel” brewing around this battle from the get-go. The feisty start and the equaled back-and-forth exchanges from both combatants led to a very exciting final phase where the usual chaos unfold. Bálor, Dom & JD being scooted away by Jey followed by the stacked finish simply leads to one destination for this rivalry’s end – WarGames! And I’m super stoked for the cathartic fight in Chicago.

• Rating: 3.5

WWE Undisputed Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (C) vs. LA Knight

Roman Reigns def. LA Knight by pinfall in 20:02

For the first shot at a major championship in the PLE’s main event, Knight’s best was witnessed in front of a great crowd. What really hindered this match to be more entertaining was the usual shtick of Roman’s main-event matchups – trash talk, Bloodline’s interference, a few spots on the outside and a spear! If they’ve actually relied on a proper one-on-one combat for Reigns to bag the win, it would’ve felt more convincing and lifted Knight’s morale even higher.

• Rating: 3.5

Overall Match Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Overall Show Rating: 7 out of 10 points

Match of the Night: Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul Highlight of the Night: Kairi Sane’s triumphant return Weak Link of the Night: Typical main event

Overall thoughts

This is one of the least favorite PLEs without a doubt, but it doesn’t mean that anything bad took place. All of the matches had a proper path of story and delivered the best especially in the US title duel. Kairi’s return, Logan’s remarkable victory, the new leaf turned between Zayn & Priest and Sikoa’s hallmark win were the key moments to look back. In short, not the best but still made the cut for a solid PLE.

What are your thoughts on this show? Chime in your views in the comments section right below.

Until next time, enjoy wrestling and life!

Written by:

Prince Osborne