WWE Crown Jewel 2025 Review

Crown Jewel ventures down under in Perth Australia, where high stakes cross-brand tussles between champions become amplified thanks to the regal glimmering shine and prestige of the Crown Jewel Championships and accompanying ring accessory. When the lights are on bright in Perth and Rhea Ripley stamps her feet to the resounding ovation of jubilant partisan crowd, then we know we're in for a raucous show and a band of invigorating match-ups to burn the RAC Arena to the ground.

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On this night there were 5 marquis match-ups, each worthy of a main event slot, but each of them very different and telling unique stories that propelled them here to the big show (not that one). There was an almighty Street Fight between The Tribal Thief Bronson Reed and The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns; a respect-fueled bout between two record-setting women's champions as WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton collided with Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer for the Women's Crown Jewel Championship; a final showdown between longtime rivals AJ Styles and John Cena; a huge women's tag-team match-up with a flare for animosity as Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley took on The Kabuki Warriors Asuka and Kairo Sane. Lastly we witnessed a colossal main event pitting last year's Crown Jewel Championship winner Cody Rhodes and The Vision's all-conquering leader Seth Rollins. It was no doubt a banger of an event, but does live up to its pomp and ceremony?

Roman Reigns Vs. Bronson Reed

Match Rating: 7/10

Stipulation	Australian Street Fight
Length	21:00
Winner	Bronson Reed

Tribal Thief versus Tribal Chief kicked off Crown Jewel with aplomb, as Roman Reigns seeks revenge for all the times Bronson Reed has flattened him like a pancake with the Tsunami top-rope splash. This scrap took place inside of the ring, outside of the ring, and into the crowd, and it was the kind of monstrous war that's descriptively fit King Kong vs. Godzilla. If this bout was designed to put over Bronson Reed as a top guy, then this match truly cemented that.

Things started strong for Reigns as he overwhelms Bronson with punches in the corner and successfully landed a driveby kick whilst Reed was dangling from the middle rope. The match moved into the crowd, where Bronson finally managed to land some offence. When they got back to ringside, Reigns decided to grab a cricket bat and used it to whack Bronson silly with it, and then Reigns grabbed and threw a Rugby ball at Paul Heyman at ringside. The crowd were really into this one unsurprisingly, with Reigns'gratuitous offence garnering huge crowd reactions-such as when Reigns delivered multiple short-armed clotheslines to Bronson, they were really audibly encouraging the continuing punishment of Bronson Reed.

Reed himself was no slouch, hitting Reigns with The Jagged Edge, bludgeoning his chest with chair strikes, and a Uranage on a STOP sign. Bronson managed to handle his own for a while, but unsurprising his big buff counterpart Bron Breakker would soon make his presence felt. Reigns was setting up Reed to be speared through the barricade and as Reigns was charging towards him, Bron intercepts him with an almighty Spear. Reed and Breakker then proceed to perform a Shield-like bomb through the announcer's table. And just when you think that the damage was done and Reed will simply pick up the victory from there, out came The Usos to even the odds-by making The Vision the odds ironically (no, Heyman doesn't count!). The Usos Double Super-Kick Breakker on the ramp, then they enter the ring to bamboozle Reed with strikes. Breakker re-enters the ring and both him and Reed continue to get beaten down by The Usos including a big 1D on Breakker. All seemed to be going well until Reed pushes Jimmy off the top rope, then him and Breakker regain control. Breakker spears Jimmy through the barricade, and as Reed was about to flatten Jey with a Tsunami, Reigns meets him with a Superman Punch. Reigns tries to set up Reed for a Spear, but Breakker distracts him, leading to Reed attempting to perform a Jagged Edge on Reigns through propped up table in the corner. Reigns fights out of it, but unluckily for him, a fast-charging Jey accidentally Spears Reigns while aiming for Reed. Breakker re-enters the ring and wipes out Jey with his version of the Spear, then Breakker lays Reigns close to a turnbuckle where Reed hits a Tsunami and Reed wins.

This was a decent street fight with various weapons used and plenty of calamity towards its conclusion. It's not particularly surprising in terms of the content within the match and the pace, but watching Bronson Reed win a match over Roman Reigns is great to see. The Usos tried to help Reigns but they proved to be more of a hindrance than a help, and it'll be interesting to see what Reigns does regarding The Usos moving forward. This was a pleasant way to begin Crown Jewel, though maybe putting a hoss fight on first wasn't the best approach, as we're used to seeing fast-paced matches go on first and that's usually done to light up the crowd. Sure, having a big Street Fight can do the same thing, but while this Street Fight was solid, it wasn't remarkable, even if the story was intriguing.

Stephanie Vaquer (Women's World Champion) Vs. Tiffany Stratton (WWE Women's Champion)

Match Rating: 8/10

Stipulation	Singles Match for the WWE Women's Crown Jewel Championship
Length	10:05
Winner	Stephanie Vaquer

Let's pause for a second and acknowledge how bloomin long the match is to read. Go ahead, read it and tell me it's not an unnecessary mouthful. This cross-brand showdown between RAW Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and SmackDown's WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton is already enough to perfectly advertise as a match-up, but throw in the Crown Jewel Championship and the prediction is it would be match that is beyond epic. Both Vaquer and Stratton are certainly capable of producing a classic, but while their match at Crown Jewel wasn't quite a classic, it was certainly very satisfying, if bewilderingly short.

Just before we dive in, don't you think Vaquer reminds you of a Create-A-Wrestler from a WWE videogame, what with those custom Satan-like horns and her hard-hitting instrumental theme? This isn't meant to be a disparaging comment, but it does linger over the mind of yours truly a bit much sometimes. Just like with Lyra Valkyria, there seems to be a great aura about Vaquer when it comes to her theme and presentation, though why both of them have to be faces is puzzling because there's great heel potential for both of them.

As for the match itself, things start off appropriately with respectful chain wrestling and culminating in pin attempts. Stratton offers to shake Vaquer's hand, but she is instead met with a foot that Stratton grabs and then proceeds to headlock her, and after some Stratton cartwheels and backflips attempting to crash into Vaquer, she misses and gets clotheslined, tripped and face-washed by Vaquer's foot for her troubles until she has to take a breather outside the ring. Vaquer starts to control the match, meeting Stratton with a Super Kick for a two-count, a stomp to the face, legdrop and a strange Octopus Stretch chin lock submission hold. Stratton finally lands her hand-spring elbow in the corner on Vaquer, then she proceeds to perform a beautiful cartwheel into an Alabama Slam, which was very impressive. The two go counter-for-counter until Vaquer performs her knee-popping Dragon Screw by the ring ropes. Vaquer goes to the top to perform her unique corkscrew splash, but Stratton pushes her to the outside and she lands on the ring apron. They trade on the apron and back in the ring, then Stratton hits a modified backbreaker for a two count. Stratton attempts her Prettiest Moonsault Ever which is halted by Vaquer. After a back suplex, Vaquer attempts a Devil's Kiss but Stratton rolls her up and then kicks her in the face for a two-count. Stratton attempts a Swanton but Vaquer gets her knees up, leading to Vaquer ceasing the opportunity to give Stratton the Devil's Kiss. Stratton performs a steamroller, then heads to the top turnbuckle to attempt another Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Vaquer moves out of the way, which sets her up to perform her unique corkscrew splash for the victory.

Much like Vaquer's bout with Iyo Sky a month prior at Clash In Paris, there's plenty of back and forth action that truly captivates as you watch it. The chemistry Stratton and Vaquer have is fantastic and the pace and counters truly lived up to the big fight feel the match had on paper. The only ding was that the match only lasted 10 minutes and felt too short, but otherwise this was a great match.

AJ Styles Vs. John Cena

Match Rating: 9/10

Stipulation	Singles Match
Length	27:10
Winner	John Cena

One apt way to describe the final encounter between John Cena and AJ Styles is that it is a throwback. You can tell this match is going to be nostalgic when AJ Styles turns up in short tights he must've left in his dresser for twenty years. It is a weird visual, but as it turns out they were very appropriate considering how hard this match leaned towards nostalgia as it doffs its cap at many past WWE superstars. Heck, Styles also got a special ring announcement like Cena has gotten since he became the Never Seen Seventeen. So, was this Cena vs. Styles match-up their best encounter? Hard to say considering the classics Styles and Cena have had in the past, but it's certainly the Match of the Night on this night at Crown Jewel.

The bout starts as others on the night have done, with respectful chain wrestling. They have a clean break when the grapple in the corner, which solidifies that Cena really is a face and that this is a respectful encounter. AJ hits Cena with a few of his jumping clotheslines, but obviously Cena kicks out of those. Cena builds momentum with shoulder tackles but is briefly shut down by AJ's martial arts moves, but Cena does eventually his his signature side slam. As Cena goes for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle, AJ throws his leg up, which Cena catches and throws it over, only to be greeted by a kick to the back of Cena's neck. Styles follows up with another jumping clothesline in the corner, but misses and Cena hits his side slam, 5 Knuckle Shuffle and hits his Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. AJ hits back by delivering a mean Ushigoroshi but doesn't cover him for some reason. AJ goes for the Styles Clash and then Cena performs the first of a plethora of tribute finishing moves-The Miz's Skull Crushing Finale-getting a two-count. Cena sets up AJ in the corner but gets reversed by AJ and AJ connects with a swinging torture wrack bomb-type move and Cena kicks out of it at two.

Later on in the match, Cena and Styles start exchanging submission holds. Cena puts Styles in the STF, but it's reversed by AJ's version of a crossface. After getting out of this predicament, Cena then locks in an ode to Rusev-The Accolade. Styles answers with a Coquina Clutch-type rear-naked choke/sleeper hold submission. As Cena powers out, Styles attempts a Calf Crusher, but then Cena counters this attempt with a Walls of Jericho. Styles fights out and finally locks in the Calf Crusher, though this is short-lived as Cena forces another STF onto Styles. Styles then breaks out, connects with a Styles Clash for a near fall. Frustrated and eager, AJ stalks Cena on the apron and tries to wallop Cena with a Phenomenal Forearm, but Cena turns this into a Sister Abigail for a near fall. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment thereafter, but it's counters with Angels Wings, which gets a two-count. Both of them then slug it out in the middle of the ring. Eventually Cena attempts a Pedigree which doesn't land, but what does land is a draping DDT and an RKO-which achieves a near fall. Cena tries a punt on AJ but that doesn't work out, then AJ hits a deathvalley driver (which commentary calls an AA but doesn't look like it). Cena hits a chokeslam and then he concedes to the crowd at goes for a 619, but he's intercepted by AJ. AJ answers back with a springboard 450 splash and a Sweet Chin Music but can't put Cena away, and nor could the follow-up Phenomenal Forearm. A little later Cena hits AJ with a Tombstone Piledriver followed up with an AA for the win at long last.

While you might say this match was one big ol nostalgia fest, Cena vs. Styles was exciting due to its emphasis on submission moves, its fast pace and the fact that it showed that these two 48 year old legends nearing their retirements could still go big time. This match was just about as good as any other Styles vs. Cena match-up and that's a fantastic realization that the two still have their insurmountable chemistry. Maybe it was a bit too nostalgic, but this can be forgiven for just living up to the hype. Styles was right, the story writes itself and this match didn't need one.

Rhea Ripley And Iyo Sky vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)

Match Rating: 8/10

Stipulation	Tag Team Match
Length	19:55
Winners	Rhea Ripley And Iyo Sky

Honestly, the storyline between the four women in this match is one of the most engrossing there is in WWE right now. Asuka's heel behaviour had been simmering for a while as she started treating Kairi Sane like her slave and interfering in Iyo's respectful conversation with her fellow superstars. As family was very important to Iyo, she remained loyal to Asuka and Kairi until Asuka gave her a nasty mist, which smeared away her existence as part of Asuka' family in The Kabuki Warriors. Iyo's bond with Rhea Ripley has evolved from respect to friendship, as Rhea is getting sick of how Asuka is treating Iyo, and wants to shut Asuka up. So here's this tag-team match situated in Rhea's home country of Australia-and yes they went mad for Rhea as you can expect. Was this match fit for Rhea's homecoming though? Let's find out!

The Kabuki Warriors waste no time getting the jump on Rhea and Iyo as they pounce on them right away. After some quick calamity, Asuka and Iyo are in the ring and Asuka extends her hand for a handshake, but Iyo has none of it and attempts to kick Asuka's hand, but then Asuka mocks her. After this, fast and furious exchanges are made with Iyo's athleticism and Asuka's speedy attacks highlighting a match with a frenetic pace. Asuka tries to evade Iyo by stepping outside but Iyo crashes into her with a thunderous dive. Kairi momentarily distracts Iyo by attempting to attack her, which leads to Asuka bashing her head into the ring post and following it up with a kick to the head. Momentum has now swung onto the side of The Kabuki Warriors as Asuka and Kairi tag in and out to keep Iyo down and away from tagging Rhea. This continues on with Asuka's continued mockery and punishment of Rhea, and at one point Kairi attempts to knock Rhea off the apron which agitates Rhea, leading to more punishment for Iyo.

Eventually Rhea gets tagged in and she's becomes a twisting tornado of fire and a bit of a one-woman army as she takes the fight to Asuka and Kairi. After some time passes, Rhea tags Iyo back in and Iyo dolls out her offensive repertoire on Asuka and Kairi. Many high-octane moves such as Iyo's springboard forward dropkick, The Kabuki Warriors' tag-team offence, and the sharp attacks and strikes continued on as both teams try to gain the upper hand. Besides a baiting piece of mockery from Asuka to distract Rhea later on, Asuka started to take Iyo and Rhea more seriously as the bout progressed. The ending came when Kairi sacrificed herself to save Asuka from an Avalanche Riptide, and Kairi then endured a regular Riptide from Rhea followed by Over The Moonsault from Iyo-so Rhea and Iyo pick up the win in Rhea home country!

Arguably this tag-team bout went too long, but the way The Kabuki Warriors imprisoned Iyo on their side of the ring and the enduring wait for Rhea to be tagged in was enough to keep the momentum moving along. There were plenty of counters and Rhea's entry into the match wasn't as dominating as you may expect, but it was still a very impressive match in terms of athleticism, in-ring ability and storytelling. Asuka's mockery made the match a highlight because without her this tag match would've felt dryer. Whether Iyo and Rhea should've won is contentious because there's plenty more to wrangle from this storyline, but with Kairi's subservience-it definitely seems like the match ended the way it should have to build more intrigue. So yes, this is a very good match but went on too long perhaps, the opposite issue to the Stratton vs. Vaquer match-up.

Cody Rhodes (WWE Champion) vs. Seth Rollins (World Heavyweight Champion)

Match Rating: 9/10

Stipulation	Singles Match for the Men's Crown Jewel Championship
Length	29:40
Winner	Seth Rollins

The premise to this year's men's Crown Jewel Championship match is very compelling. On the one hand you have Cody Rhodes, a man who has ascended to the top of the WWE pecking order and has become the new face of the WWE. He's also the man who has defeated his adversary three consecutive times, which has cemented Cody as the man on top of WWE's mountain. Cody's counterpart Seth Rollins meanwhile, had endured those losses and spent time rebuilding his reputation by forming an alliance with Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, and collectively they've become known as The Vision, and have run roughshod over Monday Night RAW.

Heading into this match, Cody rides all the momentum, yet Seth has a ton to prove. On top of his quest to finally get a win over Cody, Seth has been given no other choice but to win by The Oracle Paul Heyman. If Seth loses, the Paul has to rethink Seth's place in The Vision and that he might have to turn to Roman Reigns again to represent a superstar who is a dominating force. These matters have gnawed away at Seth's psyche, and this is why the pre-match storytelling is so gripping. Let's see how Cody and Seth fare and who'll walk out as the Men's Crown Jewel Champion.

The match starts with furious grappling around in circles as Cody and Seth jostle for momentum. Once they break this, Cody frustrates Seth and the camera does an excellent job catching the agitated expressions on Seth's face as it's clear that everything going through his mind is pressing on his psyche. After getting clotheslined to the outside, Seth reached boiling point and threatened Michael Cole and Wade Barrett-especially Barrett as the fans were calling him a naughty word that Barrett acknowledged on commentary during SmackDown the previous day.

Before any potential hurt came to the commentary team, Cody bounced Seth's head off the commentary desk, but not long after that Seth fought back by throwing Cody into the steal steps and proceeding to deliver a stomp to the back of Cody's whilst he was dangling on the barricade. Seth performed a slick sit out powerbomb after Cody was attempting a Cody Cutter which gets a two-count from the referee. Seth starts to work on Cody's arms and legs, damaging them in a cerebral manner, and locking in a Figure Four in order to incapacitate Cody further. Seth even performs a cartwheel and taunts Cody in a way Tiffany Stratton would. Cody fights back and hits a Vertebreaker on Seth for a two-count. Cody starts regaining his momentum with a powerslam, a dropkick, a Disaster Kick and a dive to the outside. Cody hits a Cody Cutter for a two, then Seth fights back and gives Cody a Pedigree to get a near fall. Cody attempts a Cross Rhodes but is countered by Seth's own version of the move for a two-count. Seth goes for a twisting splash move but Cody dodges, and Cody misses a Super Cody Cutter attempt and winds up receiving a Pedigree and a Curb Stomp for a near fall.

Still frustrated, Seth goes to the outside to retrieve the watch that Cody gave him after WrestleMania 40, but decides to place it by the turnbuckle for later use. Cody once again rejuvenates and hits a Super Cody Cutter and a Cross Rhodes for a near fall. Seth sets up Cody in the corner and proceeds to perch himself on the top turnbuckle on the adjacent side of the ring, and perform a coast-to-coast Diving Headbutt for a near fall. Seth then gives Cody a Spanish Fly and a Uranage which still isn't enough to put Cody away. Cody sets Seth up in the corner and performs an humongous Avalanche Cross Rhodes which still fails to put Seth away despite its majesty. After crawling out a Pedigree attempt by Cody, Seth reaches for the Rolex watch and after a knee by Cody knocks Seth into the referee, Cody Attempts another Cross Rhodes by Seth bashes him in the face with the watch and the follows that up with a Curb Stomp from the middle rope to win and to finally vanquish Cody Rhodes and upping their rivalry score to 3-1.

This main event was an undeniable epic from a storytelling standpoint and was a full of excellent spots and an unending desire to claim victory. Seth needed this win and the storytelling throughout showed this urgency brilliantly. The only knock on the entire match and the story is that it was all very predictable, makes you wish Seth lost so that we could see the downfall of The Vision-but obviously it's far too early for that. A tremendous match and story, and the only reason it doesn't defeat Styles vs. Cena for Match of the Night is due to that predictability.

Overall Show Rating

I give Crown Jewel 2025 an 8/10. What was your favourite match? Let us know in the comments!