Crown Jewel 2022 Preview

It’s time to go overseas again with the latest WWE in Saudi Arabia endeavor. As usual, the show doesn’t have the best reputation but this one does feel a bit different. Instead of some weird special show with some one off gimmick or competition, it feels like a regular pay per view which happens to take place in Saudi Arabia. Now if only they can make it work well. Let’s get to it.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Asuka/Alexa Bliss(c) vs. Damage Ctrl

This was a last minute addition as Damage Ctrl dropped the titles to the returning Asuka and Bliss this week on Raw. I’m not sure how much of a chance there is to have the titles change back here, but it is the kind of thing that could be set up for a short title reign to give the show a moment. The Saudi Arabia shows do need to feel more important and a title change, even of a minor title, would help with that.

However, I think I’ll go with the titles being successfully defended here as Asuka and Bliss coming back on Monday to win the titles and then lose them again just five days later doesn’t exactly make for a feel good moment. It might be the logical way to go, but I don’t think it is exactly the best choice. Go with the champions retaining here, as Damage Ctrl can get them back later.

Tag Team Titles: Usos(c) vs. Brawling Brutes

If there was any drama to this one in the first place, WWE got rid of it this week by announcing that the New Day, as in the team the Usos are chasing for the longest Tag Team Title reign (if you ignore the Glamour Girls and Princess Victoria/Velvet McIntyre) will be getting a shot at the winners next week on Smackdown. In the words of Mr. Turner from Boy Meets World, “gee, I wonder what’s gonna happen”.

So yeah of course the Brutes lose here to keep the Usos on the road to the record. There is no reason to believe that the titles are going to change here outside of a shock for the sake of a shock. The Usos’ reign has felt far too long for a good while now, but they aren’t dropping the titles in Saudi Arabia to a team like the Brutes, especially with the New Day showdown looming.

Raw Women’s Title: Bianca Belair(c) vs. Bayley

So after THE LAST SHOWDOWN (or whatever it was) last month on Raw, we’re treated to a rematch here in a Last Woman Standing match. This isn’t a match I’m overly interested in seeing as the two have fought so many times already, but that has never stopped WWE before. This really does need to be the last match to wrap up the feud though and that opens up some interesting questions.

As much as I want to say Bayley wins the title here, it just doesn’t feel right. It’s weird in that I think she’ll probably win, but I’ll go with the instinct and say Belair retains. That would more or less end Damage Ctrl meaning anything but I think WWE would rather have someone else go after the title for the time being. Belair retains here, as WWE continues her Superwoman style push.

Braun Strowman vs. Omos

Are we sure Vince McMahon is really gone? This is the kind of freak show match that he would love to run and I can see the appeal. The difference here though is you have two people who are prominently featured and in this case it means someone has to lose. In theory at least as this would be a good place for some kind of a screwy finish, but I don’t think that is what WWE is going to do.

I’ll take Strowman to win here, as not only will MVP not be there for Omos but Strowman is freshly back in the company and doesn’t need to be taking a loss anytime soon. Omos is someone who can be reheated rather quickly and has already absorbed a loss on the big stage just fine. Let Strowman look like a monster again and go from there, as it is the (second most) right way to go.

Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross

This is inside a cage as the feud continues. Kross has already beaten McIntyre in a strap match and that again means we have some options here. While Scarlett got involved to help Kross the first time, the idea of the cage is to even things out. That being said, no one actually buys that as being the case, meaning McIntyre is basically in a handicap match here, at least to some degree.

Even with that, I’ll go with McIntyre winning as some good guy has to win one of the bigger matches on the show. McIntyre can escape the cage to keep Kross from winning, though it wouldn’t surprise me to see him just hit the Claymore anyway. This should be perfectly watchable and feels like a house show main event, which isn’t a bad way to go for this situation.

OC vs. Judgment Day

This match comes down to one question: is the Rhea Ripley problem solved here or is this the final straw that leads to it being solved next time? You could go with Ripley costing the OC the match or you could have the OC bring out their solution here and get them on to what is likely an eight person tag coming up down the line. That could go either way, so we’re basically at a coin flip here.

I’ll take the OC to win here, as they’ll debut their solution, likely in the form of Raquel Rodriguez, to deal with Ripley. Just cutting her off alone should be enough to take out one of the team, likely in the form of Dominik Mysterio, and give the OC a win. Judgment Day shouldn’t be losing again, but it would probably be the right way to go given the circumstances they have set up.

Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley

And now we have the hoss fight and it should work well. These two had a good enough power fight at the Royal Rumble in a huge stadium and now they should get to do it again on another big stage. Lesnar has turned heel….I think….to set this up, as you can never quite tell with him and it should be a heck of a fight because, well, what else are these two going to do against each other?

Since Lesnar is probably leaving again, there is no need to have Lashley lose here. Lashley is someone who could beat Lesnar and make it pretty easy to believe and Lesnar can absorb a loss like no other. Go with Lashley here, as he is the one who needs the win at some point. I don’t see any need for Lesnar to win and while that is always an option, Lashley wins here, as he needs to.

Undisputed WWE Universal Title: Roman Reigns(c) vs. Logan Paul

That leaves us with this, for reasons of celebrity status. The entire feud has been built around the idea of Paul not getting knocked out in a boxing match last year and the chance that he will catch Reigns with a lucky punch. When that is the entirety of your build, it is pretty clear that there is something lacking with what you are doing. I don’t think this has the most doubt but that is where we are for a major event.

Of course I’m taking Reigns here as there is a grand total of no reason to believe that he is losing. Reigns has been World Champion for over two years now and celebrity status or no celebrity status, Paul isn’t going to be the one to take the title from him. I’m sure Paul will get in a quick shot here or there for a near fall but he isn’t going to win, which I don’t think is in any serious doubt.

Overall Thoughts

What are you expecting? It’s a Saudi Arabian show and that means there is only going to be so much to get out of the thing. What matters here is having some big matches and getting them to go well, which should not be that big of a problem. It also helps that they have gotten rid of a lot of the bad ideas that you see on this show, meaning this might actually have some potential. Now just live up to those possibilities.

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