Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – World Heavyweight Championship match

Background: On the October 9 episode of Raw, while Seth “Freakin” Rollins was celebrating his successful World Heavyweight Championship defense at Fastlane, he was confronted by Drew McIntyre, who wanted a title match. Despite complaining about feeling fatigue from his Fastlane defense, Rollins accepted, believing it was for that night. However, McIntyre stated that he wanted to face a healed up Rollins and suggested the match for Crown Jewel, which Rollins accepted.

Previous PPV matches: These two men have wrestled once on PPV before, it was back at Money In The Bank 2020 and Drew McIntyre won that one.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Seth Rollins is 1-3, Drew McIntyre is 1-2.

Match: Drew McIntyre starts the match hotter, taking it to Rollins and hitting a big belly to belly suplex on the outside. Seth can’t seem to gain any momentum for a while and tries to pick up the pace only to fall back down to Drew. Rollins does manage to take McIntyre down and hits a nice springboard senton and springboard moonsault combo for a near fall. McIntyre hits a future shock DDT for a near fall. Rollins hits a suicide dive but McIntyre then rams him into the ring steps and hits a side slam into the apron. Back in the ring and Rollins hits a pedigree for a near fall. McIntyre counters a stomp and hits a couple of belly to belly’s. Seth counters a claymore kick and hits a stomp but only for a near fall. Drew avoids a phoenix splash and hits a claymore for a very near fall. Seth counters a second claymore and hits a pedigree and a stomp for the win.

Result: Seth Rollins wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent enough title defence for Seth Rollins. They didn’t give you much reason to think Drew was going to win the title but I think a heel turn would do him the world of good. There were plenty of false finishes but its Rollins reign continues. 

Rating: 7/10

Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Nia Jax – Fatal five way for the Women’s World Championship

Background: At Payback, Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the Women’s World Championship. During a rematch on the September 11 episode of Raw, however, Nia Jax made a surprise return to WWE—her first appearance after a brief return at the Royal Rumble in January—and attacked Rodriguez, which allowed Ripley to retain her championship. However, Jax also attacked Ripley after the match. Jax then interfered in a tag team match that involved Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark the following week. Over the next few weeks, Ripley, Rodriguez, Baszler, and Jax would interfere in each others matches and brawl with each other. These eruptions would come to a head during the season premiere of Raw on October 16, as following another brawl between the women which also involved Stark, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Ripley would defend the Women’s World Championship against Jax, Baszler, Stark, and Rodriguez in a fatal five-way match at Crown Jewel.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time five way match between these five girls.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: All five girls wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: This match starts in chaotic fashion. Nia exits the ring early but it eventually turns into a four on one against her. The four remaining girls then go at it with all the girls on top at some point. There’s a fun spot with Shayna applying submission holds to Rhea, Nia and Raquel at the same time. Zoey Stark hits a really impressive springboard cross body to the outside on Rhea and Raquel before hitting the G360 on Ripley for a near fall. Rodriguez hits a Tabana Bomb on Jax for a near fall. The finish comes with Rhea hitting a rip-tide off the middle rope on Zoey Stark on to Raquel and Shayna before pinning Baszler for the three.

Result: Rhea Ripley wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun match. It was every bit as chaotic as I thought it would be. All of the girls had a good showing and it’s notable that Nia Jax wasn’t involved in the finish. Rhea Ripley retains in a fun match. 

Rating: 6.25/10

John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa

Background: After endorsing LA Knight at Payback, and then teaming with him at Fastlane to defeat The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa), John Cena opened the season premiere of SmackDown on October 13; however, he was interrupted by Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and the return of Bloodline leader and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, who had taken a vacation shortly after SummerSlam in August. Reigns gave Cena the option to leave the ring voluntarily or they would make him leave; however, Cena stated that he acknowledged Reigns and that he was not there to challenge him for the title as he had not earned the opportunity. On SmackDown, October 20th, after realizing he had not won a televised singles match since April 2018 and teasing retirement, Cena called out anyone to face him, which prompted Sikoa to come out and a brawl ensued. On October 27, a match between the two was announced for Crown Jewel.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Both men wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: John Cena dominates the early stages of the match, even updating his arsenal to target the thumb of Solo Sikoa. Solo soon takes control and slows down the pace. Cena ducks a spike attempt and looks for an attitude adjustment but Sikoa wriggles free. Cena avoids another spike and applies the STF. Solo breaks free and continues to dominate. John avoids another spike and hits his trademark shoulder blocks, side slam and five knuckle shuffle. Solo counters an attitude adjustment and hits a Samoan drop for a near fall. Both men continue to counter one another’s finishers. Cena applies the STF again but Solo gets out and hits eleven Samoan spikes! He pins Cena and picks up the (surprising) victory.

Result: Solo Sikoa wins by pinfall.

Review: Not a bad match between these two. It had a slow pace with a few false finishes. I honestly thought Cena would be winning this one. Solo gets the win though, by far the biggest singles victory of his career so far. 

Rating: 5/10

Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Logan Paul – United States Championship match

Background: After winning his boxing match at MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – The Prime Card on October 14, Logan Paul, whose last WWE match was at SummerSlam in August, challenged Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship. Mysterio responded that Paul could find him any Friday on SmackDown. Paul then appeared on the October 20 episode and recounted that he already defeated Mysterio in a tag team match at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, which was Paul’s first WWE match. Mysterio then came out and accepted Paul’s challenge for the United States Championship at Crown Jewel.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time singles match between these two men.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Rey Mysterio is 1-1, Logan Paul is 0-1.

Match: Logan Paul get a grand entrance, showing him drive around the desert in a quad bike before driving the quad bike out to the entrance ramp. It’s a cagey start to the match but Logan Paul soon takes control. He uses some power moves and even relocates some of Ultimate Warrior’s moves like the gorilla press slam and splash. Rey gets back into it and picks up the pace. Logan hits a buckshot lariat for a near fall.  Mysterio looks for a springboard moonsault and nearly lands on his head, fair play to Logan Paul, he saved Rey there. Logan hits a massive moonsault fallaway slam off the top rope. Logan Paul counters a 619 but Rey hits a sunset bomb off the top and then code red for a two count. One of Logan’s entourage hands him brass knuckles but Rey sends him into the ring post causing Paul to drop them. Santos Escobar stops the entourage member from handing them to Logan again but leaves the brass knucks on the apron. Logan grabs them but gets hit with a 619. Logan Paul then hammers Rey with them as he looks for the west coast pop and then pins Mysterio for the win!

Result: Logan Paul wins the United States Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was another really fun match. I had a feeling Logan Paul would win the title and the finish makes you wonder whether Santos Escobar did it on purpose. I like Logan Paul with this title, he’ll bring a lot of eyes to WWE. Logan Paul continues to prove he’s one of the must watch superstars in WWE. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair – WWE Women’s Championship match

Background: At SummerSlam, Bianca Belair won the WWE Women’s Championship, but immediately after the match, Damage CTRL’s Iyo Sky cashed-in her Money in the Bank contract and defeated Belair to win the title. On the August 18 episode of SmackDown, after Belair defeated Damage CTRL (Sky and Bayley) in a tag team match, Bayley and Sky viciously attacked Belair backstage with chairs, injuring Belair’s knee (kayfabe). Two months later on the October 20 episode, after Sky successfully defended her championship against Charlotte Flair, Sky and Bayley attacked Flair, and Belair made a surprise return, saving Flair. The following week, Belair announced that after talking with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, she would get her rematch for the WWE Women’s Championship against Sky at Crown Jewel.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two girls, Bianca won the previous match at Backlash.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Iyo Sky is 1-0, Bianca Belair is 1-1.

Match: Bianca Belair uses her power to take control in the early going but also shows off her finesse by hitting a moonsault. Iyo soon takes the advantage, she’s wearing something you would have seen Lita wear in 2001. She works the knee of Belair and the match starts to become back and forth. Bayley shows up and distracts Bianca but Iyo doesn’t look too happy about it. Sky hits a moonsault on Bianca outside the ring but it remains a back and forth match. Bianca hits a glam slam but Bayley distracts the referee. Belair then goes after Bayley and Iyo accidentally nails Bayley herself. Kairi Sane then shows up and wipes out Bianca on the outside! Belair rolls back into the ring but Iyo hits her with a moonsault which is enough for the three.

Result: Iyo Sky wins by pinfall.

Review: I enjoyed this match. I’m a big fan of Kairi Sane showing up and I look forward to seeing where this goes. Iyo remains champion. 

Rating: 6.75/10

Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest

Background: For months, Cody Rhodes had been at odds with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley), and their accomplice JD McDonagh. At Fastlane, Rhodes and Jey Uso defeated Bálor and Priest to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, however, Bálor and Priest regained the titles in a rematch during the season premiere of Raw on October 16. The following week, as Bálor and Priest were celebrating winning back the titles, Rhodes interrupted them. After Priest taunted and called Rhodes a failure, Rhodes challenged Priest to a match that night, however, Priest denied since he already had a match scheduled against Uso. Priest in turn challenged Rhodes to a match at Crown Jewel, which Rhodes accepted.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Damian Priest is 1-0, Cody wrestles at Crown Jewel for the first time tonight.

Match: Damian Priest attacks Cody Rhodes as he enters the ring and the match starts in frenetic fashion. It’s back and forth from here but Rhodes sells a bad ankle which gives Priest the advantage. Rhodes fires back with a disaster kick for a two count. Priest hits a reckoning on the announce desk which doesn’t budge. Back in the ring and Cody hits cross-Rhodes. Finn Balor makes his way to the ring which distracts the referee and allows JD McDonagh to get into the ring but Cody nails him with a right hand. Priest hits south of heaven for a near fall. Dominik Mysterio then walks out with a steel chair but Jey Uso takes him and the rest of Judgment Day out with superkicks before chasing them off with a the chair. Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter and a bionic elbow for a near fall. Rhodes hits another Cody Cutter, this time from the top rope for a near fall. Cody hits three Cross-Rhodes which is enough for the three.

Result: Cody Rhodes wins by pinfall.

Review: It feels like every match has been chaotic tonight and I don’t expect it to change. Cody gets a big win tonight in a match between two men who could be the next holders of the World and Undisputed Championships respectively. A decent match tonight. 

Rating: 6.75/10

Roman Reigns (c) vs. LA Knight – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match

Background: After endorsing LA Knight at Payback, and then teaming with him at Fastlane to defeat The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa), John Cena opened the season premiere of SmackDown on October 13; however, he was interrupted by Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and the return of Bloodline leader and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, who had taken a vacation shortly after SummerSlam in August. Reigns gave Cena the option to leave the ring voluntarily or they would make him leave; however, Cena stated that he acknowledged Reigns and that he was not there to challenge him for the title as he had not earned the opportunity. Cena then introduced Knight as a worthy challenger. Knight came out and berated Reigns and noted his own rise to stardom in Reigns’ absence. Uso then attacked Knight from behind only for Knight to throw him out of the ring. Reigns then ordered Sikoa to handle Knight, and the two faced each other in the main event where Uso tried to interfere once again, however, he was impeded by Cena, and Knight subsequently defeated Sikoa. Following the match, Reigns attacked Knight. On October 20, it was announced that Reigns would defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Knight at Crown Jewel.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two men.

Crown Jewel PPV Record: Roman Reigns is 3-0, LA Knight makes his Crown Jewel debut tonight.

Match: LA Knight comes out of the blocks quickly but is soon hammered down by Roman Reigns. Roman dominates at a slow, methodical pace but does hit a high impact clothesline. Knight starts to gain some momentum and get a two count off a DDT. Reigns hits a superman punch for a near fall. Knight hits a superplex and an elbow drop. Solo Sikoa walks out from the back whilst Jimmy Uso drags Roman out of the ring. Knight gets distracted which allows Reigns to hit a superman punch and a spear but only for a near fall. Reigns applies a guillotine but Knight breaks it. LA Knight hits blunt force trauma and hooks the leg but Jimmy Uso puts Reigns’ other foot on the rope. Knight takes out Jimmy on the outside and then sends Reigns into the ringpost. Knight puts Jimmy Uso through an announce desk but then turns around into a spear through the barricade. Back in the ring and Reigns hits another spear for the win.

Result: Roman Reigns wins by pinfall.

Review: This was another decent match. It wasn’t spectacular but it was good and got better as the match went on. There was no doubting who was going to win but this match really helped establish LA Knight. Like every match tonight, there was chaos and run-ins. Roman retains the title tonight. 

Rating: 7/10