WWE Crown Jewel is all set to take place today (Sat., Nov. 2, 2024) from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It begins at 11:00 am ET with the Countdown show leading right on into the main course at 1 pm ET on Peacock in the U.S., WWE Network everywhere else, or your local cable pay-per-view provider.
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
CROWN JEWEL PREDICTIONS
Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline
Geno Mrosko: A game before the war goes to the cage. Pick: Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline
Sean Rueter: Heels win, everybody gets reinforcements and we do it again in a few weeks at WarGames. Pick: The Bloodline (Solo’s version)
Kyle Decker: Solo’s Bloodline has to win this one. If the story is the OG Bloodline needs Sami to help take down, then Roman, Jim, and Jey can’t win what will in essence be a 4 on 3 match. Zayn won’t be helping tonight. He’s going to need a lot of convincing to get there. But it needs to be shown they need him. Pick: The Bloodline
Claire Elizabeth: Yep, the All-New, All-Different Bloodline need to keep control of the situation until the band is entirely back together, and then the OGs can start dismantling them piece by bloody piece. Pick: All-New, All-Different Bloodline
Cain A. Knight: I think Reigns and The Usos will win later this month at War Games, so maybe a new Bloodline member joins Solo’s side here to give them the win. Pick: Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline
Marcus Benjamin: Solo’s crew has to win this match to set up the larger prize down the line. This is the plot point for Sami Zayn’s entry into the story, which makes all of the drama with him right now very intriguing. Pick: Solo’s Bloodline
M. G0MEZ: All signs point to the ultimate Bloodline showdown at Survivor Series inside WarGames. After Roman Reigns’ victory at Bad Blood, Solo Sikoa and his crew need a win to keep Survivor Series interesting. With Tonga Loa on the outside, Team Sikoa has the numbers advantage. Jimmy Uso eats the pin. Pick: Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline
Crown Jewel Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER
Geno Mrosko: Straight up wrestling, between the ropes, this great sport, the advantage is clear. Pick: GUNTHER
Sean Rueter: It’ll be a lot of fun listening to one of these guys brag about being the champion of champions for the next year, and I ain’t talking about the story-finisher. Pick: Gunther
Kyle Decker: This type of match always seems to go to the guy who needs it just slightly more. And in this case, that’s Gunther. He’s booked really well, but it’s clear who the top guy between these guys are and it’s not the Austrian. Plus, Cody has Kevin Owens to worry about and if Bill Goldberg isn’t going to be in Saudi Arabia, Gunther shouldn’t need to look over his shoulders. Pick: Gunther
Claire Elizabeth: Sweet dark lady Satan that is an ugly belt and honestly GUNTHER has too much respect for the sport of professional wrestling to sully it by slinging it over his shoulder or fastening it around his waist, whereas it slides right into Cody’s gaudy eagles-and-gold Homelander-lite aesthetic. Pick: “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
Cain A. Knight: Cody doesn’t need this win, whereas it can be a big boost for GUNTHER. Kevin Owens will interfere and punch Cody in his stupid face. Pick: GUNTHER
Marcus Benjamin: This is a tough one for me, and not just because of that thing they’re calling a belt. Liberace wouldn’t wear that thing even if you paid him. But the real reason it’s tough is because I can’t get excited about the match even though I should. GUNTHER vs. Cody Rhodes is a big deal but it’s barely registering right now. Help me, Kevin Owens. You’re my only hope. Pick: GUNTHER
M. G0MEZ: Since 2001, WWE’s secondary world champion has often outshined the WWE Champion, a trend that will continue in Saudi Arabia. A Gunther victory elevates him and the World Championship. Meanwhile, a loss by Cody Rhodes makes him seem vulnerable and ripe for the picking, adding drama to his next program, likely with Kevin Owens. Pick: Gunther
Crown Jewel Championship: Liv Morgan vs. Nia Jax
Geno Mrosko: The odds favor Nia, and I’m guessing she does win here and they tease another cash in they fail to deliver on. Pick: Nia Jax
Sean Rueter: If Rhea’s face wasn’t broken, I imagine she would have gotten involved here along with Raquel Rodriguez and Tiffy in the Bank. Does that help me make a prediction? Nah, I’m just stalling for time. Let’s say that gloating about injuring Ripley again is Morgan’s win for the week, so the Crown Jewel ring is flying home with her opponent. Pick: Nia Jax
Kyle Decker: It feels like they’re working to decorate Nia as much as they can while Liv, while doing great work, is more of a conniving, somewhat cowardly heel. The big question is if Tiffany Stratton walks out with a title, but I don’t think that happens yet. Pick: Nia Jax
Claire Elizabeth: Since I picked the men’s match on aesthetics I think it’s only fair that I do the same for the women and honestly Liv is aesthetically punished enough by having to drag Dominik Mysterio’s ugly ass around as it is. Pick: Nia Jax
Cain A. Knight: The winner gets a “massive ring,” and I think Liv can make better use of that prize as a weapon to help her win future matches. Pick: Liv Morgan
Marcus Benjamin: Liv has the crew behind her while Nia’s running mate is ready to stab her in the back. Pick: Liv Morgan
M. G0MEZ: As Lady Diesel to Liv Morgan’s HBK, Raquel Rodriguez hasn’t been impressive in the bodyguard role. She can change that by preventing a potential Money in the Bank cash-in by Tiffany Stratton and manhandling Nia Jax. That would strengthen Rodriguez’s image and her alliance with Morgan, presenting an even greater challenge for Rhea Ripley. Pick: Liv Morgan
United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade
Geno Mrosko: I can’t stop trying to figure out why Carmelo said he can’t think of a better place to become U.S. champion than Saudi Arabia. It’s not going to happen anyway but still. Pick: LA Knight
Sean Rueter: Melo and El Idolo couldn’t win a seven-match series, they’re not winning a Triple Threat. Pick: LA Knight
Kyle Decker: Actually, it’s Sean again. Kyle is out of pocket this weekend and sent me his picks in advance, but I didn’t realize he was missing this one. The YEAH man is probably his favorite wrestler not named The Blade though, so I feel safe guessing that if Kyle had submitted a prediction here, it would say the same thing everybody’s saying… Pick: LA Knight
Claire Elizabeth: I just have to take a moment to boggle at how badly WWE messed up a best-of-seven by ending it with a guest referee deciding nothing matters and no one should care. Just… wow. Even in 2024 with WWE being pretty good on the whole they gotta remind you sometimes, huh? Anyway, a three-way on a nothing show with contenders we’ve been explicitly told not to care about… YEAH. Pick: LA Knight
Cain A. Knight: LA Knight’s championship reign kinda sorta sucks so far. Pick: LA Knight
Marcus Benjamin: I’m bucking the trend and I’m picking the guy who is my number two favorite wrestler right now. Pick: Carmelo Hayes
M. G0MEZ: I agree with Cain; LA Knight’s title reign has been underwhelming. The U.S. Title scene needs a shakeup, but it’s not happening at Crown Jewel. Pick: LA Knight
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Geno Mrosko: Still feels like a vehicle to get us to Orton vs. Rhodes eventually, and I think that means tension starts when Randy comes up short against Owens. Pick: Kevin Owens
Sean Rueter: The story dictates a KO win, but these Saudi shows often feel like house shows where the story can be paused or temporarily redirected. And just like the rest of the world, I don’t think the fans in Riyadh want to boo The Viper these days. Pick: Randy Orton
Kyle Decker: Orton should heed Triple H’s words in regards to the dangers of Kevin Owens. It’s going to be shown today that an Owens who feels betrayed is the most dangerous version of him. Pick: Kevin Owens
Claire Elizabeth: I dunno if this is me getting too clever or WWE getting too clever, but I don’t think Kevin Owens is going to be able to control himself to a pinfall finish. That’s right, I’m betting on DQ or count-out baby! Pick: Randy Orton
Cain A. Knight: Triple H warned Orton that Owens is more dangerous than ever, so I guess we’ll find out what exactly that means. Pick: Kevin Owens
Marcus Benjamin: KO needs the win to set up the drama with Cody down the road. Kevin doing enough to scare Randy Orton makes him look like a huge threat. Pick: Kevin Owens
M. G0MEZ: Building on Cain’s point, WWE’s goal is convincing us that Kevin Owens is more dangerous than ever. Thus, winning should be secondary. I predict a DQ finish, with Owens delivering a gnarly post-match beatdown. Pick: Randy Orton
Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed
Geno Mrosko: Big fan of Big Bronson and want big things for him. BIG. Pick: Bronson Reed
Sean Rueter: The Big man may get a win over S.F. Rollins, but that will come when CM Punk is around to help make it happen. Pick: Seth Freakin’ Rollins
Kyle Decker: By the books, it’s Seth who wins this match. He’s the top guy between the two. He’s a Triple H guy. But that doesn’t help Reed, who hasn’t had a marquee win during this push. He can benefit from that way more than Seth would be hurt from a loss. Pick: Bronson Reed
Claire Elizabeth: …ah crap I already blew my dirty finish card, huh? Well that’s okay because now it’s time for Bronson to get a nice clean win anyway. Pick: Bronson Reed
Cain A. Knight: I’m not picking against Seth in his first televised match since returning to Raw. Pick: Seth Rollins
Marcus Benjamin: I wish this was a hardcore match. I wish all of Bronson’s matches were that actually. But yeah, not picking against Seth Rollins here. Pick: Seth Rollins
M. G0MEZ: Seth Rollins hasn’t won a televised match since defeating Jinder Mahal at January’s “Day 1” Raw. The build toward a Rollins-CM Punk feud should start soon, so rebuilding Rollins’ momentum is crucial. Pick: Seth Rollins.
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Damage CTRL
Geno Mrosko: The question is whether or not they think Cargill is finally ready for the big singles run they clearly see in her future. If so, we’re near WrestleMania season. I’m going to say not yet, though. Pick: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
Sean Rueter: Probably about time to start planting seeds for Belair vs. Cargill at WrestleMania 41. Kairi already had a run with the tag belts this year, and it feels to soon to put them on the Meta-Two. Time for an overdue reward. Pick: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
Kyle Decker: The current champs already have a multi-team title loss under their belts, but I don’t think that happens again. Damage CTRL could be a threat, but if they’re to win, it should be two on two. Pick: Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair
Claire Elizabeth: Feels like treading water but not in a terribly unpleasant way. I’d actually love a shock win for either Green & Niven or Legend & Jackson but I think the champs are steady on here. Pick: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
Cain A. Knight: The champs have already beaten most of these teams in separate title defenses, now they get to beat them all at the same time. Pick: Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair
Marcus Benjamin: I love these two but Jade & Bianca are getting a tad boring. And that’s only because they’ve spun the block with every team. There’s no drama, no story, and no real anything of which to grasp because it’s just them dominating everyone in sight. Pick: Jade Cargil & Bianca Belair
M. G0MEZ: C’mon, just look at the challengers. Pick: Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair
