3 Issues We Hated And three Issues We Beloved

WWE Crown Jewel 2024 is formally within the books. The stacked premium dwell occasion emanating out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, noticed two model new titles — the boys’s Crown Jewel Championship and ladies’s Crown Jewel Championship — awarded to their inaugural victors. It additionally featured two large grudge matches, as Seth Rollins took on Bronson Reed and Randy Orton confronted the unhinged Kevin Owens. LA Knight defended his United States title towards Andrade and Carmelo Hayes and girls’s tag champs Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Oh, and there was additionally the small matter of the unique Bloodline going through off towards members of the brand new incarnation of the faction in a six-man tag match. 

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In case you’re studying our ideas on what went down at Crown Jewel, we hope you’ve got already shaped your individual by watching or studying the outcomes, so spoilers from this level on.

No titles modified fingers, one grudge match by no means even received formally underway and the opposite won’t be settled but. Two world champs received some additional {hardware} to point out off and loads of shenanigans had been afoot within the Bloodline household drama. We’re not going to speak about all of it — in actual fact, we’re not going to speak about Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER, however relaxation assured, all of us loved it; simply not as a lot as we loved another stuff! Listed here are three issues we hated and three issues we beloved about WWE Crown Jewel 2024.

I will begin out by saying I am simply assuming that the OG Bloodline versus the brand new Bloodline will likely be a match at Survivor Sequence: WarGames in a number of weeks, however I believe it is a pretty secure assumption to make, even after as we speak. I went in to this match pondering it was going to finish up as a “hated” portion of this text, written by me, for the straightforward purpose it pit Roman Reigns’ Bloodline versus Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline towards one another forward of WarGames, which I believe is way too early. I assumed we might have continued to arrange this feud with in-ring promos, a number of beatdowns, and no matter else as an alternative of an precise match, however that wasn’t the case.

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After as we speak, I hated this complete factor much more, as a result of it was Reigns who ate the pin from Sikoa to finish the match. Whereas I really like the Usos, they completely might have taken a pin from Sikoa to additional issues together with this story with out hurting Reigns. Earlier than Sami Zayn got here out on the finish of this match, I had a sense of “why hassle?” as soon as it concluded. Till Zayn’s interference, it felt like we could possibly be going proper to a Sikoa versus Reigns singles match for the title of Tribal Chief, as an alternative of the WarGames match that originally made sense, one I am nonetheless hoping for, however I am undecided if I am as invested in as I used to be earlier than. When it comes right down to it, this was a Bloodline versus Bloodline match, and doubtless ought to have resulted in no contest chaos to maintain everybody protected entering into to a much bigger match at a much bigger PLE.

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The very fact this match went on first additionally did not assist something for me. After all, it made sense, contemplating there have been two larger matches for the Crown Jewel Championships to go on, and one would hope Cody Rhodes versus GUNTHER was going to most important occasion. However, I believe I am simply now so conditioned for something involving the Bloodline to most important occasion a present, this made issues really feel fairly bizarre, and even sluggish, at occasions for me for the remainder of the present. Bloodline matches at all times begin out so sluggish to start with, and it made it onerous for me to get into the remainder of the PLE. There wasn’t a lot for me to love inside this match in any respect, from even earlier than the bell rang, by way of the three rely with Reigns’ shoulders on the mat. I am positive the drama that is persevering with to unfold throughout the “good” Bloodline, now involving Zayn, will draw me proper again in, however the end of as we speak’s match left a foul style in my mouth.

Written by Daisy Ruth

As soon as upon a time, on the Island of Relevancy, a tribe domineered over the WWE Universe with unbridled violence and underhanded techniques. They had been a tight-knit household certain by blood, believing success to be their birthright, and within the strategy of sustaining that rightful success they welcomed an outsider, first solely as a method to an finish. As time went on, the outsider turned one with the household in his personal respect, naturally endearing himself to the group he was merely simply surviving, held on a decent leash for worry of violent ejection. However quickly the outsider broke the Stockholm Syndrome, realizing that neither did he wish to do the issues he was tasked with, but in addition that he did not want a familial relationship if it meant servitude.

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That has been the story of Sami Zayn and The Bloodline, with that synopsis because the naked bones of particular person arcs between every of the characters. Zayn has his personal distinctive bond with every member of The Bloodline, new and authentic; the virtually patriarchal and adversarial relationship along with his former “Tribal Chief,” the brotherly relationship shared with every of The Usos – one Jimmy Uso severed abruptly whereas Jey Uso has nurtured with time, and the unstated bond shared with Solo Sikoa on the opposite facet. The aftermath of Crown Jewel’s Bloodline six-man tag exemplified each a type of dynamics, with Zayn coming right down to the ring as Sikoa had Jey arrange for a chair snap throughout his neck. He first pleaded with Sikoa to not undergo with it, standing between the warring brothers, however when it turned clear the self-proclaimed “Tribal Chief” would not be deterred, he dedicated to saving the one member of The Bloodline he nonetheless has a bond with. For a second in time, occupied by the fast risk earlier than them, all of Zayn, Reigns, and The Usos got here collectively to dispatch of Sikoa. However the second could not erase the break down between the heroes on this story, the conflicts each one among them shared, and the clashing mentalities of their character arcs.

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So Zayn and Reigns each went forward, trying to ship the primary blow, and got here collectively for maybe the funniest and but most reasonable end result: Zayn kicked Reigns within the face and Sikoa ran off laughing on the collapse. It was amusing of aid for the “Tribal Chief” after which got here the belief, he had a cohesive unit and his foes stood bickering within the ring. Once you comply with the way in which every of the characters have continued to work together with each other over the previous few years, every chapter heading into this occasion after which the occasion itself paid homage to the lore. The muse has been laid as soon as extra for weeks of TV resulting in an eventual reunion for actual, the Avengers wanted Infinity Battle’s loss to win Endgame, and the identical could possibly be mentioned about The Bloodline OGs.

Written by Max Everett

Seth Rollins was written off “WWE Uncooked” in August —reportedly to get well from a legit, non-storyline damage — and his exit was one thing to behold. “Huge” Bronson Reed, searching for to step into the primary occasion image, attacked Rollins in the course of the ring on the model’s flagship present, hitting him with a staggering collection of six Tsunamis. In Reed’s buildup as a heel, he attacked The Miz in related vogue earlier than Braun Strowman stepped in, organising the Final Monster Standing match with Reed. Rollins, in fact, returned from damage and value Reed that match, organising this Crown Jewel grudge match. 

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Whereas Rollins is a extra seasoned hand and it is sensible to have him step again into the world title dialog — or right into a feud with CM Punk — it comes on the expense of Reed’s momentum as a monster heel. Rollins’ win was additionally just about written on the wall, with reviews of his participation in a No. 1 Contender’s match on “WWE Uncooked” popping out simply forward of Crown Jewel. Clearly that chance would not make a lot sense if he’d taken the L this weekend, so Reed wanted to lose the match and thus a little bit of steam in his ascent.

It stays to be seen how this inventive determination will play out, however maybe the one saving grace was seeing Reed rise within the heart of the ring and stare Rollins down after the match.

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Written by Kevin Tall

I discussed in my dislike for the Bloodline match opener of this PLE that I did not just like the pacing of this present, which is why I believe I actually ended up liking the slightly overbooked messiness that was the Girls’s Crown Jewel Championship match that pit Liv Morgan towards Nia Jax. All of us knew Ms. Cash within the Financial institution Tiffany Stratton was ready within the wings along with her briefcase, however fortunately, for now, she did not money in on both champion. Although, she tried, and the way messy that received for her, bringing in “Soiled” Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez made issues enjoyable and appeared to select up the tempo of the present, for my part.

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This additionally furthers the storyline with Jax and Stratton on “SmackDown,” and I believe Stratton finally ends up cashing in on her former pal in a babyface flip. If the way in which Jax has been treating her on the blue model wasn’t already a giant inform, I believe Morgan capturing the Crown Jewel Championship over Jax is one other. Morgan has the character higher match to brag about that ridiculously gaudy title proper now, regardless of not having the ability to carry it along with her over right here in the USA, and Jax can deal with her feud with Stratton, in addition to Naomi coming for her championship.

I believe the way in which this match was booked made excellent sense and was essential to proceed a narrative on not less than one among WWE’s two manufacturers. Rhodes and GUNTHER will each go their very own methods now, however Stratton and Jax’s frenemy-ship appears to be coming to an finish, additional by their time in Saudi Arabia. Whereas the Crown Jewel Championship actually means nothing, Morgan can brag about it because the slimy heel she is when in search of a brand new challenger for her Girls’s World Championship on “Uncooked.” The pacing of this match helped the present transfer alongside properly and was fairly entertaining. I beloved it for all that it was, even when the championship does not actually imply an excessive amount of within the grand scheme of issues.

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Written by Daisy Ruth

Every time Carmelo Hayes and Andrade meet one another within the ring, they create one thing magical given the nice chemistry that they’ve with each other. They have been within the ring with one another a number of occasions now, and have turn out to be fairly accustomed to one another as rivals which exhibits of their matches. Due to that, at sure factors on this United States Triple Risk match, it felt like LA Knight’s presence within the Triple Risk nearly threw issues off somewhat bit and took away from what in any other case would’ve been a stable match.

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What’s extra, there additionally was no purpose for Hayes to be the one one taking the pin within the match provided that Knight landed the BFT on each him and Andrade, and will’ve simply pinned them each. There was already one other level within the match the place Knight had pinned each Hayes and Andrade, and that one ought to’ve been put on the finish particularly because the objective of the match was to get Knight over to maintain him trying sturdy. It made Hayes look weaker than wanted popping out of the match, one thing that’s much more baffling when you think about his spot on the higher mid card of “SmackDown” and the push he is been getting because of his Finest Of Seven Sequence with Andrade.

Written by Olivia Quinlan

Going into this bout the recurring theme with Kevin Owens has been the insistence that he did not wish to face Randy Orton at Crown Jewel. Positive, he attacked Orton for what he noticed as taking Cody Rhodes’ facet, however like his feud with Rhodes it is not like he noticed himself because the aggressor. Owens lashed out at Rhodes for what he would describe as a betrayal when he noticed his pal take Roman Reigns as his associate. It is throughout these hostilities that “KO” drew the ire of Orton, elbowing him in a brawl with Rhodes and getting decked in return. That was, once more as he noticed it, a betrayal that deserved a receipt. With out attempting to deep dive an excessive amount of into the psychology behind it, however this can be a basic case of Owens destroying the friendships he has out of insecurity that they may betray him. That’s, in impact, the story being advised, Owens justifies his personal actions as a result of he has satisfied himself that Orton and Rhodes are after him.

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So what did he do when it received to Crown Jewel? He relentlessly attacked his rival earlier than the bell rang, justified in his thoughts as a result of it was a pre-emptive protection. It bought that one thing had really snapped within the thoughts of Owens in the way in which he views his present predicament, he has lashed out and now does not understand how he is imagined to work his means out of the rut, so he’ll proceed to play the sufferer whereas persevering with to aggressively method the state of affairs. It is simply actually enjoyable to have a nuanced character in as we speak’s wrestling local weather, one which is sensible to the narrative enjoying out. Particularly since this can be a feud so near the WWE Championship image, one that would simply spill into Rhodes’ title run with both or each Orton and Owens.

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On Orton’s facet, he’s merely appearing out of vengeance for Owens attacking him. It is not like this can be a paramount objective for him, to be combating Owens due to his points with Rhodes, whereas Rhodes himself is off elsewhere successful extra titles. After Crown Jewel, this feud is one thing that’s beginning to threaten Orton’s personal plans to return to the title image, and we all know “The Viper” sufficient in spite of everything this time that it has taken much less for him to chop off a friendship. What was nice in regards to the section, outdoors of the dumb enjoyable that comes with brawling within the crowd, between Owens and Orton in Riyadh was that it confirmed animosity that may’t be boxed by guidelines, simply setting the precedent for a future stipulation match and planting seeds for the story to develop. That, for me, achieves way over a finisher and a 1-2-3.

Written by Max Everett