5 title changes that happened at WWE events in Saudi Arabia

WWE has been rolling out wrestling events for its Saudi crowd since 2014, and they've all been well-received by fans in that part of the world. It was not until 2018 that the Stamford-based company promoted its first-ever premium live event in Saudi Arabia, dubbed WWE Greatest Royal Rumble.

The event was essentially a supersized iteration of the eponymous match where 50 WWE Superstars brawled inside the ring to the delight of the Saudi fans.

Numerous PLEs have already been promoted in that country since then and fans even witnessed several shocking title changes. With this year’s Night of Champions being days away, will the Saudi fans be treated anew with such a scenario?

In retrospect, take a look at five of the title changes that happened in Saudi Arabia.

#5. John Morrison and The Miz vs. The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Big E (Super ShowDown 2020)

These two teams fought for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship, with The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Big E holding the belts at the time. During an episode of SmackDown prior to the event, John Morrison and The Miz reunited to face off against the champs at the Saudi show.

The two teams went back and forth during the match. At the tail end of it, The Miz grabbed Big E and set him up for his signature Skull Crushing Finale. After successfully sending it, The A-Lister pinned the latter for the three-count and a shocker of a title change.

#4. Damage CTRL’s Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai vs. Asuka and Alexa Bliss is another tag team title change (Crown Jewel 2022)

This title change took place during last year’s Crown Jewel when Damage CTRL’s Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai went at it against then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Alexa Bliss.

Just days before the match, Little Miss Bliss and The Empress of Tomorrow returned to RAW after missing action for a few weeks due to an attack by Damage CTRL. Bliss and Asuka challenged Sky and Kai for the titles that night, which they successfully captured.

The newly-crowned champions were immediately challenged and the rematch was set for the above-mentioned Saudi PLE.

The champs were seemingly on their way to retaining the titles as Bliss attempted to perform her Twisted Bliss on Kai. However, Nikki Cross snuck into the match and delivered a twisting neckbreaker to Bliss. Kai saw the opportunity and pinned Bliss for the win.

#3. A quick match for a title change with Goldberg and The Fiend Bray Wyatt (Super ShowDown 2020)

The main event of 2020’s Super ShowDown featuring Goldberg and Bray Wyatt’s alter ego The Fiend was a rather short one.

It kicked off when then-WWE Universal Champion Bray Wyatt interrupted Dollar Bill’s interview, who at the time was eyeing the Universal Championship. Probably thinking that it was the opportunity he was waiting for, Goldberg wasted no time in challenging Wyatt.

Come Super ShowDown, both superstars immediately got down to business as Goldberg delivered a spear to The Fiend that resulted in a near-fall. The champion then retaliated by connecting a Mandible Claw to Goldberg, but the WCW legend managed to escape it.

The champ did it a second time, bearing the same result. Goldberg returned the favor by delivering his Jackhammer finisher to The Fiend for the win.

The match only lasted three minutes, but it garnered a couple of firsts. That title change made Goldberg the first WWE Superstar to have won a world championship after becoming a WWE Hall of Famer. As for The Fiend, he had just suffered his first-ever loss since the debut of the character.

#2. The Fiend Bray Wyatt vs. Seth Rollins (Crown Jewel 2019)

A year prior to the aforementioned Saudi ShowDown, Bray Wyatt’s feared persona also main-evented the 2019 Crown Jewel as he fought against The Visionary and then-WWE Universal Champion, Seth Freakin’ Rollins.

The two WWE Superstars had already gotten acquainted with each other at Hell in a Cell that same year, though that one ended in a stoppage. The two crossed paths yet again during the October 11 episode of SmackDown, and despite them being drafted at the time to different brands (Rollins to RAW and Wyatt to SmackDown), a championship rematch was locked in for Crown Jewel.

It was a Falls Count Anywhere match for the WWE Universal Championship. Unlike the Goldberg match, this one went the distance and featured a lot of awesome spots.

There was a spot where Rollins performed several Curb Stomps on The Fiend while they were at the entrance ramp. The Visionary even connected a superkick to send The Fiend crashing into a pile of electrical equipment nearby.

Despite Rollins’ efforts, The Fiend proved to be a seemingly invincible opponent. The title change came when The Fiend applied his Mandible Claw and later connected with a Sister Abigail for the win. Wyatt’s persona then took the belt to SmackDown.

#1. Brock Lesnar at WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 is one hard-fought title change at a Saudi event

Another title change took place during the main event of The Elimination Chamber in 2022. Brock Lesnar was pitted against AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Matt Riddle, Seth Freakin Rollins, and then-WWE Champion Bobby Lashley.

Unfortunately, The All Mighty was unable to compete after Rollins powerbombed Theory into the champ’s chamber. Despite what happened, the match continued.

For those unaware, Lashley was legit injured prior to the match and was written off using WWE’s concussion protocol.

When Lashley’s chamber lit up, Lesnar broke through his and came in hot. He F5’d each of the remaining competitors, including Theory, who received The Beast’s finisher before getting pinned by Lesnar for the win.