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WWE Crown Jewel 2018. An event marred by controversy before it even took place, when WWE performers arrived and prepared for the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fans did not expect an excessively memorable pay-per-view or anything controversial.
They expected that WWE had already had enough controversy to deal with, without creating even more. Well, they were wrong.
WWE had more than just a few surprises and controversial decisions planned for the event.
First of all, the event was kicked off, by 'The Real American' Hulk Hogan, of all people. That in itself is a big point to think about.
Later in the night, in the Universal Championship match, Brock Lesnar faced Braun Strowman. Where most people had thought that Lesnar would lose, 'The Beast' surprised everyone and won the Universal Championship after four F-5s, after a little help from Corbin. Lesnar's win may have its own explanation, but this article is not about that.
However, the biggest shock of the night came somewhere else. In the WWE World Cup tournament, none of the eight men who were part of the series originally were able to win. Instead, when the Miz was 'injured', it was Shane McMahon who took his place in the tournament final.
Suddenly inserting himself, on behalf of SmackDown Live, he defeated Dolph Ziggler with a Coast-to-coast and picked the victory and the trophy. He ran celebrating with the trophy himself, proclaiming himself the 'best in the world'.
Fans were left questioning what they had seen and trying to understand why Shane McMahon would do this.
In this article, we will explore five possible reasons why Shane McMahon did what he did at Crown Jewel.
#5 WWE's way of mocking CM Punk
For a long time, WWE has been haunted. No, not by the Phenom, but by the spectre of a wrestler, gone from the company, for upwards of 5 years now.
CM Punk might have been released by WWE, but he is a name whom the fans cannot forget. While the adulation Punk received from the fans originally has faded slowly, it is in no way gone.
When WWE focused on the tag-line 'Best in the world' for the WWE World Cup, the fans chanted and cheered for CM Punk. The chants were loud enough that Shane McMahon had to shut them up with the quiet put-down, "He isn't here."
By handing Shane McMahon the title, it goes to show how little WWE cares about the tagline and takes away from the legacy that Punk left in the company.
#4 Turn Shane McMahon Heel
WWE has long pushed the envelope with Shane McMahon, seeing how much he can do. The closest he has come to turning into a heel since returning to the company, however, came earlier this year, during his feud with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon were split over how to deal with these two superstars. They each had their own method, but McMahon seemed obsessed to make sure that they were punished.
This would be understandable sometimes, but his persecution of Zayn and Owens reached new levels, as he seemingly would not stop in this, no matter what. He finally did not turn, and instead teamed with Bryan to face the offending duo at WrestleMania in Bryan's miraculous return.
This angle could see, Shane turning heel finally, and give SmackDown Live the heel authority figure it has lacked. This would help add another dimension to the Blue Brand show.
#3 Shane McMahon is a McMahon
Shane McMahon has done things which no authority figure has any business doing. He has jumped off Cages and Cells, and every high surface in the WWE. He has done grievous bodily harm to himself along the line as well.
Not being an athlete or a permanent part of the roster, this has been immense for him.
But why is the boss' son doing something like this? He is not a premier attraction. Yet ever since returning he has had big matches in most of the big four pay-per-views. He has faced Undertaker and Kevin Owens in two Hell in a Cell matches and has been part of a WrestleMania tag team match with Daniel Bryan, as well as a Survivor Series tag match as well.
The McMahon's are no strangers to making a moment all about themselves. The fact that he is a McMahon, may be the only reason that he is competing in this match.
#2 Last Minute Decision To Replace John Cena
John Cena had been scheduled to be a part of the WWE World Cup tournament. However, the controversy surrounding the Crown Jewel event threw quite a wrench into that plan. He was unable to come to Saudi Arabia, as his brand was too important to come to the event and open him to criticism.
There is a suspicion that it was John Cena who was supposed to win the WWE World Cup tournament. Instead, given what had happened such a result was impossible.
In such a situation WWE went the only direction they could. With the rest of the roster possibly already set for their own storylines heading into Survivor Series, they gave the trophy to Shane McMahon instead, creating a new storyline for him.
Now it remains to be seen whether they follow through or not.
#1 Set up for the Brand Warfare between Raw and SmackDown Live before Survivor Series
Survivor Series approaches on the horizon now, and as the WWE Universe well knows, this means Brand Warfare.
Survivor Series - The only time of the year when Raw and SmackDown Live compete with each other to see who is the best. Leaving aside that this is not entirely true, WWE always treats this time different.
For that reason, a possible heel Shane McMahon leading the SmackDown roster into battle against Monday Night Raw certainly creates an air of intrigue about it.
Shane McMahon would do anything to make sure that the opposing brand does not get a win, something he proved during Crown Jewel, by taking part in the match himself, rather than forfeiting it following the injury to the Miz.
With such desperation, the leadup to Survivor Series is sure to be intriguing.
Why do you think Shane McMahon won the WWE World Cup?
