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WWE has announced their return to Saudi Arabia with "Crown Jewel" set to take place on November 2nd at the King Fahd International Stadium. It's the WWE's second venture into Saudi Arabia this year after The Greatest Royal Rumble in April.
Two events a year in Saudi Arabia was part of the ten year deal WWE signed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Saudi Vision 2030. A project for social and economic reform in Saudi Arabia. They have announced that the first ever WWE World Cup will take place at the event to "determine the best wrestler in the world".
If, you don't count the Cruiserweight Classic this will be WWE's first major international tournament. There are very few details about the tournament yet and it is not known how many wrestlers will compete.
It will perhaps consist of eight wrestlers with the matches taking up the majority of the show. They have a huge roster of international wrestlers to choose a winner from and could potentially bring in outside stars to compete in the cup. Here are the top 5 wrestlers who should win the WWE World Cup.
#5. Andrade Almas - Mexico
Since debuting on Smackdown Live Andrade Almas has been waiting for an opportunity to break into the main event scene. Winning the World Cup would be the perfect way for the former NXT Champion to do so.
Almas has been successful in tournaments in the past. He won the Copa Junior once and the Reyes del Aire twice in his time with CMLL in Mexico. WWE are also looking for a Latin American Superstar to attract Hispanic fans much like Rey Mysterio did. Almas and his Manager, Zelina Vega would be perfect to fill that role.
#4. Shinsuke Nakamura - Japan
To some fans Shinsuke Nakamura's time in WWE has been a disappointment. Despite winning the 2018 Royal Rumble, he has not had an opportunity to really impress on the main roster and even his recent heel turn has now grown stale.
His best match with the company is still his first match in NXT against Sami Zayn. Winning the World Cup could provide Nakamura with a bit of a fresh start on the main roster. WWE has a world-class wrestler and a beloved Japanese sensation on their hands and it would be a real shame to see his talent wasted.
#3. Pete Dunne - England
Pete Dunne has been the breakout star of NXT's expansion into the UK. He has been UK Champion for 480+ days. Winning the World Cup would be huge for Pete Dunne and the new NXT UK brand.
The World Cup would be a perfect way to introduce him to fans who may not know him yet and to attract people to watch NXT UK on the WWE Network. There is no doubt that Dunne has a very bright future ahead of him in NXT UK and on the WWE main roster. It would not be going too far to say that Dunne may be a future WWE Champion.
#2. Kevin Owens - Canada
Kevin Owens has had a horrible 2018. This time last year he was part of a huge angle where he headbutted Vince McMahon and main-event'ed Hell in a Cell. This year he wasn't even on the show. He has spent the last few months being beaten from pillar to post by Braun Strowman and is now somehow helping him in his battle with The Shield.
Since Sami Zayn got injured, Owens has had no direction in WWE and winning the World Cup could be just what he need to get back on track. He could even go all in on the Canada Patriot gimmick and deliver a victory speech in French.
#1. Finn Balor
Finn Balor has been stuck in the mid-card since his return from injury in 2017 and has had nothing to do since his Intercontinental Championship match at Wrestlemania this year. Finn Balor should be a main event star on RAW and winning the World Cup could boost his chances at a Universal Championship match.
It could at least bump him up the card to compete for the Intercontinental Championship again. They should book Gallows and Anderson to do a run-in to help him to win the Cup and the reform The Balor Club. Gallows and Anderson are lost in the tag team division on Smackdown anyway.
