WWE Crown Jewel 2018: Analysing and grading each match

By Gary Cassidy
Modified Nov 03, 2018 02:15 IST
Crown Jewel was explosive!
Crown Jewel was explosive!

Well, to say WWE Crown Jewel has been mired in controversy would be a monumental understatement, but if you remove all politics from this event, it was truly spectacular in every sense of the word.

From the stage production to the pyro, to the hot crowd, Crown Jewel had it all before we even got to the matches, and this one had an incredibly stacked card to boot.

Hulk Hogan returned to kick off the show before we got a night underway that would see Shawn Michaels return to the ring to team with Triple H to face off against Undertaker and Kane in the ultimate nostalgia trip, a new WWE Universal Champion crowned, and a huge eight-man World Cup tournament. Not to mention three title defences.

So, how did the matches themselves do? Well, I'm here to break it down, give you the results and grade every match for you on what was a pretty incredible Crown Jewel show...

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Rusev - United States Championship Match

The United States title match was added last minute
The United States title match was added last minute

Match: Well, even if it was on the kick-off show, the WWE Universe in Saudi Arabia was electric for this one! Nakamura and Rusev had a hugely physical encounter, as you would expect, but the brutal match would end with Nakamura climbing up to the top turnbuckle and landing the knee to the back, but not getting the fall as Rusev's legs were under the ropes.

Rusev would fight back and even get Nakamura in the Accolade and it looked like we were heading for a new champion - but Nakamura escaped and landed a low blow, that wasn't seen by the referee, before a Kinshasa to retain.

Verdict: A really fun match, if a bit predictable. Considering it only got announced a few days ago, this match was essentially stuck on the kick-off show to be a warm-up - and it did just that!

Grade: C+

Rey Mysterio vs Randy Orton

The World Cup got off to a great start!
The World Cup got off to a great start!

Match: Well, this one was surprisingly quick, but it was definitely a trip down Memory Lane! Rey Mysterio was as energetic and high-flying as we would expect, and the fantastic mesh of Styles with Randy Orton's brutality would make this a wonderful watch.

Randy Orton pretty quickly made his mark and set up for the the RKO, but Mysterio countered and grabbed the win with a roll-up.

After the match was where the drama came in the form of an RKO, then tossing Mysterio out the ring and slamming him onto the announce table. Mysterio was then helped to the back by officials.

Verdict: Really enjoyable, but way too quick. If nothing else, this was an entertaining start to the evening and possibly a tease that we may see Orton vs Mysterio in the near future.

Grade: B

Jeff Hardy vs The Miz

Another SmackDown side match!
Another SmackDown side match!

Match: This was always going to be entertaining - and it didn't fail to deliver!

Right from the start, this looked like a balanced encounter that could have easily gone either way. Miz went for the Skull-Crushing Finale almost immediately, but it somehow ended in Hardy getting a near fall. Miz would then use his feet to battle back and get a near fall of his own.

Hardy would attempt a Twist of Fate, but Miz would battle back before encountering Whisper in the Wind, but again only for a near fall. The match went to the outside and we saw Hardy walk the barricade like a tightrope before flooring the A-Lister.

It was all Hardy, but Miz would avoid a Swanton Bomb, before trying - and failing - to get the win with his feet on the ropes.

Hardy tried a roll-up of his own, but Miz kicked out and almost walked straight into a Twist of Fate, but had the guile to counter into a Skull-Crushing Finale for the win!

Verdict: Well, this was just great! An incredibly enjoyable match - and it was even more bizarre to see Miz pick up a clean win - despite his early efforts to con the official. A fun match, and you wouldn't argue if a rematch got announced.

Grade: B+

Seth Rollins vs Bobby Lashley

Who would join Miz and Mysterio?
Who would join Miz and Mysterio?

Match: Rollins always puts on a great match, and Lashley has undergone somewhat of an overhaul of character - so this was an interesting character. The added dimension of Lio Rush cutting a promo to hype up Lashley definitely added that special something, too.

Lashley definitely showed his strength here, and looked every bit the powerhouse we wanted to see when he returned to WWE, with Seth Rollins showing just why we love him - putting his body on the line, at no point more so than a suicide dive that saw The Architect take a nasty landing. Again, this match was a bit shorter than you'd hope, but a brawl saw Rollins somehow down Lashley long enough to hit the Stomp!

Verdict: An okay match, but we'd want to see a much longer contest between this pair. Nice and physical - and the crowd definitely popped for a Rollins win, too!

Grade: B-

Kurt Angle vs Dolph Ziggler

Who would join Miz and Mysterio?
Who would join Miz and Mysterio?

Match: This was always going to be a classic. With Ziggler's amateur wrestling background and, well, Angle's needs absolutely zero hyperbole to hype his technique, this was always destined to be a match for the wrestling purists.

That is until you add the X factor in the form of Drew McIntyre. A seven-foot X factor.

The match, though, did kick off in true amateur style and looked to progress that way. One of the coolest spots was when Kurt Angle had Dolph Ziggler outside the ropes and tried to suplex The Show-Off onto the mat from the ring. Ziggler countered, though, and Angle ate some steel steps for his innovative troubles

Ziggler would utilise some sleeper holds before being caught for the Angle Slam - but the Show-Off managed to kick out! Angle locked in the Angle Lock, but Ziggler countered before slamming Angle into the turnbuckle and hitting the Zig-Zag for the win!

Verdict: This was undoubtedly one of the surprises of the night. I mean, Dolph Ziggler winning wasn't a huge surprise - but a clean win?! Wow! Incredible match, though, and gave the rest of the night a true standard to try to live up to.

Grade: B+

The New Day vs The Bar

A rivalry reignited
A rivalry reignited

Match: Well, we're so used to seeing these two tag teams clash in classic contests, so there's no surprise the crowd was HYPED about this one. This time, though, there's an equaliser - or more - in the form of The Big Show.

Kofi Kingston and Cesaro started off the action with an incredible display of athleticism with Kofi getting the upper hand before the Swiss Cyborg used an uppercut to give himself the breathing space to tag in Sheamus. The Bar would use heelish tactics to take over the match.

The Bar would take advantage of Kofi Kingston's inability to tag in Big E and isolate the veteran, but Kingston fought back and hit the hot tag. The New Day's dominance didn't last, though, as chaos outside of the ring led to a big punch from the Big Show on Big E before a Brogue Kick sealed the deal.

Verdict: Not one of their best encounters, granted, but these two teams continue to put on classic after classic every single time they share the ring. The Big Show adds a new dimension to the match, and the physicality is still there - but how much longer can we watch these battles before it gets boring? I think a fresh challenge has to be on its way soon.

Grade: B-

Rey Mysterio vs The Miz

The semifinals were set!
The semifinals were set!

Match: Speaking of trips down Memory Lane whenever Rey Mysterio hits the ring - this was the absolute ultimate in that. An incredibly lengthy contest saw Mysterio and Miz, two faces of WWE a decade ago, battle in an epic encounter.

Mysterio entered this match gingerly after that earlier beating from Randy Orton - and Miz must have seen his name in lights! The Master of the 619 eased into the contest trying to shake off his earlier ailments, but Miz would slam him into the barricade and then try pick up the win immediately.

Miz would methodically try and work on the injured torso of Rey before the men would engage in a slugging contest in the middle of the ring, but a crossbody from Mysterio would open it all up. Mysterio set up Miz for the 619 but the lofty veteran Miz played possum and hit the Skull-Crushing Finale, but only for a near fall!

Mysterio tried to roll up Miz in the same way he defeated Randy Orton, but Miz kicked out onl to end up eating a 619, but Mysterio missed a Splash on Miz, with the A-Lister's knees allowing him to roll up Mysterio for the three-count!

Verdict: This was highly enjoyable. Really nice storytelling and a surprisingly long contest with a lot of twists and turns. Miz really has shown tonight why he's one of the top stars in WWE - and Mysterio was as exciting as ever.

Grade: B

Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler

A last chance for a final spot
A last
chance for a final spot

Match: Much like the earlier Tag Team Championship Match, this is obviously a match we're incredibly familiar with - but that doesn't mean it can't be great.

Ziggler was in control early on, wearing down the Intercontinental Champion before being hit with a Crossbody. Rollins bashed the Show-Off all over the place, barrier to barrier, before the fight goes back into the ring and Ziggler takes over, and gets Seth Rollins in a headlock, only for Rollins to reverse it - but Rollins attempt to run into Ziggler sees him run into the turnbuckle.

The pair exchanged strikes in the ring with Ziggler seemingly emerging the stronger, going for a DDT but getting caught before the pair hit near fall after near fall. Rollins went for a buckle bomb, but Ziggler got another near fall. Rollins got another near fall before Rollins hit a Suicide Dive. A Famouser got another for DZ.

This match is on a knife-edge before Rollins hits the Superplex and very nearly the Falcon Arrow, but Ziggler would hit the Zig-Zag for another two count! Rollins downed Ziggler and went up top, Ziggler followed but took a fall before Drew McIntyre pushed Rollins off the turnbuckle, allowing Ziggler to hit a Superkick for the win!

Verdict: The match of the night! By a country mile. These guys can put on great matches even when both are pulling double duty. If you missed this, go back and watch it. Incredibly exciting contest.

Grade: A

AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe - WWE Championship Match

Would we see a new WWE Champion?
Would we see a new WWE Champion?

Match: Well, yet again, it isn't a match we're unfamiliar with, as AJ Styles' previously booked opponent Daniel Bryan was switched with Samoa Joe on SmackDown Live this week.

AJ Styles, before tonight, had been WWE Champion for 360 days, the 10th longest reign in history. A win against Samoa Joe would put Styles into the position of 9th and confirm a one-year reign, putting The Phenomenal One alongside Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, John Cena and CM Punk.

AJ Styles dominated the match to start, sending Joe out of the ring and into the ringpost before Joe would get back into the ring and hit Styles on the outside with a huge Suicide Dive.

After weathering an early onslaught, Joe would take control and grind Styles down. AJ Styles went for a Styles Clash but would instead end up on the canvas himself. The crowd rallied Styles to a comeback but he got caught in the Coquina Clutch. Styles escaped and hit a Pele Kick before a short Phenomenal Forearm for the win.

Verdict: Incredibly anticlimactic finish. This rivalry didn't need this match after its already anticlimactic finish and the match seemed to never really take off. Not terrible, but not incredible either.

Grade: B-

Brock Lesnar vs Braun Strowman - WWE Universal Championship

Who would be crowned Universal Champion?
Who would be crowned Universal Champion?

Match: Well, did it ever really get started? Before the match, Baron Corbin came out to present the referee with the vacant WWE Universal Championship as the acting WWE RAW General Manager. With both men in the ring, though, Corbin would lift the belt aloft to announce the start of the contest before hitting an unsuspecting Strowman on the back of the head with the title belt.

Brock Lesnar lifted Strowman aloft and hit The Monster Among Men with an F-5 to win the title - but Strowman kicked out. Lesnar went for another F-5 and, yet again, Strowman kicked out. And a third.

A frustrated Lesnar, though, wouldn't quit and hit Strowman with an F-5 from the inside of the ring to the outside to try and win via count-out, but Strowman beat the count and got back in to be hit with a fourth and final F-5 where Lesnar would eventually get his three-count to become the first ever two-time WWE Universal Champion.

Verdict: Was this a match? We saw one move four times over a total of three minutes. Personally, I predicted a Lesnar win, and I don't have a problem with the result as I know why WWE did it - but it didn't need to be at the expense of Strowman. Not a great match/segment.

Grade: F

WWE World Cup Finals

The first-ever World Cup winner would be crowned!
The first-ever World Cup winner would be crowned!

Match: Well, this match was scheduled to be The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler and the referee ensured it was a one-on-one contest by immediately ejecting Drew McIntyre from ringside to ensure we got a fair match. Both Baron Corbin and Shane McMahon took their place at ringside for the RAW vs SmackDown contest.

Before the bell rang, Miz looked to capitalise on a clearly worse for wear Ziggler by assaulting him in the ring and throwing the Show-Off to the outside. In doing that, though, Miz seemingly blew out his own knee. The referee determined that Miz would have to forfeit, but Shane McMahon grabbed the microphone and said that wasn't happening.

The SmackDown Commissioner would instead take the place of The Miz and enter the match. After hitting Ziggler with a flurry of jabs, Corbin tried to grab Shane's foot, but it didn't stunt McMahon at all. Shane would win the contest with a huge Coast To Coast!

Verdict: This was, mildly put, an absurd booking. How do you explain what happened? Well, you don't - but Shane O'Mac is apparently now the Greatest In The World and takes the trophy home to SmackDown. But at least it was cool to see a Coast To Coast.

Grade: C-

Undertaker and Kane vs Triple H and Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels is back!
Shawn Michaels is back!

Match: Well, there's no more waiting - Shawn Michaels is back! A match of epic proportions closed Crown Jewel much to the delight of an incredibly hot crowd. "Undertaker", "HBK" and "You still got it" chants rained down for the entire match as we saw four veterans leave it all in the ring.

That is once they got there. Undertaker's entrance took almost five minutes on its own, and we did get a huge staredown. Triple H and Kane started the match off, but it wasn't long before we saw Taker and HBK back in the ring and striking each other to roll back the years. This match was surprisingly physical and it had everything - Chokeslams, Sweet Chin Musics, sit-ups from Taker and Kane, and even a Shawn Michaels kip-up!

The match even ended up on the outside with Taker clearing off both announce tables while staring through Michaels demonically. Taker set up Michaels for a Tombstone, but Triple H saved his teammate before Kane interrupted and ended up Chokeslamming Triple H through the announce table - monitors an' all!

The Brothers of Destruction would decimate an isolated HBK in the ring and systematically tag in and out, but HBK kicked out every step of the way. In fact, he more than kicked out, he fought back and hit Kane so hard his mask fell off, before hitting a double moonsault from the top turnbuckle to the outside of the ring onto both Undertaker and Kane.

A badly injured Triple H would then take over and battle Taker, but end up in Hell's Gate, but Michaels reversed a Kane Chokeslam to hit the Sweet Chin Music and Kane landed on Taker to break the hold.

The Brothers of Destruction sat up and went for the double Tombstone, but HBK raked Kane's eyes to free Triple H, The Game then kicked Taker in the midsection to free HBK, Shawn Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music on Kane and Triple H instantly hit the Pedigree to take the win.

Verdict: Even if these four are obviously way past their prime, this was fun. Michaels actually looked really good in the ring. The match was understandably slow at points, but the crowd was really hot throughout and this was a real nostalgia trip. A much better match than expected, and incredibly good storytelling!

Grade: A

Crown Jewel verdict: Take all the controversy surrounding the event and the one thing you can say is that this is the most spectacular WWE event you could hope to see production wise, even including WrestleMania. So much pyro, a huge stage set-up, and the crowd loved every minute. Some matches were incredible hits, some were really bad misses - but this was a fun event to watch, and it's always special seeing WWE events take place overseas and at a different time.

Crown Jewel grade: B

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