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Crown Jewel 2021 is in the books. This was, by far, WWE's greatest ever pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia. In fact, it could even be grouped among the top WWE pay-per-views this year. Some matches were near-perfect, while most of them were pretty memorable.
The fans at Crown Jewel were exceptional as they provided a raucous atmosphere for most matches. Also, unlike other WWE pay-per-views in Saudi Arabia, no match was outright bad.
The in-ring action was tremendous, as the WWE Superstars delivered a fantastic show. But who stood out more than the others?
So, without further ado, here is every match at Crown Jewel graded and ranked, from worst to best. Which match at the event was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
#9 Zelina Vega vs. Doudrop: Queen's Crown Tournament Final at WWE Crown Jewel
Much longer than every other match in the tournament, the Queen's Crown Final was a decent contest. Zelina Vega and Doudrop did their best at Crown Jewel, but there was minimal heat in the match.
We did see some impressive moves from Vega, who picked up the win with a Code Red on an opponent much larger than her. This was a great win for her, although the match could have been better in different circumstances.
Grade: C
#8 RK-Bro vs. AJ Styles and Omos for the RAW Tag Team Championship
Riddle was truly riding high into Crown Jewel as he rode on a camel's back to the ring. That was just the pre-cursor to a successful RAW Tag Team Title defense, as he and Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles and Omos.
This was as solid as one would expect any match involving Orton, Styles, and Riddle to be. The heels had the upper hand for a while, with Omos showing his strength against both members of RK-Bro. However, he was thwarted towards the end as The Viper took control.
Randy Orton hit AJ Styles with a mid-air RKO before Riddle ended things with the Floating Bro. While a match between the two teams can be so much better, there wasn't anything wrong with it.
Grade: B
#7 Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
Goldberg delivered possibly his best WWE match at Crown Jewel 2021 since facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33. Bobby Lashley started dominant, but the Hall of Famer moved out of a spear and sent The All Mighty through a leaning table.
From that point on, it was all Goldberg. He speared Lashley and executed a Jackhammer without any hitches, before continuing his beatdown outside the ring. Goldberg hit a spear through the barricade and even overcame interference from The Hurt Business.
He then ended the match with a spear off the stage. Goldberg and Bobby Lashley exceeded expectations at Crown Jewel, even if the latter may have been slightly damaged by it.
Grade: B
#6 Mansoor vs. Mustafa Ali: WWE Crown Jewel
Hometown hero Mansoor picked up yet another solid win at Crown Jewel. It was a good showcase for the pair of him and Mustafa Ali - the first WWE pay-per-view match between two Muslim Superstars.
Ali and Mansoor traded some impressive moves before the young star hit a top rope Moonsault. The veteran then countered a pinfall attempt with a Koji Clutch. Ali tried and failed to land the 450 Splash, which afforded Mansoor an opening to hit a slingshot neckbreaker for the win.
This was evidently the biggest match of Mansoor's WWE career. The Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard further exploded when Saudi Olympic star Tareg Hamedi saved him from a post-match attack.
Grade: B+
#5 Finn Balor vs. Xavier Woods: King of the Ring Final at WWE Crown Jewel
Xavier Woods fulfilled his WWE destiny at Crown Jewel, as he won the King of the Ring tournament. His match against Finn Balor was fun and raised the prestige of the crown, with both Superstars going full throttle in the final.
We saw some intense counters and near-falls throughout the contest, with Woods hitting a superkick followed by a superplex. Balor did well but was ultimately thwarted when the New Day member avoided the Coup de Grace and hit a beautiful flying elbow drop for the win.
The King of the Ring feels important thanks to this match, as evidenced by the emotion Xavier Woods showed upon his victory.
Grade: B+
#4 Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship: WWE Crown Jewel
Billed as the most anticipated match of the year, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar delivered at Crown Jewel. We saw several German suplexes and Superman punches. Reigns even hit a Spear early on, which was followed by an F5 from Lesnar.
The Tribal Chief countered a second F5 into a Guillotine before The Beast Incarnate escaped with a spinebuster. Following a referee bump, Paul Heyman tossed the Universal Championship in between the two competitors.
The Usos ran down and hit a double superkick on Lesnar, allowing Reigns to nail him with the belt and pin him. The action was great and the fans were electric, but the match ended underwhelmingly. It is understandable, though, as the feud will continue beyond Crown Jewel.
Hopefully, the rematch between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns will be even better than this. WWE also found a creative way to avoid revealing whose side Heyman is on.
Grade: A-
#3 Big E vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship
Despite its predictability, Big E and Drew McIntyre delivered an incredible WWE Title match at Crown Jewel. The two powerhouses truly went at it with speed and ferocity.
The Scottish Warrior hit a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor, while the WWE Champion hit three of his own in the ring. Things truly got stiff. The two would then trade finishers. McIntyre kicked out of a Big Ending, while Big E survived a Claymore. He hit another Big Ending to emerge victorious.
This was a great showcase for both Big E and Drew McIntyre, who are the top babyfaces on RAW and SmackDown respectively. Crown Jewel proved exactly why they are at the top of the card.
Grade: A-
#2 Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women's Championship: WWE Crown Jewel
Becky Lynch escaped Crown Jewel with her SmackDown Women's Championship but not before delivering an excellent triple threat opposite Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks. The in-ring work was crisp, with all three stars chiming in to make it better and trading control of the contest.
The EST of WWE was the star of the show here. She lifted Banks above her head with one arm and proceeded to show off her unbelievable power throughout the match. The Man and The Boss locked Belair in their respective submission holds at the same time, before the babyface powered her way out of it.
Lynch would then lock in the DisarmHer on both challengers, after which Bianca Belair hit her with the KOD. But while she and Sasha Banks had a scuffle over who would make the cover, The Man sneaked away with the victory via roll-up.
This match was special, as evidenced by the reaction it received at Crown Jewel. The fans were truly invested in it, with Becky Lynch being their favorite. WWE could not have put on a better women's match at this event.
Grade: A
#1 Seth Rollins vs. Edge in a Hell in a Cell Match: WWE Crown Jewel
The first match at Crown Jewel 2021 was also the best, as Edge and Seth Rollins concluded WWE's best rivalry this year with an epic war inside Hell in a Cell. This was every bit as brutal as we expected.
Edge repeatedly used his signature weapon, while Rollins found a counter for nearly everything. He targeted the Hall of Famer's eye, but Edge kept fighting back. He pushed The Architect off the top rope off the cell wall and through a table.
Rollins replied with an insane Sunset Bomb from the top of a ladder through a table before wrapping a steel chain around his boot. He attempted the Curb Stomp only for Edge to low-blow him with a chair and choke him out with the chain.
The Rated-R Superstar fittingly ended the match with his own Curb Stomp as Rollin's head slammed on a chair.
This was not only the best match of the night but the best match in Crown Jewel history. Edge continues to set the world alight during his comeback with his impeccable in-ring storytelling.
Grade: A+
