'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE Crown Jewel 2021 arrived with immense hype due to the strength of the best lineup they had ever assembled for a Saudi Arabia pay-per-view. The roster was motivated to deliver a quality show after not being in the country for well over 18 months. The WWE Superstars did just that with plenty of exceptional matchups.
Fans in Riyadh were excited to see WWE back and probably earned the distinction of being the most vocal Saudi crowd to date. Despite the controversy surrounding these events, there is no denying that everyone stepped up. There were feuds ready to explode, titles on the line, and the culmination of two separate tournaments, along with two women's matches.
WWE Crown Jewel 2021 should easily be in the running for the best pay-per-view to take place in Saudi Arabia. The matches, for the most part, all delivered in different ways. In this article, let's take a look at the star rating for every match at WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
The Usos vs. The Hurt Business (WWE Crown Jewel 2021 Kickoff)
The WWE Crown Jewel 2021 Kickoff saw SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos face Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Business. The Riyadh crowd were loud at the start of the evening and were fully invested in the action at the bell. Despite both tag teams being heels, the fans seemed in favor of the Usos at the show.
After an initial hot start for Jimmy and Jey, the Hurt Business gained control over Jey. The action was entertaining before Jimmy was tagged in to clean house and things broke down. Benjamin hit a flying knee in the corner and followed up with an Angle Slam for a two count. He also had another close nearfall with the Paydirt.
Once both Usos were back in the ring together, they connected with a series of superkicks. Jey finished things off with the Usos Splash to get the win for the SmackDown Tag Team Champions here on the WWE Crown Jewel 2021 Kickoff. This was a solid tag team bout to show that the crowd would be vocal throughout this entire show.
Star rating: ***
Edge vs. Seth Rollins in a Hell In A Cell Match (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
Edge and Seth Rollins ended their bitter rivalry inside Hell In A Cell to kick off the WWE Crown Jewel 2021 main show. It was the right choice to kick things off on a high note. The crowd was in a frenzy, chanting "This Is Awesome!" even before the two men were locked up. When they did square off, it matched the intensity of their feud coming in.
The two men had excellent callbacks to both men's past inside Hell In A Cell and their previous meetings. There was a diving elbow with a steel chair and the toolbox from their history in the Devil's Playground. One of the more innovative spots saw Rollins get pushed off the top rope into the cell and fall through a table at ringside.
Edge used a chain and a wrench to apply his crossface submission. He then followed up with the Curb Stomp on a steel chair to finish off Seth Rollins. It was the best ending possible, as it was the threat of a Curb Stomp on Edge's surgically repaired neck that started the feud and ended things here at WWE Crown Jewel 2021. This was a WWE Match of the Year candidate and the best in Saudi Arabia.
Star rating: ****3/4
Mustafa Ali vs. Mansoor (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
Former tag team partners clashed next to WWE Crown Jewel 2021 when Mustafa Ali faced Mansoor. Mansoor got a huge reaction from his hometown crowd. They worked very well with one another here, showing what their experience with both men could do. The Saudi Arabian star hit the moonsault for a delayed nearfall.
Ali applied the Koji Clutch to look for a submission win, but Mansoor reached the ropes to break the hold. Ali looked set to win with a 450 splash, however, Mansoor moved and hit a slingshot neckbreaker for the pin. It was a rock solid bout that paid off the simple story coming into WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
Star rating: ***1/4
RK-Bro vs. AJ Styles & Omos for the Raw Tag Team Championships (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
RK-Bro defended the Raw Tag Team Championships against AJ Styles and Omos in a SummerSlam rematch here at WWE Crown Jewel 2021. The entrance was an awesome visual, with Riddle replacing his scooter for a camel to fit the Saudi Arabia atmosphere. The contest didn't see much of a change from their previous clash.
Omos was his usual dominant self, but Randy Orton and Riddle were able to take him out of the bout and focus on AJ Styles. Orton caught Styles in mid-air with the RKO outta nowhere. Riddle followed up with the Floating Bro to win and retain the Raw Tag Team Championships at WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
Star rating: **3/4
Doudrop vs. Zelina Vega in the Queen's Crown Tournament Finals (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
The first Queen's Crown Tournament culminated at WWE Crown Jewel 2021 with the finals of Doudrop vs. Zelina Vega. This was the first of two women's matches on this evening for the first time in Saudi Arabia. The two women told a story of speed versus power in this contest.
Zelina Vega hit a nice tornado DDT for a nearfall, while Doudrop hit a big swinging slam for a two count. Vega avoided Doudrop's running splash and hit her Code Red finisher to win the Queen's Crown Tournament. This was a fine bout that saw Vega exit the tournament in royal fashion.
Star rating: **
Goldberg vs. Bobby Lashley in a No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere Match (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
Goldberg and Bobby Lashley continued their feud from SummerSlam in a No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere Match at WWE Crown Jewel 2021. The stipulation lended itself to a better contest between the two superstars. Lashley attacked Goldberg's leg similar to how he got the victory in their previous meeting.
They used steel chairs and kendo sticks to batter one another. The two men fought all around ringside and up the ramp when The Hurt Business came out to support Lashley, but Goldberg overcame it all to finally spear the All Mighty off the ramp through a table by the stage. It was a fun brawl here at WWE Crown Jewel 2021, an improvement from most of Goldberg's latest bouts.
Star rating: ***1/4
Finn Balor vs. Xavier Woods in the King of the Ring Tournament Finals (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
The third Raw vs. SmackDown clash at WWE Crown Jewel 2021 was between Finn Balor and Xavier Woods in the King of the Ring Tournament Finals. It started off with some technical wrestling and soon built to back-and-forth offense with neither competitor gaining a long advantage.
The King of the Ring Tournament Finals was fast paced and saw each man on the verge of victory. Balor connected with the Shotgun dropkick and looked for the Coup De Grace, but Woods moved out of the way. He eventually connected with a gutbuster and followed with the Limit Breaker to win the King of the Ring. This bout and post-match with Xavier Woods celebrating felt like a special moment.
Star rating: ***1/2
Big E vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
Big E looked to continue his WWE Championship reign against former champion Drew McIntyre next. The two men have shown mutual respect for one another heading into the pay-per-view, but they left nothing back in this contest. This WWE Championship Match was very physical from the onset.
It was a heavyweight slugfest with hard-hitting action and huge moves being traded off. Drew McIntyre kicked out of the Big Ending, while Big E kicked out of the Futureshock DDT. The highlight of the match saw McIntyre connect with the Claymore out of nowhere, but E kicked out for a superb nearfall. Big E, after performing a stunning reversal, secured a second Big Ending to retain his title.
Star rating: ****
Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair in a Triple Threat Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
WWE Crown Jewel 2021 featured two women's contests for the first time. The second saw Becky Lynch defend the SmackDown Women's Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair. Despite the restrictions in which the three ladies had to wear with their clothing, they put it on the line to steal the show here.
This was non-stop action that didn't let up at all and had a hot crowd in support of all three women offered here. Bianca Belair was the star of the match with unreal power displays such as her one-armed gorilla press slam, as well as lifting both women from the mat into the KOD. Belair hit the KOD on Becky, but Sasha threw her out of the ring.
Banks and Belair fought to try to capitalize on the fallen SmackDown Women's Champion. However, Becky rolled Sasha up with her hand on the ropes to win and retain the gold. It was a great Triple Threat Match that made all three performers look like superstars here at WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
Star rating: ****1/4
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
The most anticipated contest on the WWE Crown Jewel 2021 card was the main event of Roman Reigns defending the WWE Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar. This all started at SummerSlam when Lesnar returned and confronted the Tribal Chief. From there, it has been a question of where Paul Heyman's allegiance lies.
Brock Lesnar asked why Heyman didn't let Roman know he was returning at SummerSlam, while Paul has claimed to remain loyal to the Head of the Table. Roman and Brock are not strangers to one another ahead of Crown Jewel 2021 with numerous bouts including two WrestleMania matches and on the first Saudi Arabia pay-per-view at Greatest Royal Rumble.
This marked Brock Lesnar's first match since WrestleMania 36 and he looked in tremendous shape. The WWE Crown Jewel 2021 main event had a big match feel from the entrances to the ring introductions. Things started off with a stalemate; both men were unable to gain complete control. Lesnar looked for a suplex, but he couldn't overpower Reigns just yet.
Lesnar finally connected with a German suplex and cornered Roman with shoulders to the ribs. Reigns connected with a Superman Punch that sent Lesnar to the floor. Roman then hit a huge dive to the outside and threw the challenger into the ring. He followed with a spear for a two count. Brock leapfrogged and dodged another spear, leading to Roman running into the corner.
Lesnar followed up with more German suplexes and finally hit a F5 for another close nearfall. Reigns reversed another F5 into the guillotine choke, but Brock got out with a spinebuster. He hit another F5, but Roman's legs nailed the referee.
With the ref down, Paul Heyman threw the Universal Championship in between both men, saying "YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT!" Brock won a tug of war over the title, but was ambushed by The Usos. Reigns followed up with a title belt shot to win and retain the Universal Championship here at WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
This offered everything that was necessary from the big-time main event. Both men hit their big moves and told a riveting story, with Paul Heyman's allegiance still unknown following this, especially with his emotions after the clash. This opened the door for a rematch down the road and was one of Roman and Brock's best matches against one another to cap off WWE Crown Jewel 2021.
