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The 10th WWE premium live event in Saudi Arabia is in the books, and it would be fair to say Crown Jewel 2023 was lightyears ahead of its counterpart from five years ago. This was a great show, with some epic in-ring action and many memorable moments.
But what stood out in Riyadh? Let's look at every match at Crown Jewel 2023 and rate them out of five stars. What do you think stole the show? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
#1. Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre - World Heavyweight Championship
The opening match at Crown Jewel 2023 was excellent, as Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre didn't go easy on each other. Filled with innovative counters and impactful moves, both stars had great showings. They were up for it.
McIntyre targetted Rollins' back before the two traded finishers. The end saw The Visionary win after a Pedigree and the Stomp. While this might lead to a bigger match down the line, the Saudi Arabian fans witnessed Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre at their best.
Rating: ****1/2
#2. Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Zoey Stark - Women's World Championship
Mami was up for the challenge, as she survived four of RAW's toughest female stars at Crown Jewel 2023. Predictably, the center of attention, Rhea Ripley, spent most of this match fighting Nia Jax.
Meanwhile, Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, and Raquel Rodriguez were all impressed. That being said, this was the Rhea Ripley show. She came out of it looking amazing after hitting a top rope Riptide on Stark and pinning Baszler for the win—a solid and hard-hitting encounter.
Rating: ***1/2
#3. Solo Sikoa vs. John Cena - WWE Crown Jewel 2023
This match was all about the finish. While not the worst in terms of action, it was a little slow at times. John Cena still sold the urgency of it well before he was utterly decimated by Solo Sikoa.
The Enforcer repeatedly landed the Samoan Spike on Cena before pinning him clean as a whistle. This dominant victory will be remembered for years, with Sikoa now being a made man.
The future is bright following Crown Jewel 2023. Meanwhile, the 16-world champion teased his retirement from WWE.
Rating: ***1/2
#4. Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul - WWE United States Championship
These two crafted a compelling contest, as Rey Mysterio helped mask Logan Paul's limitations in the ring. The Maverick produced another enthralling display at Crown Jewel 2023, even saving the WWE Hall of Famer from a career-threatening injury.
The end saw Paul use brass knuckles to knock Mysterio out and win after Santos Escobar unknowingly gave him the weapon. The storyline implications are fascinating, but on the night, Logan Paul delivered another strong in-ring performance. Meanwhile, Rey Mysterio remains timeless
Rating: ****
#5. IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair - WWE Women's Championship
Somehow, this match failed to deliver the heights one would expect from IYO SKY and Bianca Belair. The two were solid in the ring, but things didn't click. The fans may have been spent, but came alive for the ending.
Kairi Sane made her long-awaited WWE return by attacking Belair while IYO distracted the referee. The EST of WWE beat the referee's count but fell victim to a Moonsault. This is a big win for SKY, whose title reign does get better. Hopefully, the two have a better match soon.
Rating: ***1/2
#6. Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest - WWE Crown Jewel 2023
Señor Money in the Bank came out without his briefcase after it was stolen earlier in the night by Sami Zayn. Damian Priest's luck didn't get much better, as he lost a competitive match to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel 2023. The two traded big moves while several superstars interfered.
The Judgment Day's involvement was countered by Jey Uso, who superkicked Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh. The build towards Survivor Series: War Games is on! As for this match, The American Nightmare earned a hard-fought victory. This was a gutsy performance from one of WWE's top babyfaces.
Rating: ****
#7. Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight - Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
The crowd was electric for the main event of Crown Jewel 2023, as the ever-popular LA Knight faced Roman Reigns. He went on the offensive early, taking The Tribal Chief by surprise before the champ started to dominate.
Reigns was subject to some unflattering chants before Knight mounted a comeback. The two had great chemistry in the ring before The Bloodline's interference ruined things. Jimmy Uso was involved in a major botch that saw the referee count to three while Roman Reigns was pinned.
LA Knight eventually fell into the numbers game, and The Big Uce won with the spear. Had the ending not been as predictable as most of Reigns' recent matches, this would've scored even higher. Regardless, this was a solid way for WWE to close out Crown Jewel 2023.
Rating: ****
