WWE heads to Saudi Arabia again for the annual Crown Jewel PLE on November 2 in Riyadh. Pro wrestling's biggest stars are expected to compete in the highly anticipated spectacle.
There have been five installments of Crown Jewel. Fans have seen some thrillers at the event, including the universally hailed Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul and the brutal Hell in a Cell classic between Edge and Seth Rollins.
However, in the last six years, WWE has also produced several disappointing matches at the show, some of which threatened the legacy of the company's greatest stars. Here's a look at the four worst matches in Crown Jewel's history:
#4. Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Cain Velasquez at Crown Jewel 2019
In the closest moments of SmackDown's debut on Fox, an injured Rey Mysterio brought out Cain Velasquez to take down the then-WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar. It was an epic moment, but that was the peak of the entire rivalry, as the subsequent developments were underwhelming.
Velasquez was portrayed as Mysterio's henchman and a legitimate threat to Lesnar. There was a severe lack of character development, as Mysterio did most of the talking and the two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion was a part-timer. The Beast was surprisingly shown as the underdog.
Unfortunately, things went from bad to worse as Lesnar and Velasquez fought each other in a disappointing two-minute match at Crown Jewel for the WWE Championship. Velasquez, who was portrayed as Lesnar's most feared rival, submitted to the Kimura Lock and failed to connect any jab or punch to the face.
The Beast wouldn't let go of the Kimura lock, prompting a chair-wielding Rey Mysterio to save his fallen friend. Unfortunately, that initially didn't help, as it only added to Lesnar's post-match assault as the Conqueror obliterated Velasquez with an F5 on the steel chair.
Mysterio eventually forced Lesnar into retreat, setting up his showdown with The Beast. Velasquez was used to set up Lesnar vs. Mysterio. Instead of being the spectacle itself, it was reduced to a setup.
With a poor background story and little entertainment value, it is no surprise that this match has been largely forgotten.
#3. Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury at Crown Jewel 2019
Also at Crown Jewel 2019, Tyson Fury made his WWE debut against Braun Strowman. The Gypsy King made a grand entry, dressed in a traditional Saudi dress, but that was the highlight of the entire segment.
The crowd wasn't particularly interested as the match lacked much energy. It also felt like a slow and awkward hybrid between a boxing and wrestling match. Fury was inexperienced between the ropes, and Strowman couldn't carry his rival to a decent bout.
There was also negligible drama as no big moves were executed. It was comprised primarily of tackles, wrestling holds (not a specialty of both competitors), and staredowns. The finishing sequence drew much criticism too.
After no-selling two tackles from Strowman, Fury knocked out The Monster Among Men from the apron for the 10-count. This was a cheap finish that drew no reaction from the live crowd. On top of the controversial win, Strowman landed The Gypsy King with The Running Powerslam.
Fury immediately got back on his feet, making the entire segment feel worthless. WWE tried to protect both men, but in the process, there was no winner. This was a lose-lose situation for Strowman and Fury. The Gypsy King's debut failed to set the bar high, and The Monster Among Men lost to a celebrity.
#3. Shane McMahon vs. Dolph Ziggler in the final of the WWE World Cup at Crown Jewel 2018
The inaugural Crown Jewel 2018 event was universally criticized by the WWE Universe, and in hindsight, the reaction was justified in light of the controversial booking decisions made that evening.
Shane McMahon entering the WWE World Cup at the last minute to defeat Nic Nemeth (FKA Dolph Ziggler) with ease drew extensive criticism. The Miz's injury prompted The Prodigal Son to replace The A-Lister and beat the erstwhile Ziggler in no time to win the trophy.
The former SmackDown Commissioner didn't need the win or trophy. Furthermore, his inclusion nullified the preceding matches, which included decent bouts between top names like Seth Rollins, Kurt Angle, and Rey Mysterio.
The tournament felt meaningless as an authority figure assumed control with little reasoning behind his actions. The move led to Shane-O-Mac teaming up with The Miz, betraying The Awesome One, and adopting the ''Best in the World" gimmick, which was not enjoyed by fans.
#1. D-Generation X vs. The Brothers of Destruction at Crown Jewel 2018
If Shane McMahon's controversial moment of glory wasn't enough, WWE ended Crown Jewel 2018 on an underwhelming note with a plodding clash between D-Generation X and The Brothers of Destruction, a dream match that should have happened a decade ago.
All four men were way past their prime, and their physical condition couldn't live up to the standards that had been set by their preceding work. Nonetheless, WWE went ahead with the match, which revolved around Shawn Michaels coming out of retirement to tag with Triple H to reignite a rivalry that ended at WrestleMania 28.
Considering that The Undertaker vs. Triple H inside Hell in a Cell marked "The End of an Era," there was no reason to revisit this program in late 2018, which led to the disappointing showdown between DX and The Brothers of Destructions.
Fans were genuinely concerned for the health of the four legends. The Game suffered a nasty torn pectoral muscle early on, which spelled doom as he had to carry the match. Kane's mask fell off during the bout, and The Undertaker struggled to catch his breath.
Ironically, HBK provided the highlight with a Moonsault over The Brothers of Destruction, but the move had fans concerned. Nevertheless, Mr.WrestleMania regrets his decision to return to the ring for this match, and it's hard to disagree with him.