WWE Crown Jewel 2024 - Star rating for every match
The 2024 edition of WWE Crown Jewel switched things up from other non "Big Four" premium live events by having seven matches. Other than SummerSlam, every other PLE since WrestleMania has featured only five contests.
Only two titles were truly defended in Saudi Arabia by virtue of the Crown Jewel Championships. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill competed in another multi-team match for the women's tag team titles.
LA Knight made his PLE debut as the defending United States against Andrade and Carmelo Hayes. How did each match play out? Who stole the show? Here are the star ratings for the matches at WWE Crown Jewel 2024.
#7. The Bloodline vs. Roman Reigns and The Usos
The OG Bloodline was in control early in the first match at Crown Jewel, but Solo Sikoa's side slowed things down by isolating Jey Uso. The Head of the Table got the upper hand off the hot tag as the anticipation built for his arrival into the match.
Solo landed a Samoan Spike but Jimmy broke up the pin. Both sides exchanged Superkicks, but Jacob Fatu no-sold the blows to the head. The Tongans broke up a Reigns' Spear attempt on Solo. Fatu had moments with Jey and Roman.
The Samoan Werewolf hit Reigns with a Moonsault and then The Usos with a Suicide dive, leaving Solo, Roman, and a downed referee in the ring. Sikoa hit two Samoan Spikes on Roman and pinned The Original Tribal Chief at Crown Jewel!
Solo's group stood over Roman after the match and did more damage to the OG Bloodline. When they put a chair around Jey's neck, Sami Zayn came out to make the save. He sided with The Usos but accidentally kicked Reigns when they both went for a move on Solo Sikoa. Jey tried to separate Jimmy and Sami. Zayn walked off.
Star rating: *** 3/4 (not including post-match activities)
#6. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (c) vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY & Kairi Sane)
Bianca Belair taunted IYO SKY after a move or two. Chelsea Green tagged in, but the Champs tossed her into Piper Niven's arms. They wasted time after hitting the move by posing. Jade Cargill then walked over to Lash Legend's corner but seemed confused when Lash tagged herself in.
Piper Niven hit a powerbomb after tagging in, starting the "everyone randomly comes in without tagging to hit a move" trope. This left Cargill and Legend face-to-face. Niven landed a crossbody on both powerhouses. Green went for the pin, but they rolled out of the ring.
Damage CTRL took Chelsea Green and Piper out when Green was too scared to hit a move off the top. Jade hit Jaded on Chelsea but the pin was broken up. The referee looked confused throughout the match, forgetting to count when IYO SKY pinned Belair with a bridge.
Niven showed out, hitting a Michinoku Driver on Lash. Chelsea and Piper hit a Codebreaker/Senton move on Jackson. Cargill suplexed Green as Niven went up for a Vader Bomb. Shocked by hitting her partner, the Champs took advantage with an impressive Doomsday Device on Piper for the win.
Star rating: *** 1/2
#5. Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed
The men fought on the Crown Jewel entrance ramp and around the ring before the bell. Reed quickly hit a Tsunami and went for another, but Rollins moved and hit a stomp for a one count. The Visionary attempted a Pedigree, but Reed sat on his chest after a Sunset Flip.
Reed went for a powerbomb, but Seth countered with an innovative DDT. Rollins couldn't knock Reed off his feet but finally did to set up a Frog Splash. Reed hit a spinning sit-out powerbomb, followed by a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Both went to the top, with Reed superplexing Rollins, but he kicked out at two. The Aussie Monster told him to stay down but Rollins yelled he should have finished him off early on. The big man went for another Tsunami but Rollins rolled to the other corner.
Reed hit a Senton and another splash, but The Architect rolled out of the ring. Reed chased him, but after Rollins kicked out his leg, he fell face-first on the steel steps he was holding. Rollins hit a stomp on the steps and again when Reed rolled back into the ring. The Visionary got the win after a stomp off the top rope.
Star rating: ****
#4. Liv Morgan (c) vs. Nia Jax (c) - Women's Crown Jewel Championship
Nia Jax overpowered Liv Morgan early on, but the tides turned when Morgan targeted her leg. The Annihilator's hubris cost her as she tapped her rump but hit the ring post when Morgan moved.
After a Super Samoan Drop, Tiffany Stratton ran down to tease a cash-in. Nia told her to leave, giving Morgan an opening to nearly roll Jax up for the win. Stratton eventually returned and tried to hand her case to the ref, but Raquel Rodriguez emerged to take her out.
Dominik Mysterio also factored into the finish at Crown Jewel with the ref's back turned. His distraction allowed Rodriguez to kick Jax when she went for another Annihilator. Morgan took advantage with a Codebreaker off the top and Oblivion to become the first Women's Crown Jewel Champion.
Star rating: ** 3/4
#3. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens entered first and had to sit through what felt like a 10-minute Randy Orton entrance. The Prizefighter blasted the Viper with a chair as Orton went for his signature pose on the ropes. Throughout the match, Michael Cole called Owens a coward and said he "wants to end Randy Orton's career."
Chaos ensued as officials, including the General Managers of both shows, tried to stop the carnage. Owens punched Jamie Noble while Orton sent Daivari into the post before hitting an RKO on Adam Pearce.
The carnage spilled over to a sound spot in the middle of the arena. Owens jumped off a barricade and onto Orton, who was at the table below. The former NXT Champ walked off while The Legend Killer left on a stretcher at Crown Jewel.
Star rating for the segment: ***
#2. LA Knight (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade - United States Championship
LA Knight's Crown Jewel entrance was Orton's antithesis as he quickly stomped to the ring and hit his pose. He joined the action after Andrade and Hayes fought for a few moments. Hayes wanted to form an alliance with Andrade but was immediately rejected.
Andrade hit a Spanish Fly on Carmelo Hayes off the middle rope, but Knight broke it up. El Idolo landed double knees on Hayes in the corner before hitting Knight with a moonsault on the outside.
Hayes added a flip to the outside but whiffed when he went for his finisher. El Idolo blasted Hayes with a Canadian Destroyer and hit a fallaway slam off the top for a near fall. Knight suplexed Andrade across the ring after slipping.
The former North American Champ hit his finishing leg drop, but Andrade broke up the pin. Hayes attempted a flipping move but landed next to Andrade, allowing Knight to hit both with the BFT at the same time for the win.
Star rating: ***3/4
#1. Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther (c) - Men's Crown Jewel Championship
Cody Rhodes tried to bodyslam Gunther three times but failed the first two times. The action was slow and plodding for the majority of the contest. Rhodes hit a superplex followed by a power slam and Cody Cutter for a two-count.
Gunther trapped him in a Boston Crab after Rhodes missed the Beautiful Disaster Kick. Gunther switched to a Sleeper Hold. Cody countered to hit Cross Rhodes. The Ring General landed a dropkick and powerbomb for a near fall. The chemistry was there, but it felt stuck in first gear for 75% of the match.
Cody hit a side suplex, but Gunther blasted him with a Lariat. He went for another but Cody reversed it into another Cross Rhodes for a two count. Rhodes attempted another finisher but Gunther countered.
The American Nightmare went for a cutter off the top but Gunther trapped him in another Sleeper hold on the mat. Cody reversed the move by rolling backward, picking up the pin and the Crown Jewel Championship.
Star rating: *** 1/2