WWE Crown Jewel 2024 Results, Highlights And Takeaways
Roman Reigns and The Bloodline were unable to stand together at Crown Jewel. (Source: WWE/Getty Images)
WWE Crown Jewel 2024 kicked off with a shocking twist as Solo Sikoa managed to pin Roman Reigns, marking one of the biggest surprises in WWE history. The event wrapped up with another unexpected result when Cody Rhodes triumphed over Gunther.
The Crown Jewel event came to a thrilling close with two standout moments: Liv Morgan triumphed over Nia Jax to claim the title of Crown Jewel Champion, and Randy Orton squared off with Kevin Owens in a wild altercation that stopped their match from taking place. In summary, this event was another win for WWE on the international stage, continuing the successful streak the company has seen over the last two years.
With Survivor Series only four weeks away, WWE's creative team has started to set up multiple key storylines and anticipated matches for the event. The focus is now entirely on getting ready for Survivor Series: WarGames in Vancouver, as well as on the path leading to the Royal Rumble.
Here are the quick highlights from WWE Crown Jewel 2024:
Here are the key highlights from WWE’s recent event in Saudi Arabia, along with a glimpse into what might be coming next.
Forbes: WWE Crown Jewel 2024 Results – Roman Reigns Defeated in Bloodline Showdown by Blake Oestriecher
LA Knight Deserves A Strong SmackDown Storyline
LA Knight successfully kept his United States Championship in an exciting triple threat match by pinning Carmelo Hayes, and the fans in Saudi Arabia were thrilled with the result, as expected.
It's been almost three months since Knight claimed that title, and it can be challenging to recall any significant highlights from his time as champion. This isn’t a criticism of Knight himself; instead, it reflects the limited focus on many midcard wrestlers in the blue brand.
The SmackDown roster isn't particularly stacked with villains, which has created challenges for Knight. With key antagonists like Owens and The Bloodline occupied with their own plotlines, WWE's creative team has struggled to come up with engaging storylines for Knight.
This situation needs to shift since Knight remains incredibly popular, and that level of fame won't last indefinitely.
"Lash Legend And Jakara Jackson Should Shine"
Belair and Cargill remain the leading forces in the women's tag team division, yet there's a strong demand for them in the singles category. Fortunately, WWE has discovered a pair of talents ready to step up and fill the gap.
Newcomers Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson from Meta-Four have quickly made a name for themselves on SmackDown, receiving enthusiastic responses from the audience and showcasing impressive skills in the ring. In just a few weeks since joining the blue brand, they’ve demonstrated that they not only belong there for the long haul but also warrant a significant push in their careers.
The women's division in WWE really stood out at Crown Jewel during an impressive Fatal 4-way match that exceeded expectations. Legend and Jackson emerged as two of the standout performers in the contest. Legend has quickly made a name for herself, and the chemistry between the two has built a strong connection with the audience faster than anyone anticipated.
Considering their achievements up to this point, Jackson and Legend are likely to take on significant roles in SmackDown in the future.
Tiffany Stratton Needs To Cash In On Nia Jax ASAP
WWE is hinting that Tiffany Stratton is set to use her Money in the Bank briefcase, and it seems very likely that she will target her "friend" Nia Jax.
At Crown Jewel, Stratton came close to making her move during Jax’s match against Liv Morgan, although it wasn’t obvious which title she was aiming for. In the end, Stratton couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, and Jax ended up losing the match due to Stratton's interference. This is likely to create even more tension between the two competitors.
Stratton is poised to become a major favorite among fans when she finally gets her big moment, but WWE needs to make sure this happens while the storyline is still fresh and exciting. One common critique of Triple H's approach to booking is that he tends to delay key moments, which can lessen their overall impact.
WWE likely has just a month or two left to make the combination of Stratton and Jax engaging before they'll need to introduce a cash-in opportunity.
Bronson Reed Must Beat Seth Rollins Next
WWE had an opportunity to let Bronson Reed achieve the biggest victory of his career at Crown Jewel. However, he ended up losing to Seth Rollins.
Ideally, Reed, one of Raw's promising talents, would have achieved a clear victory over Rollins in Saudi Arabia, but that wasn't the case. On a positive note, it appears that WWE is keeping this rivalry alive. Following Reed’s defeat to Rollins, who secured the win with three Stomps, Rollins hinted that their conflict will extend past WWE Crown Jewel.
Everything is great if Reed manages to defeat Rollins in their upcoming matchup. Rollins, who is almost guaranteed to become a Hall of Famer, can easily absorb losses without it impacting his status. However, the same isn’t true for Reed, who desperately needs a significant victory that he hasn't achieved on the main roster yet.
WWE needs to arrange a rematch between these two athletes as soon as possible, and it's essential that Reed comes out on top this time.
Cancelling Orton Vs. Owens Was The Right Choice
In a surprising turn of events, the much-anticipated match between Owens and Orton never happened due to a chaotic brawl before the match. Owens sparked the mayhem by assaulting “The Viper” with a steel chair.
While WWE usually doesn't promote a pay-per-view match only to remove it during the event, this time it was a cleverly crafted storyline that intensifies the ongoing feud between Owens and Orton. Throughout 2024, WWE has generally maintained a lineup of five matches for its non-Big Four pay-per-views, so it was unexpected to see them schedule seven matches for the Crown Jewel event.
Maybe that's why it wasn't surprising that Owens vs. Orton didn't happen and WWE went with an incredibly entertaining brawl instead, reminiscent of something from Raw or SmackDown. Considering how intense their rivalry was, this decision turned out to be the right one after all.
WWE has the opportunity to create a real showdown between the two, whether at Survivor Series or Saturday Night’s Main Event, which fans will eagerly anticipate.
Gunther Will Bounce Back After Loss To Rhodes
WWE found itself in a tough spot with the match between Gunther and Cody Rhodes, but ultimately, things turned out better than they could have anticipated.
The exciting conclusion of an impressive match arrived when Rhodes outsmarted Gunther with a clever pin, handing Gunther a seldom-seen defeat while earning Rhodes another significant win. As Crown Jewel approached, people wondered why WWE decided to arrange this matchup, but in the end, it turned out to be a harmless decision that didn’t backfire.
Gunther didn't suffer a decisive defeat, so this loss won't break his momentum as it might have if he had been pinned after a Cross Rhodes move. On the other hand, Rhodes emerged from the win looking even more impressive, especially after their handshake following the match. This moment aligns perfectly with his old-school persona, which views wrestling as a true sport.
There are still good reasons to think that Gunther will maintain the world title well into 2025, and Rhodes is likely to keep his championship as well. This creates a favorable situation, as this matchup could have turned into a total mess if it had been handled differently.
Solo Sikoa Stuns With Pinfall On Roman Reigns
Solo Sikoa achieved a clean victory over Roman Reigns by pinning him at WWE Crown Jewel. And no, that's not a mistake.
In the last few years, only two individuals, Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes, have held the title of “The OTC.” This makes Sikoa's defeat of Jey one of the most surprising decisions in recent booking history. However, this outcome was precisely what the storyline required.
Reigns' version of The Bloodline definitely has a much stronger presence, and Sikoa, to be honest, hasn't been shown as being on the same level as Reigns. Although Sikoa has a lot of growth ahead to reach that status, WWE made a major move towards making this conflict between the Bloodlines feel more credible with the recent victory of the revamped group in Saudi Arabia.
As a hero, Reigns must show some flaws and vulnerabilities. After losing at Crown Jewel, it’s evident that he needs to align himself with the Usos. If he doesn't, he might struggle to achieve the same level of popularity as he did when he was a heel.