Winners And Grades From Saudi Arabia

WWE Crown Jewel 2023 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, advertised five championship matches. The show opened with Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Logan Paul challenged Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship. Iyo Sky defended the WWE Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley had a rare title defense of her WWE Women’s World Championship, and in the main event, Roman Reigns retained the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship.

Last night’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown garnered 2.01 million viewers per fast national data. This suggests the final rating on Monday will come in the 2.2 to 2.4 million range, in line with their last broadcast on Fox.

WWE Crown Jewel 2023 Results | November 4, 2023

• Seth Rollins def. Drew McIntyre | WWE World Title
• Rhea Ripley wins Fatal 5-Way | WWE Women’s World Title
• Solo Sikoa def. John Cena
• Logan Paul def. Rey Mysterio | WWE United States Title
• Iyo Sky def. Bianca Belair | WWE Womnen’s Title
• Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Preist
• Roman Reigns def. LA Knight | WWE Undisputed Universal Title

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: Paid Show

WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades

Seth Rollins Def. Drew McIntyre

Both Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins received loud babyface reactions from the Saudi crowd.

Byron Saxton did the ring introductions, and he wasn’t half bad.

Michael Cole repeatedly exclaimed that Crown Jewel “sold out in under two hours.”

Fans started with multiple chants, including “McIntyre!” and “Oooh Drew McIntyre!” McIntyre was the clear fan favorite in this one.

Fans exploded every time McIntyre bumped Rollins. When McIntyre and Rollins exchanged strikes, Rollins was booed.

Shockingly, Seth Rollins kicked out of the Claymore, and a hot Saudi crowd couldn’t believe it.

Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rolins Grade: A

Rhea Ripley Wins Women’s Fatal 5-Way

Rhea Ripley received a long superstar entrance featuring several Saudi dignitaries. Ripley came off as a bigger star than all four of her opponents combined based on her entrance. They weren’t even in the same galaxy.

Rhea Ripley had the best Saudi fit, wearing a body costume and facepaint reminiscent of The Crow. Is this her own personal retirement gift to Sting?

Shayna Baszler’s body suit was a makeshift gi.

During the first of two women’s matches in Saudi Arabia, Michael Cole made sure to talk up WWE’s women’s wrestling division, which he said is better than it’s ever been.

The women had a very hard time following a great opener from McIntyre and Rollins.

Raquel Rodriguez hit a brutal Tejada Bomb on Nia Jax, but it got a big reaction.

The finish was very creative as Rhea Ripley hit the Riptide on Raquel Rodriguez while Raquel pinned Baszler. Ripley would steal the pin for the victory.

Women’s Fatal 5-Way Grade: C+

Solo Sikoa Def. John Cena

Predictably, this was a huge pro Cena crowd. John Cena received the biggest reaction on the show to this point, and with a spirited crowd like his that’s a high bar.

Cena’s message to Stu (and you) was “let’s turn this math around,” as he looks for his first televised singles win in over 2,000 days.

Solo Sikoa felt like the first true heel on this show as fans chanted “you suck!”

Michael Cole mentioned Cena’s feud with Umaga, which this match was patterned after.

Solo Sikoa hit Cena with a second spike. If Cena is able to speak within the next week, that finish is buried.

The announce team constantly questioned Cena’s endurance. Solo Sikoa got a ton of offense. They gave Solo everything, including beating John Cena with no less than 10 Samoan Spikes.

Solo Sikoa hit John Cena with no less than 10 Samoan Spikes over the past (kayfabe) 24 hours. If John Cena can say a single word within the month at least, they’ll bury that finish.

John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa Grade: A

MizTV Featuring Grayson Waller And Ibrahem Al Hajjaj

MizTV Featuring Grayson Waller and standup comedian Ibrahem Al Hajjaj. It was a real-time reenactment of what’s happening in real life as Grayson Waller replaced the MizTV set with a Grayson Waller Effect set.

Al Hajjaja ultimately paid homage to WWE legends, including a People’s Elbow on Waller.

Miz continues to be booked like a babyface after having run afoul of IMPERIUM and now Grayson Waller.

MizTV Grade: B-

Logan Paul Def. Rey Mysterio

WWE cut to Logan Paul driving a very expensive dune car in the desert. Paul drove the car out to Mohamed Abdo Theater.

Cole made sure to mention Logan Paul’s victory over Dillon Danis, which I’m sure Logan Paul will never let anybody forget about.

Logan Paul’s newest nickname is Lucha Logan.

Logan Paul saved Mysterio’s life when he caught him in midair and stopped just short of a legit tombstone.

These fans didn’t seem too familiar with who Paul was, but boy did he impress them with some dazzling moves. This includes a fallaway moonsault from the second rope.

One of Logan Paul’s goons handed him a brass knuckle, only to be chased off by Santos Escobar. Paul regained the brass knuckles and knocked out Mysterio in midair. Paul is easily the most meaningful celebrity champion of all time.

Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio Grade: B+

Kairi Sane Returns As Iyo Sky Def. Bianca Belair

This was the second women’s match to garnered an ice cold response early on, but they too had to follow a very strong match.

Iyo Sky seemed to be cosplaying as Jeff Hardy.

The announce team really talked up Belair’s bum knee, which became the story of this match.

Bayley made a surprise reappearance in Saudi Arabia, and Iyo was none-too-pleased. Kairi Sane returned and attacked Bianca Belair, costing Belair the WWE Women’s Championship. For more on Kairi Sane’s return, click here.

Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair Grade: B-

Cody Rhodes Def. Damian Preist

Damian Priest came to the ring without his Money in the Bank briefcase after Sami Zayn stole it. He now can’t cash in until he gets it back.

Cody Rhodes was treated like the biggest star on this show, and Damian Priest also got a ton of heat.

After a distraction from JD McDonagh, Priest hit the South of Heaven but only for a nearfall.

Fans showered Dominik Mysterio with loud boos, only to cheer Jey Uso just as loudly when he made the save on Cody’s behalf.

Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest Grade: A

Roman Reigns Def. LA Knight

LA Knight was a strong babyface in Saudi Arabia, but not nearly as strong as Cody Rhodes.

Roman Reigns hysterically mocked LA Knight early on to rile up the crowd.

Michael Cole did a rare namedrop of a referee as the match got away from referee Ryan Tran.

Fans chanted “CM Punk” while Roman Reigns had LA Knight trapped in a rest hold. These fans were clearly eager to see the forthcoming CM Punk documentary on Pro Wrestling Bits.

Though fans were very much behind LA Knight, nobody seemed to really buy that LA Knight was going to win this match.

Solo Sikoa distracted the referee as Jimmy Uso dragged Roman Reigns out of the ring, leading to the distraction of LA Knight and a Spear. But LA Knight kicked out.

There were loud “Roman sucks!” chants before Reigns trapped Knight in a guillotine.

After a BFT, Jimmy Uso put Reigns’ leg on the rope in a nearfall. WWE did everything they could to protect Knight in defeat. They clearly have plans for him moving forward.

Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight Grade: B