WWE Crown Jewel 2021 Review: More Questions Than Answers
WWE has put a bow tie on the 2021 Crown Jewel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While the highly anticipated international event had a slew of awesome professional wrestling matches, WWE left a lot of questions that need to be answered over the coming weeks on RAW and SmackDown.
Lesnar Got Screwed
For the first time in 19, the “Beast Incarnate” stepped inside the squared circle, and he looked great! He did not miss a beat!
Him and Reigns starred down to begin their battle for the most coveted prize in WWE, but it quickly turned into another one of their many classic bouts. The “Head of the Table” wouldn’t let the “Beast” supplex him early on, holding on to the ropes and blocking Lesnar’s attempts with elbows to the face. Reigns would hit Lesnar with a Superman Punch to the outside, followed by a suicide dive over the top rope instead of letting referee Charles Robinson begin the count.
Back inside the ring, and Reigns nailed Lesnar with a Spear, but Lesnar refused to stay down. Reigns — using his previous experience against the “Beast” — continued to hit Superman Punches on Lesnar. He attempted another Spear, but the challenger was able to leapfrog Reigns and send him crashing into the turnbuckle.
That opened the door for the “Beast”, who began to re-open Suplex City for the first time in almost two years. After a German Suplex, Lesnar planted Reigns with his F-5 finisher. The champ barely kicked out before Robinson’s hand hit the mat for the three count.
Lesnar attempted another F-5. Reigns countered into the guillotine submission, but Lesnar would not tap out. He was able to do something very few men have been able to do over the last year and power out of the chokehold and deliver more german’s to his opponent.
Lesnar attempted one last F-5 on Reigns, and it hit… on Robinson.
Lesnar went for the cover, but obviously nobody was there to count the one, two, three. Frustrated, Lesnar would yell in the air, but he gave the champ enough time to recover and connect with the second Spear of the matchup.
With both men down, Paul Heyman — who came out with Reigns and who at this point was emotionless in the match — threw the Universal Title in between champion and challenger and said, “You know what to do with it!”
Lesnar and Reigns looked at each other and had a tug-of-war over the most prestigious championship in WWE. Reigns’ cousins, the Usos, interfered and superkicked the “Beast”. Reigns would follow up with a championship shot to Lesnar. A new referee would run down and count the final fall. Heyman escaped with the “Bloodline” as a pissed Lesnar laid in the ring to end the show.
So yes, you guessed it! Reigns’ 417-day championship reign was once again saved by a knocked out official!
However at the same time, this feud is not over. We have no idea who Heyman threw the title at. WWE is setting up a rematch I believe between Lesnar and Reigns for the main event of Wrestlemania 38 in Dallas, TX. In my opinion, Lesnar is going to return at the Royal Rumble, win the whole match and challenge the “Tribal Chief” at Wrestlemania. Until then, Heyman will be on the same page with the “Head of the Table”, who has some new challengers to face on the blue brand.
Becky Lynch Defeats Sasha Banks and Bianca Beliar to Retain SmackDown Women’s Champion
This match ruled! I just wanna say that right off the bat! These three women put on, at least, the women’s match of the year in 2021. I had high expectations for this triple threat, and it delivered.
No Charlotte Flair needed. The “Man”, the “EST” and the “Boss” showed out in Saudi. Multiple great spots, including Banks and Beliar catching Lynch off the top rope, Lynch jumping off the announce table as Banks attempted a powerbomb on Beliar, Beliar attempting a double Kiss of Death, and Lynch locking in a double Disarmher.
The finish occurred when the “EST’’ hit “Big Time Becks” with the KOD. Banks and Beliar would jock for position in and outside of the ring. Banks won the scramble, but when she re-entered the ring, Lynch was able to roll her up and use the bottom rope for leverage to successfully retain her title.
Now, “Big Time Becks” takes the blue brand’s women’s title to the red brand while Flair takes the red strap to Friday nights. I smell a Champion V Champion match at Survivor Series with both belts on the line.
Edge Scarred Seth Rollins’ Soul
These two men kicked off this show with a bang! Edge and Seth Rollins brought back the meaning of a physical, Hell in a Cell match.
They used everything at their exposal. Chairs, tables, ladders, a toolbox! If it was available, Edge and Rollins used it!
The match started off with heavy brawling between the two. They went to the outside, where Edge would set up a table that he eventually launched the “Visionary” into. The “Rated R Superstar” dove back into his SummerSlam 2008 bout with the “Deadman” and jumped off a ladder with a steel chair in hand, planting the “Drip God” through a table.
There was another spot where Rollins, who was attempting a dive off a ladder before Edge met him up top, did a sunset flip powerbomb, putting Edge through a table. It was a real scary moment for me, considering Edge’s history with his neck.
That sunset flip powerbomb gave Rollins the opportunity to plan a hanest act and tie a steel chain around his boot! He used the boot to kick Edge multiple times in the face, but that wasn’t enough for Rollins. Remember, the whole basis of this match was because Rollins wants to end Edge’s career! A Stomp to Edge’s neck with a steel chair wrapped around his boot and a chair on Edge’s head is what the doctor ordered, but Edge played possum and stuck the chair right in the “Architect’s” privates.
At this point, Edge went to that dark place he said he would. He got the chain, wrapped it around Rollins’ neck, along with a wrench , and locked Rollins into the crossface submission. Just as Rollins was about to tap, the “Ultimate Opportunist” let go. He placed a chair under the head of the “Drip God” and Stomped Rollins’ brain before going for the cover.
This match was brutal, but it had to be. The disdain both men have for each other made it come to this.
But now, both men — even though they’re on the same brand — can go their separate ways.
I loved everything about this match. It’s a tie between the triple threat and this match for match of the night (day in the United States).
Big E Defeats Drew McIntyre to Retain WWE Title
This match wasn’t as good as the Hell in a Cell or the triple threat, but this match slapped! It was two men with great respect going at it over the biggest prize on RAW.
Before they went at it, the champ told his challenger he had never been in the ring with somebody like him, and he proved himself right. McIntyre would kick out of a Big Ending, but E survived a Claymore, a rarity over the last year. E would prove to be the tougher man tonight by putting the “Scottish Warrior” away with a second Big Ending.
E is now moving on to Survivor Series for a must-see clash with the “Head of the Table”. Afterwards, I see some intriguing matchups in his future, including Finn Balor, A.J. Styles and Edge. As for McIntyre, for the first time since his return to WWE, he resides on SmackDown and after the brand warfare commences in Brooklyn, he himself will be going after the “Tribal Chief” as he looks to get back to the top of the mountain in WWE.
OLDBERG Defeats Lashley but Doesn’t Kill him
GOLDBERG looked like OLDBERG in his No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere match against the “All Mighty”. The former WWE Champion took control of the match early, working on OLDBERG’s injured knee with a steel chair. Lashley attempted a Spear in the corner, but he ran into the turnbuckle, opening up a lane for OLDBERG to capitalize. A Spear and a Jackhammer by Bill had him in position to knock off his rival, but he wasn’t through with Lashley yet.
Trying to make Lashley really pay for what he did to his son Gage, OLDBERG dragged Lashley over to the steel stairs and tried to use smash Lashley’s head (which was on the bigger part of the steps) with the smaller steps, but the former military member just moved out of the way. Lashley made his way up the ramp, and it took awhile for OLDBERG to meet him, but when he did, Cedrick Alexander and Shelton Benjamin were standing by Lashley’s side with kendo sticks in hand.
The New Hurt Business tried to stop OLDBERG, but OLDBERG quickly dismantled Lashley’s cronies before following him up the ramp. Trying to escape his wrath, Lashley wound up on the edge of the stage, and OLDBERG Speared Lashley off the ramp, through a table and covered him for the victory.
This match underdelivered in my opinion. It was slow moving, and OLDBERG’s Spears just don’t do it for me anymore. OLDBERG just looks OLD. He’s a shell of his former self. 2016 Goldberg was a BADASS! It’s unbelievable how he’s declined since his return in Georgia at the 2016 Survivor Series.
I also didn’t love Gage wasn’t used to get revenge on Lashley. The whole match was built around OLDBERG getting revenge from what the “All Mighty” did to his 16-year-old son at the “Biggest Party of the Summer”. Him not being in Saudi felt like a big component was missing from the match.
Nonetheless, Lashley walked away from the Spear off the ramp through the table under his own power. He still looks like THAT dude, and now he gets to start a new adventure on Monday nights with his old Hurt Business buddies. The people in Saudi also enjoyed OLDBERG hugging the kids at ringside too, which was a nice touch.
RK-BRO Defeats A.J. Styles and Omos to Retain RAW Tag Team Championships
First and foremost, Riddle ROAD A FREAKING CAMEL TO THE RING, AND IT WAS AMAZING!
Secondly, this guys had a similar match to their SummerSlam encounter. The champs mostly dominated Styles, Omos came in and got his spots in on both members of RK-BRO, Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm on the “Apex Predator” and got caught with a mid-air RKO that as Michael Cole said on the broadcast is always a thing of beauty! Riddle hit a Flying Bro from the top to secure the win for his team.
Now RK-BRO can move on to feud with the Street Profits and the Alpha Academy, among others before their eventual split and Wrestlemania 38 contest. The Phenomenal One and his colossus head back to RAW together, but how long is it going to be until Omos finally realizes Styles’ is the one costing him victories? I thought these two were going to split up post draft, but maybe WWE has something up their sleeve for a big Pay-Per-View in the spring of 2022.
Xavier Woods Defeats Finn Balor to win KOTR Tournament
WWE did it… they actually did it! Xavier Woods got his crowning singles moment!
He had to survive a sling blade, two 1916’s and an attempted Coup De Grace from the “Prince”, but a gut buster and an elbow drop from the top rope secured King Woods his crown after a good match.
The KOTR has had 12 WWE Hall of Famers win the event and is known for launching the careers of Lesnar, Edge, Stone Cold and many others. Woods may never get to that level, but I’m excited to see what he can finally do with the spotlight on him.
Zelina Vega Defeats Doudrop to win QC Tournament
I got to hand it to WWE; They completely fooled me with the booking of the Queen’s Crown Tournament.
At first, I thought it was going to be Liv Morgan’s breakout moment. When Carmella eliminated her early, my next favorite was Shayna Baszler, and that bet looked great for the “Queen of Spades” after she aligned herself with WWE Official Sonya Deville in her rivalry with Naomi. That plan went up in smoke when Doudrop reversed the Kirifuda Clutch in the semifinals. With Doudrop advancing to the Finals, I thought for sure this was her moment.
Nope! Wrong again!
After missing a splash, Vega would impressively deliver a Red Bomb to Doudrop to become the inaugural QC winner, and WWE made a huge deal about Vega being the first-ever winner, as they should! Vega’s booking had been weird since her return to WWE last spring, but this Queen gimmick could revitalize her career on RAW. WWE is not going to want the first QC Tournament to be viewed as a flop. The first winner has to be made a star out of the tournament, and hopefully Vega is seen as one going forward, albeit in a tough RAW Women’s Division with the “Man” and the “EST”
ManSoor Defeats Mustafa Ali, Ali Gets Karated’ by Tareg Hamed
Mansoor made his hometown proud with a big victory over his former partner with a neckbreaker. After the match, Ali got heel heat by beating down Mansoor, but a mysterious man came to the rescue! After taking his time coming down to the ring, the man removed his mask and reveled himself as silver medalist Tareg Hammed!
Hammed — who won the silver medal for Saudi Arabia in Karate at the Olympics this past summer — gave Ali a Karate kick and celebrated with Mansoor in a nice moment for the people of Saudi Arabia.
Usos Defeat Cedrick Alexander and Shelton Benjamin (Kickoff)
Jimmy nailed Cedrick Alexander with a splash in a fun contest. Nothing more to make of it..
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I had high expectations for the 2021 Crown Jewel PPV. The card had a Wrestlemania-like card, and I was expecting an amazing show! What occurred was a great show, the best out of all the Saudi Arabia shows so far, but not the best show of the year! Most of the matches were good to great, but I didn’t care for Mansoor/Ali, OLDBERG/Lashley or Doudrop/Vega. Edge/Rollins and the SmackDown Women’s Title match absolutely ruled, but they weren’t enough to give this show an A. We still have more questions than answers about the top two feuds going into the show, and I don’t particularly like that.
GRADE: B+
