Roman Reigns and John Cena are set to grace the WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia this November. However, not all the big names will be present.
While WWE usually boasts an all-star lineup for its Premium Live Events in Saudi Arabia, this year’s Crown Jewel on November 4th might be different. Based on insights from the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, as sourced from Wrestling Inc, several of WWE’s top performers will be absent due to a conflicting event in the US on the same night. Specifically, WWE has planned house shows stateside during the Saudi Arabia weekend, preventing the entire roster from making the trip.
The previous Saudi event, Night of Champions in May, had been a who’s who of wrestling, featuring matches like Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes and Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch, among others.
This means that Crown Jewel may have fewer household names this time around. Yet, this could be a silver lining, offering emerging talents a chance to shine.
A highlight match in the making for Crown Jewel is Reigns vs. LA Knight, positioning it as one of WWE’s hottest bouts. Reigns’ appearances are becoming rarer, giving Crown Jewel an aura of a major showdown.
Reigns and Cena, two of WWE’s most notable names, are both slated for Crown Jewel, making it a must-watch even as Survivor Series’ charm has waned over the years.
Since his comeback, Cena has been pulling impressive viewership numbers, especially in storylines involving The Bloodline, WWE’s premier faction. An encounter, for instance, between Cena and Solo Sikoa could be a centerpiece for Crown Jewel.
Simultaneously handling Crown Jewel and a major event in Rochester, New York, shouldn’t pose significant issues for WWE.
Prominent events in the New York region usually draw in top talent. With the Blue Cross Arena promoting big names like Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch for its show, it gives hints about WWE’s strategic player allocation for the simultaneous events across the globe. Indeed, this demonstrates the depth of talent present in WWE’s Raw and SmackDown rosters.
This dual-event strategy also presents WWE with a chance to elevate new talents at Crown Jewel while maintaining its booming live event business, reminiscent of its 1990s heyday. With mainstays like Lynch and Flair possibly leading the US events, Crown Jewel can spotlight emerging stars as they rub shoulders with stalwarts like Cena and Reigns.
Emerging talents like Knight, Rhea Ripley, and Sikoa stand to gain significant momentum at Crown Jewel. The split crew approach makes this possible.
Now, the ball is in WWE’s court to seize this unique, perhaps unexpected, opportunity.
