WWE Crown Jewel | |
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![]() WWE Crown Jewel logo | |
Promotions | WWE |
Brands | Raw (2018–2019, 2021–present) SmackDown (2018–2019, 2021–present) 205 Live (2019) |
First event | 2018 |
WWE Crown Jewel is a professional wrestling event produced by WWE, an American-based promotion. It is broadcast live and available only through pay-per-view (PPV) and the livestreaming services Peacock and the WWE Network. Established in 2018, the event has been held every year since except in 2020, which was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year, and it is held in late October—early November. It is WWE's main recurring event that takes place in Saudi Arabia as part of a 10-year partnership in support of Saudi Vision 2030; the inaugural Crown Jewel was the second event in this partnership. The event's name is a reference to it taking place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
History
[edit]In early 2018, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the Ministry of Sport (formerly the General Sports Authority; renamed in 2020) in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.[1][2] The first pay-per-view (PPV) and WWE Network event under this partnership, the Greatest Royal Rumble, was held at the King Abdullah Sports City's King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah on April 27, 2018.[3][4] A follow-up was held on November 2 titled Crown Jewel, which was held at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia; the show was headlined by the first (and so far only) "WWE World Cup" tournament, and a tag team match between D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) and The Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker).[5]
A second Crown Jewel event was then held the following year on October 31, 2019, at the King Fahd International Stadium, also in Riyadh, thus establishing Crown Jewel as a recurring event for the Saudi Arabian partnership, and specifically, a recurring event in Riyadh.[6] Because of COVID-19 pandemic-related regulations, a Crown Jewel was not held in 2020; however, the event returned in 2021 and took place on October 21 at the Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard in Riyadh.[7] The 2021 event was also the first Crown Jewel to livestream on Peacock's WWE Network channel, following the merger of the American version of the WWE Network under Peacock in March that year.[8]
On May 23, 2022, WWE announced that the 2022 Crown Jewel would be held on Saturday, November 5.[9] The event was held at Mrsool Park, marking the second Crown Jewel to be held at this venue after the inaugural 2018 event, which was held there when it was previously referred to as King Saud University Stadium (renamed in 2020).[10] The 2023 event was confirmed to be held at the Mohammed Abdu Arena, marking the second Crown Jewel held at this venue after the 2021 event.[11]
Events
[edit]All Crown Jewel events are held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
# | Event | Date | Venue | Main event | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Crown Jewel (2018) | November 2, 2018 | King Saud University Stadium | D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) vs. Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker) | [5] |
2 | Crown Jewel (2019) | October 31, 2019 | King Fahd International Stadium | Seth Rollins (c) vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere match that could not be stopped for any reason for the WWE Universal Championship | [6][12] |
3 | Crown Jewel (2021) | October 21, 2021 | Mohammed Abdu Arena | Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship | [7][13] |
4 | Crown Jewel (2022) | November 5, 2022 | Mrsool Park | Roman Reigns (c) vs. Logan Paul for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship | [9] |
5 | Crown Jewel (2023) | November 4, 2023 | Mohammed Abdu Arena | Roman Reigns (c) vs. LA Knight for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship | [14][11] |
6 | Crown Jewel (2024) | November 2, 2024 | Kingdom Arena | TBA | [15] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ WWE.com Staff (March 5, 2018). "Saudi Arabia to host the Greatest Royal Rumble". WWE. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "National Transformation Program 2020" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2017.
- ^ Silverstein, Adam (March 5, 2018). "WWE news, rumors: 'Greatest Royal Rumble,' NXT injury, Jericho-NJPW done?". CBSSports. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ Lake, Jefferson (March 5, 2018). "WWE: Saudi Arabia to host 50-man Royal Rumble". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Lee, Joseph (October 6, 2018). "WWE News: Crown Jewel Moved To Smaller Venue, John Cena Thanks JBL For Hair Tips, Shawn Michaels and Triple H Comment On Super Show-Down". 411Mania. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Johnson, Mike (August 5, 2019). "The next WWE event in Saudi Arabia will take place..." PWInsider. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Nason, Josh (July 26, 2021). "WWE returning to Saudi Arabia on October 21". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Defelice, Robert (March 8, 2021). "Standalone WWE Network App Shutting Down In The US On 4/4, New Details On The Transition To Peacock". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Guzzo, Gisberto (May 23, 2022). "WWE Announces Crown Jewel Event In Saudi Arabia For November 2022". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Beltran, William (September 17, 2022). "Official: Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul at Crown Jewel 2022". Super Luchas. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ a b WWE.com Staff (October 17, 2023). "WWE to return to Riyadh for WWE Crown Jewel at the Mohammed Abdo Arena on Saturday, Nov. 4". WWE. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (September 27, 2019). "WWE Crown Jewel 2019 Announced For October 31 In Saudi Arabia". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (August 16, 2021). "WWE Returning to Saudi Arabia". PWInsider. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Guzzo, Gisberto (October 7, 2023). "WWE Crown Jewel Officially Announced For November 4, 2023". Fightful. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (May 25, 2024). "WWE reveals date for Crown Jewel 2024". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved July 8, 2024.