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MAIN EVENT TIME, CODY TRIES TO TAKE OUT PRIEST, IYO TRIES TO GET PAST BIANCA, CAN LOGAN PAUL TAKE REY'S TITLE, MIZ TV, NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR JOHN CENA, RHEA DEFENDS, SETH VS. DREW LEADS US OFF, SAMI VS. JD - FULL WWE CROWN JEWEL BLOG

Welcome to my WWE Crown Jewel blog.  Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.

The pre-show match had Sami Zayn take on JD McDonagh.  Sami was out first, to an amazing reaction from the fans.  It just goes to show that people are people.  What a country’s leaders do is a different thing altogether.  Of course, JD is the big heel in this one.

Speaking of the fans, they are WAY into LA Knight.  They had better have a good finish booked if Roman Reigns is going to retain.  We have also heard that there are CM Punk chants at the show.

This crowd seems like it’s as live as the fans were in Puerto Rico earlier this year.  I don’t remember the fans in Saudi Arabia being this live before.  It’s amazing what happens when the booking is strong isn’t it?  Great fans add so much to the show.

We will be opening with Seth Rollins defending his World Title against Drew McIntyre.

The match went as you would expect.  Sami was in control early, JD controlled the middle before Sami came back and got the win.  The fans loved it, chanting this is awesome.  Great way to get the crowd going.

I have to say, I love the early start times.  Since WWE no longer is concerned with selling PPVs, I have come around to believe that we may actually see a WrestleMania outside of the US.  John Cena may have done the tease in London for a reason.  At the end of the day, people can time shift if they want to.  If they want to watch it live, they can do that too.  WWE isn’t trying to sell buys anymore, so why not go outside the US? 

The show opened with a video package set to Imagine Dragons’ “Believer”.  I love it, a little Vegas representation on the show.

As mentioned above, we are opening with Seth Rollins defending against Drew Mac.  I love what they have done with Drew’s character.  It’s so multi-layered, something we rarely, if ever, got under Vince McMahon.

The champ is out first and the fans are singing.  Rollins is loving it.  Can’t blame him.    McIntyre is out next, also to a great reaction.

They starter hot.  First big spot saw Seth do a tope, only to be caught by Drew on the floor and suplexed him.  Cool.  They are selling now that Seth’s back could be hurt.  Drew hit a Spinebuster for a two.  It won’t end that early!

On cue, Seth came back and just got a two after springboard moonsaults from two sides of the ring.  Fans are loving it.  They are trading near falls right now.  It’s really even.

Seth is selling that his back is giving out at times, such as when he went for a Buckle Bomb.  Drew got a two on Future Shock and was waiting for Rollins to get up to hit his finish.  He didn’t so Drew went over and Seth rolled him up for two.  Seth did a dive to the floor and hit this one.  But Drew got up and drove Seth back first into the steps.  Drew did a backdrop on the apron.  

Seth came back and got a two after a Pedigree.  Drew set up Seth for the Claymore but Drew ran into a superkick and got Stomped.  TWO COUNT ONLY!

Seth went up to the top and missed a Corkscrew moonsault.  Claymore, Seth just kicked out in time!  Both of these guys are killing it.  They are also selling it.  They don’t pop right up after big impact spots.  They let them resonate.

Drew ran into a kick on a Claymore again.  Pedigree and a Stomp.  That did the trick.  Seth Rollins retains.  Where does Drew go from here?  Great match!

Seth isn’t in bad enough shape for a cash in.   Drew walked away so he won’t be making Seth any worse off.

With that said, here come Priest with the case and a ref.  Will he do it?  No! because before he could do it, a hooded Sami Zayn attacked him from behind and stole the briefcase.  Sami is running through the building with the case.  You can’t cash in if you don’t have the briefcase.  Seth finds it really funny!

In the back, Drew was sitting down looking dejected when Rhea Ripley smirked at him.  She is on the way to the ring to defend her Title.

I see no reason to pay extra for Premium Plus from Peacock.  I see commercials while people who pay more see video recaps.

Cole said that we will see many more events from Saudi Arabia.  

Time for Rhea to defend her Title against four other women.  Byron Saxton is your ring announcer.  Nia Jax is out first.  Not a lot of reaction.  Raquel Rodriguez is out next.  She got a nice pop.  Shayna Baszler is next, then Zoey Stark.  The champ is out last.  A bunch of mean in Arab gear with little urn like things that are smoking.  I am sure it’s something from the culture that I am clueless about.  They were kind of like druids for Rhea.  She got a big reaction.  

As the bell rang, Jax bailed because she knew the other would go after her.  Nia broke up pin attempts on the floor wiping out Rhea and Raquel.  She one tin the ring and all of the women went after her.  She’s out on the floor again.

Cool spot, Shayna has submissions on everyone but Zoey at one time.  Cool.  Zoey broke it up.  Shayna just did a big suplerplex on Zoey, Raquel and Rhea.  Nia tried to steal the pin but Shayna broke it up.  

Now Rhea and Raquel are facing off.  Zoey came off the top and wiped them, plus Shayna, out.  Zoey took Rhea in the ring and had her, but Nia broke it up.

Nia got hit with a Tejada Bomb by Raquel but Rhea broke it up.  She went for Riptide on Raquel when Shayna locked on the Clutch.  Raquel made the save but ate a headbutt.  Riptide on Shayna but Zoey broke it up.  

While Rhea had Zoey up for Riptide on the second rope, Raquel rolled over and covered Shayna.  So Rhea did the Riptide on those two as well and then pinned Shayna to retain her Title.  This was exactly what it should have been.  They showed a young girl in the crowd wearing a Women’s Title belt and she didn’t have her arms covered.  I wonder why the women can’t do that.

They had the wrestlers talk about how great it is to be in Saudi Arabia. They love the Saudi Airline.  The people are friendly. Etc.

Please click to Page 2 for more thoughts from today's show!

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