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Greg Wishynski
As a service to fans who have a general interest in WWE but have not watched a match in several months, we are pleased to provide this FAQ as a guide to WWE Crown Jewel Perth on Saturday at 8am ET from the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. Premium Live Event (PLE) will be streamed exclusively in the US for fans ESPN Unlimited Plan Subscription – either directly or through a traditional pay TV package – on the ESPN app.
Why is Crown Jewel being held in Perth, Australia?
While Australia itself has no royal family, it is a constitutional monarchy that recognizes King Charles III as its head of state. We hope the Prince of Wales will be the special enforcer for one of these matches.
But more to the point: Elimination Chamber 2024 was a big hit in Perth, so WWE wanted a “Takeover” weekend in the city. While the previous six Crown Jewel events were held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this event will be held Down Under, where the coveted men’s and women’s WWE Crown Jewel Championship belts will be on the line.
The concept is actually pretty cool: the current men’s and women’s world champions from “Raw” and “SmackDown” battle each other for the WWE Crown Jewel Championship belt. Well, not actually a belt, because the winners get a championship ring, something with which Seth Rollins is undoubtedly unfamiliar as a 39-year-old Chicago Bears fan.
Who is Rollins wrestling in the men’s Crown Jewel match?
The WWE World Heavyweight Champion is taking on the undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, continuing a long-running rivalry that has oscillated between mutual respect and intense animosity. And they have spent some moments together. Do you remember at Hell in a Cell in 2022, when Rhodes wrestled with a torn pec that turned his chest purple? Or WrestleMania 40, when Rollins aided Rhodes in the war against Bloodline both nights before Cody “finished the story” with a championship victory against Roman Reigns?
This latest chapter finds Rhodes feuding with Rollins’ current stable The Vision, consisting of Braun Breaker, Bronson Reed and manager Paul Heyman, who has added “The Oracle” to his growing list of nicknames. As always, Heyman has found a way to elevate an interesting match – champion vs. champion, with Rollins up 0-3 against Rhodes on PLE – into something more Shakespearean.
Rollins’ confidence in defeating Rhodes was shaken to such an extent that, during Monday’s “Raw”, he wanted Heyman to explain what the consequences would be if he lost at Crown Jewel. After initially laughing off the notion, Heyman calmly stated that Rollins could lose the confidence of his stable and locker room. But also, if he loses to Rhodes, Rollins will make Heyman wonder “Why I chose you over Roman Reigns.” They have either pushed Rollins to win the Crown Jewel match or caused a dramatic upset if he can’t. Classic Heyman!
What about the women’s crown jewel match?
1:07
Arda Okal recaps the contract signing between Wacker and Stratton
Arda Ockal witnesses the contract signing between Stephanie Wacker and Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown.
Friends…these are difficult times. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton faces off WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie WalkerStratton had a rough year since cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on January 3 and defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, Trish Stratus at Evolution, and Jade Cargill at SummerSlam. Wacker most recently won his first WWE title shot at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, defeating Io Sky for the then-vacant title.
The two signed contracts in the ring for this match on last Friday’s “SmackDown”, which was perhaps the first time in wrestling history that it actually went off without incident. That was until women’s U.S. champion Giulia and her manager, Kiana James, Stratton was secretly attacked Providing his services to Wacker. There are a few things to keep in mind ahead of this match, as Wacker is trying to hand Stratton his first big defeat of the year. This is one of two women’s matches in Perth – the other being a superstar tag team match.
Who is competing in the women’s tag match?
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky Kabuki Warriors are teaming up to take on Asuka and Kairi Sane.
Sorry, make it “Adelaide, Australia’s own Rhea Ripley”. Not that this information will ever be relevant to who can celebrate at the end of the match. just for your information.
Asuka has been a mentor to both Skye and Sane, which has led to some emotional moments for Io as she admits she still feels love for her former stablemates… and some painful moments, like when Asuka recently ordered a reluctant Sane to attack Skye on “Raw”. So there’s a nice undercurrent of drama here along with the big fight taking place in Australia. But not Australian street fighting. This is something entirely different, as Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed will soon find out.
What is Australian street fight?
No one knows. Apart from this, most of the fighting takes place in the outback.
Like Rhodes, Reigns has also been feuding with The Vision (and his former “wise guy,” Heyman), and? Especially with Reed. This recently led to one of our favorite gimmicks in WWE, in which Reed stole the original Tribal Chief’s shoes after defeating him and wore them around his neck as a trophy. Due to these actions he has become known as the “Tribal Thief”, coined in a popular matching T-shirt. Hey, sneakers go to the winner…
In addition to Crown Jewel’s location in Perth, we have an Australian street fight ourselves as Reed is a native Australian who got his start in the country’s indie scene. This still doesn’t mean we know what the match is.
Aside from the possibility of Jey Uso and/or Braun Breaker’s involvement, we’ll just have to tune in to find out.
Finally, where are we on the John Cena retirement tour?
Following his ill-advised heel turn – a fever dream that included The Rock, rapper Travis Scott and Cena calling his fans “pathetic” – the 17-time world champion once again became the face running the place around SummerSlam. It was here that Brock Lesnar attacked him in a shocking return, setting up a match at Wrestlepalooza in which Cena miraculously overcame his tormentor to score a thrilling victory…
…just kidding! Lesnar Cena was originally sent to the Earth’s core. what with the six F-5s WWE called it a complete disaster,
With his remaining appearances and potential opponents running low, Cena decided to become his own booker. He asked the WWE world if they would like to see him fight AJ Styles one last time, to which they wholeheartedly supported. This led to Cena posting on Styles and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque on X: “I don’t choose my opponents, but I [even through tough times] Always listen to the fans.”
With this the match was made. On social media. Without any construction.
Cena and Styles have faced each other dozens of times in various formats on and off television. But it’s a trio of classic matches between the two that created the anticipation for it: WWE Money in the Bank 2016, where Styles upset Cena; Their thrilling rematch at WWE SummerSlam 2016, which Styles also won; and Cena’s tremendous performance at the WWE Royal Rumble 2017, where he equaled Ric Flair’s then-record of 16 world championships.
Following this, Cena would have his final matches at “Raw” events in Boston (November 10) and New York City (November 17), Survivor Series in San Diego (November 29) and “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in Washington, DC (December 13). after that you can’t see him Now as an active wrestler.
