Crown Jewel 2021

Crown Jewel 2021 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on October 21, 2021, at Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the third WWE event promoted under the Crown Jewel chronology and the sixth held under WWE's 10-year partnership in support of Saudi Vision 2030.
Ten matches were contested at the event, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. In the main event, Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to retain the Universal Championship. In other prominent matches, Becky Lynch defeated Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship, Big E defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship, Xavier Woods won the King of the Ring tournament while Zelina Vega won the inaugural Queen's Crown tournament, and Edge defeated Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match in the opening bout.
==Production==
===Background===
In early 2018, WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the General Sports Authority in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program. The first event under this new partnership, the Greatest Royal Rumble, was held at the King Abdullah Sports City's King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah on April 27. The third event, Crown Jewel, is announced to occur on October 21, 2021 at Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard.
===Storylines===
The show included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
After Roman Reigns retained the Universal Championship at SummerSlam, he was confronted by a returning Brock Lesnar in his first appearance since WrestleMania 36 in April 2020. On the following SmackDown, Lesnar said that his former advocate, Paul Heyman, who had been serving as Reigns' special counsel since August 2020, knew Lesnar would be at SummerSlam in an attempt to cause descension between Reigns and Heyman. Lesnar then told Heyman to accept his challenge against Reigns for the Universal Championship. Later that night, an angered Reigns accepted the challenge. On September 16, WWE announced that the match would occur at Crown Jewel. Before then, however, Reigns had a scheduled title defense against "The Demon" Finn Bálor at Extreme Rules where Reigns retained, thus officially making his match against Lesnar for the Universal Championship.
At SummerSlam, Bianca Belair was scheduled to defend the SmackDown Women's Championship against Sasha Banks, but before the match began, it was announced that Banks could not appear for unknown reasons. Becky Lynch then made a surprise return in her first appearance since the Raw after Money in the Bank in May 2020. She challenged Belair, who accepted, and Lynch defeated her in 26 seconds to win the title. At Extreme Rules, Lynch defended the title against Belair, however, Banks made her return and attacked Belair, causing a disqualification. After the match, Banks also attacked Lynch. A triple threat match between the three women for the SmackDown Women's Championship was scheduled for Crown Jewel.
At SummerSlam, Bobby Lashley defended the WWE Championship against WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg. Lashley was declared the winner after the referee called off the match due to Goldberg injuring his knee and being unable to continue. After the match, Lashley continued to attack Goldberg, whose 15 year old son Gage came out and jumped on Lashley's back. Lashley then put Gage in the Hurt Lock, but released him and fleed as Goldberg attempted to aid his son. Goldberg was then off television due to his (kayfabe) injury while Lashley lost his championship to Big E. On the October 4 episode of Raw, Goldberg appeared and said he would kill Lashley, who came out and said that his attack on Gage was a misunderstanding, which Goldberg did not believe. Lashley then said he would face Goldberg at Crown Jewel on the condition that it was a No Holds Barred match, and Goldberg accepted.
On the October 1 episode of SmackDown, WWE announced the return of the King of the Ring tournament, as well as the establishment of a female counterpart called the Queen's Crown tournament. Both the 2021 King of the Ring and inaugural Queen's Crown tournaments, each consisting of eight wrestlers evenly divided between the Raw and SmackDown brands, began on the October 8 episode of SmackDown, with the finals of each being held at Crown Jewel.
At Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins cost Edge his match for the Universal Championship as Rollins felt he deserved to be in the title match, and that Edge cut in line ahead of him. This led to a match at SummerSlam that Edge won. Unsatisfied, Rollins challenged Edge to a rematch that occurred on the September 10 episode of SmackDown that Rollins won. Rollins was still unsatisfied, however, as he was offended that Edge had called him "Edge Lite" and that Edge did not announce his retirement. He challenged Edge to appear on SmackDown and accept another rematch. On the October 1 episode, Edge appeared to confront Rollins, however, as Rollins thought that Edge would not appear, he instead went directly to Edge's house and proceeded to make himself at home. The following week on SmackDown, Edge attacked Rollins and challenged him to a Hell in a Cell match, which was scheduled for Crown Jewel.
==Event==
===Pre-show===
During the Crown Jewel Kickoff pre-show, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) fought the newly reformed Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin) in a non-title tag team match. In the end, Jimmy performed an Uso Splash on Alexander to win the match.
===Preliminary matches===
The actual pay-per-view opened with Edge facing Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match. Throughout the match, the two used various weapons, including a steel pipe, steel chair, a ladder, tables, and the steel steps. Towards the end, Rollins placed Edge's head onto a chair and attempted a Stomp, however, Edge countered. Edge performed multiple superkicks of his own on Rollins. Edge untangled the chain around Rollins' foot and applied the Crossface on Rollins using a steel pipe. In the end, Edge performed a Stomp of his own on Rollins onto a chair to win the match.
Next, Mansoor faced Mustafa Ali. During the match, Mansoor performed a Moonsault on Ali, however, Ali countered into a submission on Mansoor, who reached the ropes to break the submission. In the end, Mansoor performed a neckbreaker on Ali to win the match. Following the match, as Ali attacked Mansoor, he was confronted by karateka Tareg Hamedi, who kicked Ali in the head. Hamedi and Mansoor then celebrated with the crowd.
After that, RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) defended the Raw Tag Team Championship against AJ Styles and Omos. In the end, Orton countered a Phenomenal Forearm attempt into an RKO on Styles followed by Riddle performing the Floating Bro on Styles to retain the title.
In the fourth match, Raw's Doudrop faced SmackDown's Zelina Vega in the finals of the Queen's Crown tournament. In the end, Vega performed a Code Red on Doudrop to win the match and the tournament.
Next, Goldberg faced Bobby Lashley in a No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere match. During the match, Lashley dominated Goldberg and targeted Goldberg's leg by placing it in a chair and stomping on it. As Lashley attempted a spear on Goldberg, Goldberg moved out of the way and Lashley crashed through a table positioned in the corner of the ring. Goldberg performed a Jackhammer on Lashley, but instead of pinning Lashley, Goldberg decided he was not finished. Outside the ring, Goldberg performed a spear on Lashley into the timekeepers' area. Goldberg attempted to attack Lashley using the steel steps, however, Lashley moved out of the way. Goldberg followed Lashley to the entrance stage where Goldberg made quick work of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. In the end, Goldberg performed a spear on Lashley off the entrance stage and through tables positioned by the stage and pinned him to win the match.
After that, Raw's Xavier Woods faced SmackDown's Finn Bálor in finals of the King of the Ring tournament. The two started with multiple chain wrestling counters and submission attempts. Woods attempted a Tornado DDT, but Bálor countered and hit a Double Stomp to the chest of Woods. Woods hit a Superkick on Bálor for a nearfall. Bálor attempted a Dragon Sleeper, but Woods countered into an Inside Cradle for a nearfall. Woods hit Bálor with a Superplex for a nearfall. Woods went for the Tightrope Walk Diving Elbow, but Bálor got the knees up. Bálor missed the Coupe de Grace and Woods hit a Diving Elbow Drop to become the King of the Ring.
Following this, Big E defended the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. On the outside, McIntyre hit a Belly-to-Belly Suplex on Big E. Back in the ring, McIntyre hit a Spinebuster for a nearfall. Big E hit McIntyre with three Belly-to-Belly Suplexs. McIntyre hit a Neckbreaker. Big E hit the Warrior Splash for a nearfall. Big E attempted the Big Ending, but McIntyre countered with a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. McIntyre hit Big E with the Glasgow Kiss and a Future Shock DDT for a nearfall. Big E locked in a Stretch Muffler Submission, but McIntyre rolled out. Big E hit the Big Ending on McIntyre for a nearfall. On the top rope, McIntyre hit a Super Bulldog on Big E for a nearfall. McIntyre hit the Claymore Kick on Big E for a nearfall. McIntyre went for a second Claymore, but Big E reversed and hit a second Big Ending to retain the title.
In the penultimate match, Becky Lynch defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks. Bianca did a One-Handed Press Slam on Banks. Banks hit the Three Amigos on Belair. Belair got caught in the Bank Statement and a Dis-Arm-Her at the same time. Banks hit a Backstabber and locked in a Bank Statement, but Belair broke it up with a Handspring Moonsault. In the end, Lynch hit the Manhandle Slam on Belair for a nearfall. Lynch locked a Double Dis-Arm-Her, only for Belair to power her way free. Belair hit the KOD on Lynch and Banks and threw Belair out of the ring, but was caught by Lynch with an Inside Cradle and held the ropes for leverage to retain the title.
===Main event===
In the main event, Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar. Lesnar tried for a German Suplex multiple times, but Reigns held onto the top rope. Lesnar was able to hit the German. On the outside, Reigns sent Lesnar into the ring post. Reigns hit a Suicide Dive on Lesnar outside the ring. Reigns hit a Superman Punch, knocking Lesnar off the apron. Reigns hit a Spear on Lesnar for a nearfall. Reigns hit the Superman Punch twice and went for another Spear, but Lesnar leapfrogged over Reigns, who hit the turnbuckle. Lesnar hit multiple German Suplexs and an F-5 on Reigns for a nearfall. Lesnar attempted a second F-5, but Reigns countered into a Guillotine Choke, but Lesnar fought out with a Spinebuster. Lesnar hit a second F-5 on Reigns, but knocked the referee down. Reigns hit a second Spear on Lesnar. Heyman threw the title in the middle of the ring and Reigns and Lesnar had a tug-of-war with the title. The Usos came out and attacked Lesnar with a Double Superkick. Reigns then hit Lesnar over the head with the title and pinned Lesnar and a second referee came out to make the pin for Reigns to retain.
==Match preview==
The Usos vs. The Hurt Business 	Preview
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar 	Preview
Big E vs. Drew McIntyre 	Preview
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks	Preview
RK-Bro vs. AJ Styles & Omos 	Preview
Goldberg vs. Bobby Lashley 	Preview
Edge vs. Seth Rollins 	Preview
Mansoor vs. Mustafa Ali 	Preview
Zelina Vega vs. Doudrop 	Preview
Finn Bálor vs. Xavier Woods 	Preview
==Results==
;
;
*WWE Kickoff Show: The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) defeated The Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin) (10:38)
*Edge defeated Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match (27:38)
*Mansoor defeated Mustafa Ali (10:03)
*RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) (c) defeated AJ Styles & Omos to retain the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship (8:41)
*Zelina Vega defeated Doudrop in the Queen's Crown Tournament Final (5:50)
*Goldberg defeated Bobby Lashley in a No Holds Barred Match (11:25)
*Xavier Woods defeated Finn Bálor in the King of the Ring Tournament Final (9:37)
*Big E (c) defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship (13:23)
*Becky Lynch (c) defeated Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (19:23)
*Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Brock Lesnar to retain the WWE Universal Championship (12:20)
==Other on-screen talent==
;Commentators
*Michael Cole
*Corey Graves
*Byron Saxton
*Faisal Almughaisib ()
*Jude Aldajani ()
;Pre-show Panel
*Kayla Braxton
*Matt Camp
*Peter Rosenberg
;Interviewers
*Kevin Patrick	
;Ring announcer
*Greg Hamilton
;Referees
*Jessika Carr
*Dan Engler
*Eddie Orengo
*Chad Patton
*Charles Robinson
==See also==
*List of WWE pay-per-view events
*World Wrestling Entertainment/Event history
*Event gallery
==DVD release==
* Crown Jewel 2021 on DVD
==External links==
* Crown Jewel 2021 Official website
* Kickoff on WWE Network
* on WWE Network
* Crown Jewel 2021 Pre-Show at CAGEMATCH.net
* Crown Jewel 2021 at CAGEMATCH.net
Category:Crown Jewel 2021
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view events
Category:2021 pay-per-view events
Category:WWE Crown Jewel