Predicting WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Winners, Surprise Returns and Bold Booking Calls
WWE returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday for Crown Jewel, a premium live event that will pit the top men's and women's champions against each other in marquee match-ups.
Who will emerge from the night's biggest bouts, what surprises may the company have in store, and what bold booking call will have fans buzzing in the wake of the show?
Find out with this preview of the international PLE.
World Tag Team Championship Match: Penta and Je'Von Evans vs. The Vision
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World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker has built back some incredible momentum of late, looking like the unstoppable ass-kicker most expected him to be upon his return post-WrestleMania 42.
He steamrolled Evans at Money in the Bank, then shoved him off a ladder and through the roof of an ambulance. You read that correctly. The roof. Of an ambulance.
This is a rare case in which, for Breakker to sustain that momentum as a top star on the Raw brand, he desperately needs to drop the tag team titles and eventually distance himself from the rest of The Vision.
Penta and Evans are red-hot right now, with the former possessing the Money in the Bank briefcase, and losing to them would do no damage to The Badass whatsoever, even less so when considering Austin Theory can eat the pinfall.
What role Bronson Reed plays in the match could determine the outcome, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to continue heating up Breakker.
Prediction: Evans and Penta win the titles
Last Man Standing Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
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Rhodes has to win here, and he has to do it by punting Orton in the head.
Anything less, and the entire months-long rivalry served no purpose.
If Rhodes fends off the urge to turn to the dark side to defeat The Viper, he essentially becomes John Cena. As great as he is, the last thing any wrestling fan of any age needs is another vanilla babyface who does the right thing at all times.
WWE produced that song and dance for two decades. Now is not the time to go back there. Especially when Rhodes badly needs to prove that he is a man of his word and follows through with his threats.
Anything less would deteriorate the relationship with the fans.
Orton got the best of Rhodes at Sunday Night's Main Event and has poked, prodded, and taunted him ever since. The Last Man Standing Match in Riyadh has to be the end of the feud, with The American Nightmare exorcising the demon that is the Legend Killer from his life and moving on.
Prediction: Rhodes wins with a pair of Cross Rhodes and a punt to the skull
WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green vs. Women's World Champion Liv Morgan
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The biggest winner Saturday night may very well be Tiffany Stratton, whose Money in the Bank cash-in attempts have ramped up, typically a sign that a cash-in is drawing near.
While that may imply Morgan is in trouble, based on recent creative decisions, it would likely result in a very bad night for Green in Riyadh.
After all, everything with this second Stratton briefcase run has mimicked her first, including a show-closing cash-in tease Monday on Raw that was beat-for-beat the same as one from two years earlier.
If that trend continues, the cash-in is accompanied by a shocking betrayal.
Morgan will defeat Green in their interpromotional match-up, thanks to interference from The Judgment Day's Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. Stratton will make the save, only to betray Green and kick off her second WWE Women's Championship run, one of two bold booking decisions fans can expect.
Prediction: Morgan beats Green and Stratton cashes in
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn
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Reigns and Zayn rekindle their epic story Saturday in Riyadh in a battle between the top two champions in WWE today.
The Tribal Chief has been extraordinary in 2026, delivering his best in-ring performances to date and remaining undefeated along the way. He has been on another level, to the point that a loss to Zayn in Saudi Arabia seems unfathomable.
Except, the OTC and his Bloodline are in the midst of a rivalry with 946 that is destined to culminate at Survivor Series, inside War Games. This is exactly the right opportunity to give the insufferable Last Real Good Guy a victory over the seemingly unbeatable Reigns, thanks to interference from Royce Keys, Bronco Nima, Lucien Prince, Carmelo Hayes, and Jaida Parker.
If Zayn going over is not enough of a bold booking decision, perhaps the arrival of the 946 brings with it the return of Jacob Fatu, with the distraction playing into Reigns' loss.
The Head of the Table has won all of his big matches by himself, so it makes sense that, if he is to lose, it would come in a protected fashion, on the heels of plenty of interference.
Prediction: Zayn wins, with plenty of interference, in a chaotic main event
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