Sami Zayn is Right, WWE's Huge Gamble, John Cena Classic Woes and More Raw Fallout
The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York hosted the November 2 edition of WWE Raw on Netflix, building the final hype for Crown Jewel.
The 946 and Sami Zayn got one up on Roman Reigns and The Bloodline as the heel stable added NXT's Cruz Montana and set up the undisputed WWE champion to lay out The OTC to end the night.
"All Ego" Ethan Page captured the Intercontinental Championship from Chad Gable, while John Cena gave WWE fans more details about the new Cena Classic.
It was an important go-home show for the red brand that left fans with much to consider for Saturday's premium live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sami Zayn is Right. But It Doesn't Matter
1 of 5Sami Zayn continues to deliver some of the best promos in WWE each week, but as the established heel, crowds do not care to give him any recognition.
The Last Real Good Guy clearly highlighted the flaws in Roman Reigns' game and history while showcasing his own consistency in an underrated role.
His speech made a clear point. Zayn deserves to beat The OTC at Crown Jewel and establish himself as the top world champion in WWE for the next year.
It won't happen though for one simple reason: Reigns is the bigger star.
He barely has to say anything to "win" every argument, and crowds accept that he should win against anyone.
Zayn is not going to be treated as a bigger deal than Reigns at any point in his career, no matter what both men do.
The Biggest Test of Ethan Page's Career Begins
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The new Intercontinental champion "All Ego" Ethan Page made strong impression from his initial Raw debut, and he has not disappointed with any opportunity.
He is a great in-ring worker and an even better talker that has sold himself as the problem heel no one wants to deal with.
As the champion, All Ego is perfectly positioned to take a lead role for the red brand that can establish his long-term potential.
If he continues to deliver against bigger competition, Page could be soon taking lead roles at premium live events, eventually challenging for either of the world titles.
If the run does not go well, it is unlikely Page will lose all value, but it is unlikely he will get any chances to truly challenge the top names in WWE.
All signs pointed to Page succeeding, but nothing is certain yet. Hopefully Page can make the most of his spotlight.
John Cena is Failing to Sell the John Cena Classic
3 of 5What is The John Cena Classic? According to The GOAT himself, it will be the second Raw on December 14 where WWE and NXT Superstars will fight for the vote of Club WWE Members.
The Superstar fans vote to win will be awarded a special championship.
When Cena first introduced this concept, it sounded like he was confident in this to be a premium live event, but it looks to be a mere TV special and one that could be eclipsed by a different Raw earlier in the day.
The GOAT's enthusiasm for highlighting NXT stars is infectious, but if this was just about showcasing the developmental stars, there is no reason for this vote and championship.
No NXT star is going to win out on a vote over the established talent of Raw and SmackDown, even with a limited audience that needs to pay for the right to vote.
Instead, the whole concept has quickly evolved into a Club WWE advertisement that is unlikely to improve fan interest in the subscription service.
If The GOAT cannot sell this idea to fans, who can? This will quickly become a one-and-done for WWE unless the company makes drastic changes after year one.
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The Crown Jewel Gimmick Needs to Be Scrapped
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Much like the John Cena Classic Championship, the Crown Jewel Championship is a once-a-year title that never matters except on the night of the PLE.
Perhaps a more apt comparison is the forgotten Great Royal Rumble Championship, which was also a title that was never seen again after the night of the Greatest Royal Rumble.
In all of these cases, fans do not care about a title that is not regularly presented on television.
Why should fans care if Liv Morgan or Chelsea Green are the Crown Jewel champion when it has not impact on either of their actual championship reigns?
Seth Rollins won the 2025 men's Crown Jewel Championship over Cody Rhodes, and he is not even in the conversation around the PLE this year.
Liv has a chance to become a two-time Crown Jewel champion, an accolade that would only be referenced again on the road to future Crown Jewel events.
Liv vs. Green is more important to the product as a potential vehicle to a Tiffany Stratton Money in the Bank cash-in, and Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn is a speed bump in The OTC's feud with 946.
Why distract from the main stories WWE wants to tell in order to award a championship that will not be showcased at all on weekly TV?
It is time to retire this concept and just return Crown Jewel to the status of standard PLE where top champions defend their actual gold.
WWE's Huge Cruz Montana Gamble
5 of 5Cruz Montana was a major signing for NXT in July from TNA, looking like a major threat in the NXT Championship scene.
He was set up as the most likely man to dethrone Grayson Waller as NXT champion, once he put DarkState behind him possibly as early as this Wednesday in an Unsanctioned match against Dion Lennox.
Instead, it looks like this week's NXT could be the last performance from Montana as he has joined 946 in the fight against The Bloodline on Raw.
This is a huge spotlight on a 35-year-old veteran whose long term WWE future was uncertain until this moment.
Montana has history in the business going back to 2007, including time in All Elite Wrestling and two TNA World Championship reigns.
As a late arrival in WWE, he could have been type-cast as a veteran on track to become a coach. Instead, as a member of 946, he is likely to main event Survivor Series: WarGames.
While Royce Keys remains 946's leader for now, WWE has set up three singles star that could break out in Keys, Carmelo Hayes and Montana.
There is a chance that this surprise Raw debut is a harbinger of a big run to come for The Real Deal.
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