Although I don’t write the blogs on the World Wrestling Entertainment because I don’t follow that much. I am more focused on watching pay-per-view (PPV) events. I am not able to watch Raw and Smackdown episodes because of the sharp difference of timings between the US and Saudi Arabia. After what I watched the PPV event called WWE Crown Jewel, I am thinking about writing a blog on this terrible episode of nuisance and figuring out the points due to the fact I find this show the worst PPV I have ever watched.
1. BAD POLITICAL INFLUENCE
The globally infamous killing of a Saudi journalist ignited the worldwide audience to push towards the cancellation and not to step a foot in the name of the entertainment until the political crisis between the countries over the subject is clear. There was a strong rumor of the postponement which meant the continuity of the stories running in the weekly episodes of Raw and SmackDown may have to alter in haste and their 10-year deal with General Sports Authority (GSA) was in jeopardy. But somehow this show went on and most of the global fan following couldn’t believe that the event was still on the cards. Result? The PPV event went controversial all over.
2. VENUE & CROWD
People living in the capital will agree to the fact that the ideal venue for such a massive event should have been their ‘Pearl of Stadiums’, King Fahd International Stadium holding the rich capacity of over 68,000 spectators. The sudden change in plans within a month downsized the highly expected lively environment when the show moved to King Saud University Stadium which has approximately 25,000 seats to offer.
Due to the drastic change in the numbers, the electrifying environment was numbed. Many stage entrances had no deserving roar. People in the VIP seats were the most boring and disappointing faces who sat idle and showed no enthusiasm for the event. Many times, the VIPs didn’t bother to stand on their feet and notice who was thrown to the floor from the ring. As much animating and exhilarating was the crowd in Jeddah when the Greatest Royal Rumble was staged in front of over 60,000 spectators, the outcome in the Riyadh show was on the contrary.
3. JOHN CENA & DANIEL BRYAN OUT
Both, John Cena and Daniel Bryan, are currently the biggest faces of the WWE. People love and adore them. Their refusals to the event meant that Cena-Bryan followers in the KSA had to down their plans and take the whole scenario to the other theoretical dimensions. Cena and Bryan were officially removed from the event and were replaced by Bobby Lashley and Samoa Joe respectively. Cena’s refusal was more of a worrying sign as he widely praised and considered an honor and privilege to compete in the KSA during the Greatest Royal Rumble.
4. WORLD CUP?
The concept of the World Cup is not highly marketed or recognized in the North American region due to the immense popularity of their big 4 i.e., NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. So when this concept dropped on the cards, it sounded bizarre. A ‘WORLD’ Cup between eight men? Not buying at all. The writers could have forwarded many better proposals than this. With the weight of the name, the writers could have focused only on the tournament in this PPV event and added numerous wrestlers in an expanded knockout phase instead of starting from the quarterfinals.
5. SHANE MCMAHON – THE BEST IN THE WORLD?
And guess what, the stupidity didn’t end with bringing the idea of a World Cup, the stupidity earned its vulnerable reputation when the tournament ended with the SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon winning the trophy. The man who didn’t even compete in the whole tournament decided to replace The ‘injured’ Miz during the final against Dolph Ziggler. This was like ruining a party. Even if The Miz had won by cheating, may have some average responses from the viewers but seeing Shane taking the trophy was the mockery to the competition they were referring for so many weeks. McMahon Jr. celebrated throughout the arena with the trophy and the crowd responded with low esteem.
How dumb can be the writing of a WWE episode? This reminded me Braun Strowman, after all the suspense, picking a 10-year-old kid his partner in this year’s WrestleMania. Or Vince Russo destroying WCW.
6. LESNAR AGAIN?
Brock Lesnar‘s extreme irregularity in WWE has caused wide criticism in a past few years and has raised many eyebrows over the hype of his sustaining the Universal Championship belt for that long. The complaint is just and in the storyline, viewers did get rid of him when Roman Reigns defeated him in this year’s SummerSlam. A triple threat match was scheduled in Crown Jewel between Braun Strowman, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns but then Reigns himself announced a legitimate diagnosis of leukemia. Therefore, he had to relinquish the belt within two weeks to start Crown Jewel.
Another sad news? Actually no because the audience was done with The Big Dog with lack of interest in showing up in most of the PPV as a part of the main event. His rivalry with an irregular Lesnar was booed. So it became a singles match for the Universal Championship title. With Lesnar’s reign stretched to 504 record days, there was no need to win Brock another title.
The beast who offers nothing but suplexes and F5s used a similar method on Braun Strowman and won the match within 5 minutes. And once again, Lesnar and Strowman didn’t get a better contest. Making Lesnar repeatedly win shows that the showrunner and the writer are not listening to the criticism. They are adamant to make the same mistakes again and again.
7. SHAWN MICHAELS’ COMEBACK
For all these eight years, HBK maintained his words to not come out of retirement after losing to The Undertaker in the Wrestle Mania. It was, in my opinion, a sorry departure after losing the Streak v Career match. And it was a fitting farewell. HBK showed up many times in the ring afterward. Even gave sweet chin music a few times but didn’t return until the unnecessary drama at the MCG ignited for a showdown between the two extremely beloved tag teams of the Attitude era, The Brothers of Destruction and DX.
The MCG match between The Undertaker and HHH was supposed to be the final encounter between them but the writers had something else in their minds to annoy the fans. The legacy which ended with HHH beating The Undertaker at the MCG didn’t need to expand the script to shape it like a soap opera.
The timing of HBK’s return was extremely bad. The writers could have preferred to make HBK’s return in the next year’s WrestleMania for a revenge match and possibly end their careers on a high. Seeing HBK was a nostalgia as WWE’s business is nowadays relying on nostalgic matches and appearances.
HBK’s iconic sexy-boy image has aged, the guy is 53 now. Further disturbing was watching a bald Shawn Michaels who always sported long hair. He cut his pony and then shaved his head this year. Being a huge fan of HBK, I am not convinced of his return.
I am not convinced with the stories that are extended in the continuities. The creativity in the writing has met a severe low. I hope this does not repeat again. WWE Crown Jewel was a massive disappointment. The only thing which was impressive about the event was fireworks. PPV event will possibly return next year back in Jeddah on April. Hope to be better than this.
Sami Naik | Film Critic 