Crown Jewel (2023)

In early 2018, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the Ministry of Sport (formerly General Sports Authority) in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.[1][2] Crown Jewel was then established later that same year as one of the recurring events in this partnership to be held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in late October–early November. Officially announced on October 7, 2023, the fifth Crown Jewel, and 10th overall event in the Saudi Arabian partnership, is scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Mohammed Abdu Arena, marking the second Crown Jewel held at this venue after the 2021 event.[3][4] The event will air on pay-per-view worldwide and will be available to livestream on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in most international markets, and it will feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions.[5][6]

The 2023 Crown Jewel was first promoted by Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season in September, which advertised John Cena for the event. It was also reported that WWE will have other attractions along with Crown Jewel, including a theme park dark ride and an Undertaker-themed walk-through, among other things.[7] Additionally, it was reported that WWE are attempting to have Saudi Pro League player Cristiano Ronaldo involved at the event.[8]

The event will include matches which will result from scripted storylines. Results will be predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, with the storylines being produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[9]

On the October 9 episode of Raw, while Seth "Freakin" Rollins was celebrating his successful World Heavyweight Championship defense at Fastlane, he was confronted by Drew McIntyre, who wanted a title match. Despite complaining about feeling fatigue from his Fastlane defense, Rollins accepted, believing it was for that night. However, McIntyre stated that he wanted to face a healed up Rollins and suggested the match for Crown Jewel, which Rollins accepted.[10]

At Payback, Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the Women's World Championship.[11] During a rematch on the September 11 episode of Raw, however, Nia Jax made a surprise return to WWE—her first appearance after a brief return at the Royal Rumble in January—and attacked Rodriguez, which allowed Ripley to retain her championship. However, Jax also attacked Ripley after the match.[12] Jax then interfered in a tag team match that involved Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark the following week.[13] Over the next few weeks, Ripley, Rodriguez, Baszler, and Jax would interfere in each others matches and brawl with each other.[10] These eruptions would come to a head during the season premiere of Raw on October 16, as following another brawl between the women which also involved Stark, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Ripley would defend the Women's World Championship against Jax, Baszler, Stark, and Rodriguez in a fatal five-way match at Crown Jewel.[14]

After endorsing LA Knight at Payback,[11] and then teaming with him at Fastlane to defeat The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa),[15] John Cena opened the season premiere of SmackDown on October 13, however, he was interrupted by Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and the return of Bloodline leader and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, who had taken a vacation shortly after SummerSlam in August. Reigns gave Cena the option to leave the ring voluntarily or they would make him leave, however, Cena stated that he acknowledged Reigns and that he was not there to challenge him for the title as he had not earned the opportunity. Cena then introduced Knight as a worthy challenger. Knight came out and berated Reigns and noted his own rise to stardom in Reigns' absence. Uso then attacked Knight from behind only for Knight to throw him out of the ring. Reigns then ordered Sikoa to handle Knight, and the two faced each other in the main event where Uso tried to interfere once again, however, he was impeded by Cena, and Knight subsequently defeated Sikoa. Following the match, Reigns attacked Knight.[16] On October 20, it was announced that Reigns would defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Knight at Crown Jewel.[17][18]

After winning his boxing match at MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – The Prime Card on October 14, Logan Paul, whose last WWE match was at SummerSlam in August, challenged Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship. Mysterio responded that Paul could find him any Friday on SmackDown.[19][20] Paul then appeared on the October 20 episode and recounted that he already defeated Mysterio in a tag team match at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, which was Paul's first WWE match. Mysterio then came out and accepted Paul's challenge for the United States Championship at Crown Jewel.[21]

For months, Cody Rhodes had been at odds with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley). At Fastlane, Rhodes and Jey Uso defeated The Judgment Day (represented by Bálor and Priest) to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship,[15] however, Bálor and Priest regained the titles in a rematch during the season premiere of Raw on October 16.[14] The following week, as Bálor and Priest were celebrating winning back the titles, Rhodes interrupted them. After Priest taunted and called Rhodes a failure, Rhodes challenged Priest to a match that night, however, Priest denied since he already had a match scheduled against Uso. Priest in turn challenged Rhodes to a match at Crown Jewel, which Rhodes accepted.[22]