Veteran NFL writer and Pat McAfee Show correspondent Mark Kaboly gives his WWE Crown Jewel predictions for Saturday’s PLE (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) event in Saudi Arabia.
Roman Reigns & The Usos vs. The Bloodline – Six-Man Tag Team Match
Finally, Reigns and The Usos are on the same page … or are they? Reigns still has that burning desire to be the Tribal Chief and leader of The Bloodline. Jey Uso’s priorities now are about continuing his burgeoning solo career that got him his first Singles title while Jimmy tries to play moderator through it all. This has disaster written all over it for Reigns and The Usos if they can’t find some sort of common ground, especially against the sure-to-be numbers-heavy and ruthless Solo Sikoa and the rest of The Bloodline. Reigns will be the key to all of this working (or not working.) Reigns has had one match since losing his Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania and we still don’t know exactly if his allegiance is to reuniting the family or if he’s really just looking out for himself. Regardless of what happens, this isn’t going to be settled at Crown Jewel. But can the trio hold it together until Survivor Series: WarGames and beyond or will Crown Jewel derail everything?
Prediction: The Bloodline with outside interference.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther
Great vs. Great. Whether you’re rooting for Cody Rhodes or Gunther or not shouldn’t take away from the fact that these are indeed two of the top Superstars in the WWE right now and the two can make an insurance seminar interesting inside the ring or on the mic. Add in that each hit a nerve with some of their recent promos, this match has some potential zing attached to it. In this battle of opposite styles, Gunther has the physical advantage but you can’t count out Rhodes’ heart and determination. This is the ultimate bragging rights matchup with the winner taking home that monster Crown Jewel Championship. With neither one of these two ever facing off in a singles match before, this should be a good one from start to finish.
Prediction: Gunther via pin with outside help from Kevin Owens
WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan
The possibilities are endless with this match when it comes to some form of outside interference from several different people and/or factions. Still, the match is just like the Men’s Crown Jewel match — a battle of opposite styles favoring Jax. Jax has been on an amazing run and Morgan has held the title for more than five months herself. But it will surely come down to something from outside forces. And has there been anybody who does it better than finding a way to come out on top than Morgan? Something tells me that Tiffany Stratton will be the biggest influence in all of this.
Prediction: Morgan wins via pin. Stratton cashes in her Money in the Bank.
United States Champion LA Knight vs. Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes (Triple Threat Match)
There’s nothing like a Game 7 — that’s what they say, right? But LA Knight ruined it for both WWE fans as well as Superstars Carmelo and Andrade by unnecessarily inserting himself into what was supposed to be the conclusion of arguably the best series of matches that we’ve ever seen. Knight should have plenty of confidence to retain the title he’s held since SummerSlam (like confidence has ever been an issue for Knight?” Out of Knight’s four title defenses, he’s beaten both Andrade and Hayes in singles matches and laid both of them out during last week’s SmackDown as guest referee. Knight is the favorite but you cannot count out either of his opponents to win and add a little more heat to SmackDown where the beef between the three can continue in some fashion.
Prediction: Hayes wins by pinning Andrade
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair vs. Kairi Sane & IYO SKY vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson vs. Chelsea Green & Piper Niven (Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match)
On paper, Belair and Cargill should win this match and retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, but you cannot sleep on Damage CTRL with Kairi Sane and IYO SKY. The duo has the experience of winning titles holding the tag champs two separate times before. Still, Cargill and Belair have to be the heavy favorites. Now, there is going to come a time in the not-so-distant future when Cargill and Belair go their separate ways and make a claim for a Singles title but there hasn’t even been a slight indication that might occur let alone in a match as big as the Fatal 4-Way so what would cause that now? Outside interference?
Prediction: IYO SKY pins Chelsea Green as Damage CTRL wins the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Now that escalated quickly. Not long ago Owens and Orton were thick as thieves and tag team partners and now they can’t wait to get after each other in the ring. Owens attacked Rhodes in the parking lot and then Orton the following week but I can’t get out of my mind what Triple H said to Orton last week after the Chief Content Officer finally relented and made the match. Triple H told Orton, “Randy, from this moment forward I suggest you protect yourself at all times.” This one might get very ugly for the “Apex Predator” to the point that we might not hear from him for some time.
Prediction: Owens wins via pin then proceeds to unload on him making him incapacitated.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. ‘Big’ Bronson Reed
This entire rivalry has been based on brutality. It started with six Tsunamis followed by Rollins stomping Reed’s head into the steel steps to cost him the Last Monster Standing match against Braun Strowman. It culminated with the parking lot fight at Raw. If this turns into another brawl, you have to love Reed’s chances. If it is more of a cerebral match, Rollins will come out victorious. With the lead-up, this match will no doubt be more brutal than anything we’ve seen yet. Rollins can survive a defeat because he’s an established Superstar. Reed needs this more and will approach it like so.
Prediction: Rollins pins Reed but only after surviving a thorough beatdown
