WWE Crown Jewel 2021 - As It Happened

WWE returned to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 21 for the Crown Jewel pay-per-view from Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard in Riyadh. 

The show featured 10 matches, including four title bouts and the King Of The Ring and Queen's Crown Tournament finals. Check out what happened below:

The Usos vs. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander - Kickoff Show 

Big chants for The Usos inside the Mohammed Abdu Arena to start out the match but The Hurt Business dominated the early going after an initial flurry from Jey. 

After several minutes of Hurt Business dominance, Jey caught Shelton Benjamin with an Enzuigiri and got the hot tag to Jimmy. The Usos then went wild and Jimmy picked up a near fall following a Samoan Drop. 

Jimmy's momentum was cut off soon after following a Knee from Shelton while he was the illegal man. This allowed Cedric Alexander to connect with a Brainbuster for a two count.

After some back and forth action, Benjamin connected with Paydirt for another near fall. The Usos then hit Cedric Alexander with Double Superkicks before an Uso Splash from Jey for the win. 

Winners: The Usos

Edge vs. Seth Rollins - Hell In A Cell Match

Edge charged at Seth Rollins as soon as the bell rang and The Rated-R Superstar was in control of the opening moments, forcing the former Universal Champion's head into the cell. Edge then grabbed a couple of steel chairs and planted Rollins with an Edgecution for a close near fall. 

Edge got the pipe from the bottom of the steel chair moments later and he tried to lock in a Crossface but Rollins blocked it and followed up with a Slingblade. Edge then found his head being drilled into the cage, and after a brief fightback from the 11-time world champion, Rollins punished Edge with repeated steel chair shots. 

Rollins set up for the Con-Chair-To but Edge countered by pulling out the chair from under Seth's feet, causing Rollins to fly into the air. Edge then applied the Crossface but Seth used the pipe from the chair to jab Edge straight in the eye. 

With Edge stunned, Rollins punched the chair into Edge's face seconds later and followed up with a Frog Splash. Rollins then decked Edge with a Killswitch for another near fall. The Architect tried to hit a Phoenix Splash but Edge rose and pushed Rollins into the cell before Seth crashed and burned through a table. 

Edge placed the steel steps in the ring next and connected with an Edge-O-Matic on the steel. A Flying Elbow with a steel chair while Seth was on the steps followed for another near fall. The 11-time world champion set up for the Spear but Rollins connected with a Superkick and Pedigree. It looked to be over but Edge managed to get his shoulder up. 

Rollins went for the Stomp but Edge blocked with a Buckle Bomb and followed up with a Spear. 1-2-No! Rollins somehow kicked out. Edge then brought a ladder and table into the fray and The Rated-R Superstar decked Rollins with the ladder. Edge was sent crashing into it soon after, though. Rollins draped Edge across the table and the former Universal Champion climbed the ladder, only to be cut off by Edge. That didn't matter to Seth, though, and the ex-Messiah fired back with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb through the table!

An enraged Rollins proceeded to throw things around the cell, almost breaking a camera in the process. After slightly regaining his composure, Seth wrapped a chain around his foot and Superkicked Edge, leaving The Rated-R Superstar lifeless. Rollins then placed Edge's head on the steel chair and told him this is how the 47-year-old's fairytale ends. When Rollins went for the Stomp, though, Edge rammed the chair into Rollins' testicles.

Seconds later, Edge decked Rollins with two Superkicks and he used the chain to apply a Crossface. Edge then grabbed a wrench to apply the Crossface again and Rollins was about to tap out but the WWE Hall Of Famer relinquished the move. Edge only had a more barbaric idea, though, and he decked Rollins with a Stomp on a steel chair for the 1-2-3. 

A very good, 25-minute opening contest.  

Winner: Edge

Mansoor vs. Mustafa Ali

Hometown hero Mansoor was in action next at Crown Jewel as he went one on one with former tag team partner Mustafa Ali. 

After a standard back and forth opening filled with rest holds, Mansoor caught Ali with a Standing Moonsault which sent the former SmackDown Hacker to the outside to regain his composure. The Saudi Arabian kept Ali on the outside until Mustafa pulled out Mansoor's legs, causing Mansoor's back to crash onto the edge of the ring. 

Ali controlled the action for the next several minutes and called his former tag team partner worthless and a loser in a very mean fashion before Mansoor couldn't bear being disrespected, Mansoor'd up and caught Ali with a Step-Up Enziguiri and Spinebuster.

Ali fired back with a Dropkick and he went for a 450 Splash, only to have Mansoor block it. The Saudi Arabian capitalised with a Moonsault and he tried to make the cover but Ali locked in the Koji Clutch. Mansoor pretended to pass out before he grabbed the ropes. 

With Mansoor draped across the bottom rope, Ali climbed to the top and went for the 450 Splash, only to crash and burn. Mansoor mansoared and connected with a Corkscrew Neckbreaker for the victory. The streak continues!

Mansoor had no time to celebrate, though, and Ali beat him down before Olympic Saudi Arabian karateka Tareg Hamedi made the save.

Winner: Mansoor

RK-Bro (c) vs. AJ Styles & Omos - Raw Tag Team Championship 

As Randy Orton raged, Riddle made his entrance on a dromedary. Words I never thought I would write. 

Orton had calmed down by the time the match got underway and RK-Bro hit some tandem offence in the opening minutes as they remained in control. Riddle spun Styles around, though, and AJ tagged in Omos to exact some revenge.

Omos Shoulder Charged Riddle to the mat, causing The Original Bro to tag in Orton. The Viper tried to hurt Omos, only for AJ Styles' Personal Colossus to channel his inner Ivan Drago and send Randy crashing to the mat with a Shoulder Tackle. 

Omos and AJ controlled the action until Riddle received the hot tag and decked Styles with Running Forearms, a Pele Kick, a Bro-ton and a PK. Styles fought back, though, and went for the Styles Clash, only for Riddle to counter with an Enziguiri. 

Soon after, Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Orton hit him with an RKO from out of nowhere while the two-time WWE Champion was in the air. Riddle followed up with the Floating Bro for the 1-2-3.

Winners and still Raw Tag Team Champions: RK-Bro

Doudrop vs. Zelina Vega - Queen's Crown Tournament Final

Both women fought back and forth for the opening few minutes. Zelina Vega locked in the Dragon Sleeper only to be overpowered by Doudrop. The former Viper went for a Cannonball but Vega moved out of the way and followed up with some strikes. Vega then struggled to drag Doudrop into the ring to make a cover which allowed the former NXT UK star to kick out. 

Doudrop went for her Running Splash finisher. Vega avoided it and followed up with a Code Red for the 1-2-3.

Winner of the Queen's Crown Tournament: Zelina Vega

Goldberg vs. Bobby Lashley - No Holds Barred Match

A feud built around Goldberg wanting to kill Bobby Lashley. Did we witness a murder at WWE Crown Jewel? 

Bobby Lashley hid a chain in his pants and he wrapped it around his hand as the bell rang, repeatedly punching Goldberg with the weapon after the WWE Hall Of Famer advanced towards him. The All Mighty pressed home his advantage, throwing Goldberg into the steel post followed by steel chair shots. 

Lashley then got out a table and targeted Goldberg's surgically repaired knee with stomps and a Chop Block. Lashley then placed a steel chair over Goldberg's ankle and Lashley jumped from the middle rope to stomp on it, causing the 54-year-old to scream in pain. 

As Goldberg hobbled, Lashley went for a Spear but Bill just managed to get out of the way and Lashley crashed and burned through a table. 

Goldberg followed up with a Spear and a Jackhammer. Goldberg didn't go for the pin, though, and he eventually took off his gloves and Speared Lashley through the barricade. The WWE Hall Of Famer then bashed Lashley around the arena and tried to kill him with the steel steps but The All Mighty got out of the way.

Lashley tried to run away up the ramp until he was flanked by Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander with kendo sticks. Goldberg quickly dispatched of the lackeys and Bill and Lashley had a kendo stick fight which the 54-year-old quickly won as he hammered away at The All Mighty.

As Lashley struggled back to his feet, Goldberg Speared him off the stage through a pile of tables for the 1-2-3.

Despite all of Goldberg's punishment, Bobby Lashley left Saudi Arabia breathing. 

Winner: Goldberg 

Xavier Woods vs. Finn Balor - King Of The Ring Final

The match started with a fist bump and featured plenty of grappling in the opening minutes, typical of Finn Balor's NXT matches. The match soon became a striking match before some more very good grappling as the crowd chanted "G4."

Balor decked Woods with a Slingblade and set up for the Shotgun Dropkick but Woods cut him off with a Superkick. More striking followed and Balor levelled the former Consequences Creed with a Pele Kick. Balor followed up with some vicious elbows and a Dragon Sleeper before Woods rolled through into an Inside Cradle for a close near fall.

Balor fired back again and went for the Coup De Grace before he was cut off by Woods, who followed up with a Superplex for another near fall. Woods went for his Flying Elbow from the top rope but Balor blocked it, hit a Slingblade and Shotgun Dropkick before he went for the Coup De Grace. Woods avoided it and followed up with an Enziguiri, a Blockbuster and the Flying Elbow for the 1-2-3.

The boyhood dream has come true!

Winner and new King Of The Ring: Xavier Woods

Big E (c) vs. Drew McIntyre - WWE Championship 

Drew McIntyre hit the first big move of the match as The Scottish Warrior decked Big E with a Belly To Belly Suplex on the outside. Drew looked to capitalise with a Russian Leg Sweep and Armbar and he followed up with a Spinebuster for a near fall. Big E powered back with three Belly To Belly Suplexes before McIntyre fought back with some Suplexes of his own and a Neckbreaker. Big E then fired back with a Belly To Back Suplex and a Running Splash for his own near fall. 

McIntyre hit a Michinoku Driver soon after before Big E connected with a Ura-nage as the crown chanted for Irn Dru. Seemingly inspired by the crowd, Drew rolled through a backslide and decked the WWE Champion with a Futureshock DDT for a two-count. Drew went for a Claymore but Big E caught him and connected with a massive Powerbomb. Big E then applied the Stretch Muffler and Drew countered briefly before the WWE Champion decked the challenger with a Big Ending. 1-2-No! McIntyre kicked out. 

Big E went for a Super Big Ending but Drew countered with a Bulldog from the top rope. The two-time WWE Champion looked to follow up with a Claymore but Big E avoided it. The WWE Champion then went for his Spear through the apron but Drew flew into the ring and connected with the Claymore. That looked to be it but Big E just got his shoulder up before the three count!

The crowd asked for McIntyre to hit one more Claymore but Drew went for a Big Ending instead. Big E escaped and got McIntyre on his shoulders. Drew tried everything he could to escape but Big E levelled the challenger with a second Big Ending for the 1-2-3. 

Winner and still WWE Champion: Big E

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks - SmackDown Women's Championship

Belair was featured in the first big moment of the match as she hit a One-Armed Press Slam on Sasha Banks. Plenty of trios offence followed, leaving all three women down on the mat. 

Becky spent the next section of the match on top, taking out Sasha with a Leg Drop from the top rope for a close near fall. Bexploders to Banks and Belair followed and a cover on both women, who both kicked out. Lynch shouted trash talk at both of her opponents and went for a Leg Drop but Banks and Belair caught her and drilled her into the turnbuckle. 

This left Belair and Banks to fight back and forth for the next part of the match until Belair pushed The Boss out of the ring and turned her attention to Lynch. Several pinning combinations followed and a Spinebuster from The EST of WWE for a near fall. 

Belair went for the KOD but Lynch avoided it. Belair fired back with a Gutbuster but Lynch fought back with some knees. Belair then displayed her strength, Suplexing Lynch while kicking away Banks. She missed a Moonsault, though, and Lynch and Banks capitalised with a Disarm-her and Bank Statement. They relinquished the submissions soon after for some reason.

Banks hit a Backstabber and applied the Bank Statement on Big Time Becks until Belair broke up the submission with a Moonsault. 

After some lying down, Banks was in control and she taunted Belair with her own hair until Bianca countered into a pin. Becky broke it up and the heels took out Belair. Lynch then hit the Manhandle Slam on Banks but Belair broke up the pin with a Diving Forearm to Becky's face. 

After the action spilled to the outside, Lynch took out her opponents with a Diving Crossbody from the announce table. The SmackDown Women's Champion then applied the Disarm-her to Belair before a Double Disarm-her to Banks and Belair. Belair powered out with Banks on her back and Banks caught The EST with a Backstabber. That didn't matter, though, as Belair hit the KOD to Lynch. 

Banks tried to steal the pin but Belair blocked her. Banks then blocked Belair and Sasha climbed back into the ring. Lynch had recovered by this point, though, and she caught Banks in an Inside Cradle while holding onto the bottom rope for the 1-2-3. 

Winner and still SmackDown Women's Champion: Becky Lynch

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar - Universal Championship

Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar threw heavy shots at each other while teasing a German Suplex from Brock until The Beast Incarnate eventually connected with the signature move. Lesnar went for an F5 on the outside soon after but Roman managed to escape and hit Brock with a Superman Punch, sending the challenger to the floor. The Universal Champion then soared over the top rope, decking Lesnar with a dive to the outside. 

With Lesnar back in the ring, Reigns hit a Spear but Brock got his shoulder up at two. Reigns followed up with two Superman Punches and Reigns went for a Spear but Lesnar leapfrogged over the champion, causing Roman to crash into the middle turnbuckle. 

As Lesnar smiled, he meticulously hit Roman with three German Suplexes and an F5. Reigns kicked out, though. Remember, it took a ridiculous amount of F5s at WrestleMania 34 for Lesnar to beat Reigns. 

Lesnar went for another F5 but Reigns countered into a Guillotine. Lesnar managed to power out after a little while with a Spinebuster. The Beast then hit a second F5 but he took out referee Charles Robinson in the process, meaning there was no referee to count the 1-2-3. 

Lesnar tried to shake Robinson awake with no luck and Brock turned around straight into a Spear from The Tribal Chief. Heyman was then on the apron with the Universal Championship and he threw the belt between both men as he exclaimed that he didn't know what to do with it, clearly conflicted. Lesnar beat Reigns to the belt but The Usos ran down and decked Brock with Double Superkicks. Reigns then hit Lesnar with the belt and a new referee ran down to count the 1-2-3. 

Winner and still Universal Champion: Roman Reigns