WWE’s Crown Jewel premium live event set all-time viewership records over the weekend, with Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan awarded the Crown Jewel titles. According to a news release, the event saw a 28% viewership increase from last year’s event, making it the most-watched WWE event from Saudi Arabia.
The event, which was held at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, was the sixth Crown Jewel event to be sold out. The success of the event marks a highly successful run overseas for WWE, which has held premium live events in Australia, France, Scotland, Canada, and Germany this year. The company also announced that RAW and SmackDown will have an international schedule in 2025, with events to be held in Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, England, and Northern Ireland.
The event itself was highlighted by the awarding of the Crown Jewel Championship for the men’s and women’s divisions, with Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE champion, facing off against World Heavyweight champion Gunther, and Morgan, the Women’s World champion, fighting against Nia Jax, the WWE Women’s champion.
Rhodes and Gunther had a highly anticipated main event match, showcasing their technical abilities and athleticism. Gunther tried to put Rhodes in a sleeper hold, but he was able to counter it, pinning Gunther’s shoulders to the mat to secure the win and earn the Crown Jewel title.
Morgan, meanwhile, had to contend with not only Jax, but also the looming threat of Tiffany Stratton, who had a Money in the Bank contract and was looking to cash it in to earn a title shot. With the help of Dominik Mysterio, Morgan was able to overcome the challenges and pin Jax to earn the Crown Jewel title.
Other notable matches included the Solo Sikoa-led Bloodline defeating Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso, and Sami Zayn helping to thwart the 4-on-3 attack launched by the Bloodline. The event also saw Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill retain their Women’s Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way match, and Seth Rollins top Bronson Reed in a massive brawl.