As a service to fans who have a general interest in WWE but may not have watched a match in months, we are happy to provide this FAQ as a guide to WWE Crown Jewel Perth on Saturday at 8am ET from the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The Premium Live Event (PLE) will be streamed exclusively in the United States for fans with a subscription to the ESPN Unlimited package – either directly or through a traditional pay TV package – on the ESPN app.
Why is Crown Jewel held in Perth, Australia?
Although Australia itself does not have a royal family, it is a constitutional monarchy that recognizes King Charles III as head of state. We’re holding out hope that the Prince of Wales will be the special henchman for one of these matches.
But more to the point: Elimination Chamber 2024 was a huge success in Perth, so WWE wanted a “takeover” weekend in the city. While the previous six Crown Jewel events took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this event heads Down Under, where the coveted men’s and women’s WWE Crown Jewel championship belts will be on the line.
The concept is actually pretty cool: The reigning men’s and women’s world champions from “Raw” and “SmackDown” compete for the WWE Crown Jewel championship belts. Well, not really belts, because the winners receive championship rings instead, something Seth Rollins is probably unfamiliar with as a 39-year-old Chicago Bears fan.
Who is Rollins wrestling in the men’s Crown Jewel match?
The WWE World Heavyweight Champion takes on Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE Champion, continuing a long-standing rivalry that oscillates between mutual respect and intense animosity. And they spent some time together. Remember Hell in a Cell in 2022, when Rhodes was battling a torn pec that turned his chest purple? Or WrestleMania 40, when Rollins aided Rhodes in his war against the Bloodline the two nights before Cody “finished the story” with the championship victory over Roman Reigns?
In this latest chapter, Rhodes feuds with Rollins’ current stable, The Vision, which includes Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed and manager Paul Heyman, who has added “The Oracle” to his ever-growing list of nicknames. As usual, Heyman found a way to elevate an intriguing match – champion versus champion, with Rollins 0-3 against Rhodes in PLE – into something much more Shakespearean.
Rollins’ confidence in his victory over Rhodes was shaken to the point where, on Monday’s “Raw,” he wanted Heyman to explain the consequences if he lost at Crown Jewel. After initially laughing off the idea, Heyman coldly stated that Rollins could lose the trust of his team and the locker room. But beyond that, if he lost to Rhodes, Rollins would leave Heyman wondering “why I chose you…over Roman Reigns.” Either he motivated Rollins to win the Crown Jewel Match, or he created a dramatic disaster if he doesn’t. Classic Heyman!
What about the Crown Jewel women’s match?
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Arda Ocal discusses the signing of the contract between Vaquer and Stratton
Arda Ocal discusses the signing of the contract between Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown.
Friends…it’s Tiffy time. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton faces WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Stratton has had quite a year since cashing in on her Money In The Bank contract on January 3 to win the title and beat Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, Trish Stratus at Evolution and Jade Cargill at SummerSlam, among other victories. Vaquer recently won his first WWE title at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, defeating Iyo Sky for the then-vacant title.
These two signed an in-ring contract for this past Friday’s “SmackDown” match which, perhaps a first in wrestling history, went off without incident. That was until US Champion Giulia and her manager, Kiana James, sneak attacked Stratton while offering their services to Vaquer. Something to keep in mind heading into this match, as Vaquer attempts to hand Stratton their first big loss of the year. It’s one of two women’s matches scheduled to take place in Perth, the other being a superstar tag team match.
Who is participating in the women’s team match?
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky team up to take on the Kabuki Warriors, Asuka and Kairi Sane.
Sorry, make that “Adelaide, Australia’s own Rhea Ripley.” Not that this information is relevant to who might celebrate at the end of the match. Just some information.
Asuka has been a mentor to both Sky and Sane, which has led to some emotional moments for Iyo as she admits to still feeling love for her former stablemates…and painful moments, like when Asuka recently ordered a reluctant Sane to attack Sky on “Raw.” So there’s a nice dramatic undercurrent here to go along with what should be a big fight in Australia. But not an Australian street fight. That’s a completely different thing, as Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed will soon find out.
What is an Australian street fight?
Nobody knows. Other than that, most of the combat takes place in the Outback.
Like Rhodes, Reigns is feuding with The Vision (and his former “sage”, Heyman), and? especially with Reed. This recently led to one of our favorite gimmicks in WWE, in which Reed steals the original tribal leader’s shoes after defeating him and wears them around his neck like a trophy. He became known as the “Tribal Thief” for these actions, complete with the popular T-shirt to match. Hey, to the winner, go sneakers…
Aside from Crown Jewel’s Perth location, we have ourselves an Australian Street Fight as Reed is a native Australian who got his start on the national independent scene. That still doesn’t mean we have any idea what the match is.
Besides the possibility of Jay Uso and/or Bron Breakker being involved, we’ll just have to tune in to find out.
Finally, where are we on the John Cena Retirement Tour?
After his ill-begotten heel turn — a fever dream that included The Rock, rapper Travis Scott and Cena calling his own fans “pathetic” — the 17-time world champion once again became the face that runs the place around SummerSlam. It was there that he was attacked by Brock Lesnar in a shocking return, setting up a match at Wrestlepalooza in which Cena miraculously defeated his tormentor in a shocking victory…
… I’m kidding ! Lesnar essentially sent Cena into the Earth’s core with six F-5s in what WWE itself described as total annihilation.
As his remaining appearances – and potential opponents – dwindled, Cena decided to become his own booker. He asked the WWE Universe if they would like to see him face AJ Styles one last time, to which they wholeheartedly approved. This led to Cena posting about Styles and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque on X: “I don’t choose my opponents, but I ALWAYS listen (even in tough times) to the fans.”
With that, the match was made. On social networks. Without construction.
Cena and Styles have faced off dozens of times, in various formats, on and off television. But it was a trilogy of classic matches between the two that built the anticipation for this one: WWE Money In The Bank 2016, where Styles upset Cena; their exciting rematch at WWE SummerSlam 2016, which Styles also won; and Cena’s tremendous performance at the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble, where he tied Ric Flair’s record of 16 world championships.
After that, Cena held “Raw” events in Boston (November 10) and New York (November 17), Survivor Series in San Diego (November 29), and his final match at “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in Washington, DC (December 13). After that you I can’t see it as an active wrestler.
