Sami Zayn faces Roman Reigns for the men’s Crown Jewel Championship on Nov. 7, when WWE visits Riyadh Season Stadium in Saudi Arabia. Zayn won the Undisputed WWE Championship from CM Punk on the Sept. 11 SmackDown. Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight at Money in the Bank on Oct. 10. The former Bloodline allies last met one-on-one at Elimination Chamber 2023 in Montreal, where the Tribal Chief retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Several names on both brands have reasons to get involved in Riyadh.
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso have deep history with both men in the main event. Zayn joined The Bloodline as an honorary Uce in 2022, then turned on Reigns at the 2023 Royal Rumble. At WrestleMania 39, Zayn and Kevin Owens beat The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
The Usos teamed with Solo Sikoa against The 946 on the Oct. 12 Raw. Jey dove from a scaffold into the brawl during the match, which ended in a no contest. The twins also faced Sikoa, Knight, and Royce Keys at SummerSlam on Aug. 1.
Punk lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Zayn on Sep. 11th, with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Owens all involved in the finish. A week later, the Second City Saint hit Owens with the title to help Zayn retain, then dropped both men with a GTS. Punk also lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Reigns on Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 in April.
Punk opened the Oct. 9 SmackDown on top of a ladder, hoping to win Money in the Bank a third time. Penta won the briefcase in New Orleans. Punk heads into November without a title or a contract.
Owens challenged Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the Sept. 18 SmackDown. With the referee busy with Gargano, LeRae hit a tornado DDT, and Punk’s shot with the title belt set up Zayn’s Helluva Kick for the pin. Owens and Zayn have been friends and rivals since their days on the independent circuit.
Owens qualified for Money in the Bank on Oct. 2 by beating Cody Rhodes and Gargano. During the ladder match, the Prizefighter hit Lil Yachty with a Stunner. Owens did not win the briefcase.
Gargano has become a key ally for the Undisputed WWE Champion on SmackDown. Gargano believes Zayn promised him the first shot at the title. LeRae, who is married to Gargano, helped in both of Zayn’s wins over Punk and Owens.
Owens hit Gargano with a Stunner during the Sept. 18 main event and threw Zayn through the commentary desk. Gargano lost the Oct. 2 qualifier that Owens won. WWE has not booked the promised title shot.
Carmelo Hayes returned on the Oct. 12 Raw as the newest member of The 946, hitting Sikoa with a crowbar during the main event. Members of the faction also stared down Reigns from the crowd after his Money in the Bank win. The Bloodline and The 946 are expected to collide again at Survivor Series: WarGames on Nov. 28 in Houston.
Hayes has his own history with Zayn. The Underdog from the Underground took the United States Championship from Hayes in an open challenge on the March 27 SmackDown. Hayes failed to win the title back on April 3.
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The 946 should be the group that decides Crown Jewel. WarGames is three weeks later in Houston, and the faction is already at war with The Bloodline. Hayes costing Reigns in Riyadh would give that WarGames match the heat it needs. A loss to Zayn would also give the Tribal Chief a reason to want revenge.
Gargano is the second name to watch, but his moment should come after Riyadh. Zayn has leaned on the former NXT Champion for weeks, and help like that rarely comes for free. Gargano turning on his friend on the next SmackDown would turn the Crown Jewel win into a title match of his own.
Punk and Owens have the most reason to get involved, but they also have the least to gain. Neither man can win the Crown Jewel Championship, and both already had their shots at Zayn in September. The better move is letting them collide with each other in Riyadh and saving their matches with Zayn for December.
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