This Saturday, WWE Crown Jewel 2026 comes from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a card (on Friday’s “WWE SmackDown”) featuring four matches, three of which will challenge for the championships. In addition to the world titles, both Crown Jewel Championship belts will be on the line, while in the only non-title bout, Cody Rhodes competes in his first-ever Last Man Standing match against longtime friend and rival Randy Orton.
But of course, not all matches are created equal, especially when it comes to making fans want to watch the show. Which of these four encounters is the WINC crew ready to take on any and all hazards, and which one makes us want to throw in the towel? Here is our biggest draw and biggest draw for WWE Crown Jewel 2026.
Draw. Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
Ever since Cody Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022, I’ve been dreaming of a WrestleMania clash between him and his former mentor Randy Orton. Unfortunately, that dream later turned into a nightmare as unnecessary celebrity involvement ruined a story that required nothing more than two men bending over their deeply rooted history.
I’m glad to see this storyline get a second chance after Orton first planted the seed for a proper rematch by dropping the American Nightmare with an RKO at SummerSlam. In their official rematch for Sunday Night’s Main Event, the calculated Viper then robbed Rhodes of his kindness, “begging” him not to deliver a villainous blow. Rhodes fell for the gimmick, eventually getting lured into a low blow and another RKO from his Legacy mentor.
After her loss, Rhodes’ character direction was met with a number of questions from viewers, myself included. Would he remain the “good guy” even if it hurt his “QB1” reputation? Or will he go off the deep end and even the field?
Riding in the Crown Jewel, it’s clear that Rhodes has chosen the latter, with Baron Corbin recently the victim of a blow he gave. I’d argue that this move was for the better, both for Rhodes’ on-screen persona and his ongoing history with Orton.
Rhodes’ newfound aggression adds a refreshing layer to the Rhodes-Orton feud. With Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll out of it as well, WWE’s rivals can tell a much more compelling story that we as viewers can sink our teeth into in response. Add to that the fact that Rhodes has never participated in a televised Last Man Standing match (something Orton wisely leaned in during his final promo), and WWE has a promising recipe for this Crown Jewel face.
Written by Ella Jay
You: Liv Morgan vs. Chelsea Greene
There are quite a few things the same can be said of Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green. It’s a clash of champions, WWE Women’s World Champion vs. WWE Women’s Champion, for none of those belts, but a purely ceremonial WWE Crown Jewel Championship. It is a title belt that resides exclusively in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is not defended, but contested in a similar fashion to the FA Community Shield in football. But that’s pretty much all that can be said for the title game;
Part of the questions surrounding this matchup is the feeling that Green is just an interim champion. Sure, WWE stopped calling him that and removed the asterisk they originally placed on the title reign, but he was portrayed as someone who just got lucky and has since become a deer in the headlights with a hint of confrontation. She’s paired with Tiffany Stratton, owner of the Money in the Bank briefcase, in a near carbon copy of Stratton’s 2024 collaboration with Nia Jax. And it has been a stain not only on his reign thus far, but also on his performance at the Crown Jewel.
Most of the segments were built around Green getting outnumbered by Morgan and Doomsday, then Stratton makes a save and goes to cash in on Morgan. Doomsday members always save.
There’s no obvious reason outside of the format for Greene and Morgan to fight. One is a champion who feels extremely victorious. One is a champion who wins no matter what. And a big part of their story has been whether or not Stratton will cash in Money in the Bank. None of these are too attractive to attend the event.
The Crown Jewel title is one of those gimmicks that really seems most appropriate if it’s supposed to exist as a way for the best of the best to go head-to-head. Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn feels like a matchup that somewhat meets that criteria. Liv Morgan vs. Chelsea Greene no.
Written by Max Everett