WWE Crown Jewel 2026 kicks off this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with four matches (so far) and three titles on the line. Champions will face champions as Roman Reigns takes on Sami Zayn and Chelsea Green battles Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton to determine who will be the last man standing, and as always, the Wrestling Inc. staff is here to predict the winners.
We’re going out another strong showing at “WWE NXT” Halloween Havocwhich means we’ve been racking up wins together here in the prediction column lately. We fully expect that to continue in the Middle East this weekend, although we’re pretty well split on a couple of matches at the ANB Arena that could realistically go either way. Who will emerge victorious from Riyadh? Let’s move on to the options.
Last Man Standing: Cody Rhodes (73%)
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton feuded before WWE WrestleMania 42, where they had a match that many fans are trying to put out of their minds. The inclusion of Pat McAfee as the voice in Orton’s head. After Orton left Rhodes a bloody mess, although “American Nightmare” retained his Undisputed WWE Championship in time, the couple once again wrestled on WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event in September.
If the former Legacy partners are tied at one win apiece, they will meet in a Last Man Standing match at Crown Jewel, and 73% of us here at WINC think Rhodes walks out of Riyadh the winner. Rhodes has shown that he is willing to go to his dark place, as seen when he Pent kicked Baron Corbin in front of Orton on the October 16 edition of WWE SmackDown.
Over the past few years, Orton has moved into a more part-time role in WWE thanks to a series of injuries and surgeries that “The Viper” has featured in his recent promotion for the blue brand. We think it’s likely that Rhodes, who will be around a lot more often, hits that signature shot of his opponent to win, writing Orton off TV, especially during the upcoming holidays. That predicted bump could add some intrigue to Rhodes’ character, as many have been clamoring to see him as a heel.
Orton was after his 15th World Championship, but the title scene on SmackDown is so crowded right now, it would make sense for him to take a break for the rest of the year. Most of us are going with a Rhodes win here, hoping we’ll see a brutal blow to give his character a new edge in 2027.
Written by Daisy Ruth
World Team Championship. vision (55%)
The Vision’s Bron Breaker and Austin Theory will make the first defense of their world titles in 122 days as Mr.
Penta drew the ire of Breaker after beating him for the briefcase and championship contract. Meanwhile, Breaker infuriated Evans by spearing him so hard he had to be taken away in an ambulance, then when Evans returned, said ambulance, pushing him off a ladder to send him through the roof. And it just so happens that Breaker has a tag team partner and a championship to compete for at Crown Jewel.
According to a Wrestling Inc. staff poll, it won’t be a moment of catharsis for the competitors as 55% voted for Vision to make their first title defense. Of course, it’s a very tight split with 45% envisioning new champions. Those of us who voted for Vision just don’t think it’s terribly likely that Breaker and Theory will lose their first defense, especially not from a team as unified as Penta and Evans;
Written by Max Everett
Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. Liv Morgan (55%)
Liv Morgan, the Women’s World Champion, is one of the few real brands WWE has right now. Like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and others, he enters the film world in the upcoming Takashi Miike’s Bad Lt. Tokyo’ and he is now in his fourth reign. He is simply untouchable. As a 55% favorite, the fact that she has just a slight edge over WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Greene speaks to Greene’s popularity.
Green is still not the character that Morgan has become, but what’s more, he doesn’t have a Doomsday-like team following him. Matt Cardona may be Green’s backstage rock, but no one has a stronger ally on WWE programming than Liv in Dominic Mysterio. The deck is simply too stacked against Greene on Saturday, which is why the Women’s World Champion has a small but significant advantage over the WWE Women’s Champion. After all, does Chelsea Green even have her own Britney Spears-inspired theme song?
Green may be an attractive underdog, but Saudi Arabia’s PLEs have often gone big and wide. It’s the place for capital S stars like Romans Reigns, Codies Rhodes, and yes, even the Livs Morgan of the WWE Universe.
Written by Ross Berman
Men’s Crown Jewelry Championship. Roman Empire (73%)
In a role reversal, Roman Reigns will face Sami Zayn at the WWE Crown Jewel, with “The OTC” serving as a fan favorite and Zayn embracing his heel side.
The last time these two faced off in a televised setting, Zayn challenged Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Elimination Chamber 2023was held in his hometown of Montreal. That night, the Bell Center and those watching at home went all out for Zayn as he tried to dethrone the longtime champion. Three years later, most of those same fans are now rooting for Reigns as he prepares for their rematch at the Crown Jewel.
Despite the stark character changes, 73% of WINC staff expect Reigns vs. Zayn’s result will remain the same.
Zane: left Reigns staring at him on the “House” episode of WWE Raw. which means he’s going for the Crown Jewel in a big way. Most of the time, however, those with short-term momentum end up losing their PLE meetings. Based on recent reports, it seems so too The driving force behind Zayn’s second world title shot ensured that he, and not CM Punk, would face Reigns at Crown Jewel in the annual champion vs. champion match. That, combined with the end of this week’s Raw, doesn’t give us much confidence in his chances at Crown Jewel or his long-term plans in WWE. If anything, it seems likely that he will be a simple sprint on Reigns’ path to WrestleMania 43, where He is reportedly set for a main event title clash with Oba Femi.
Written by Ella Jay
