WWE Crown Jewel: Rhodes Defeats Orton in Riyadh

WWE Crown Jewel concluded in Riyadh on Saturday with two title changes and a decisive victory for Roman Reigns.

The event produced new World Tag Team Champions and a new WWE Women's Champion, while Cody Rhodes ended his long-running rivalry with Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match.

Rhodes secured the win by refusing to let referee Charles Robinson complete the required 10-count after Orton was left busted open by a third Cross Rhodes. Instead of allowing the standard finish, Rhodes shoved the official aside and delivered Orton's signature Punt Kick to the head. The move ended the match and left Rhodes with a conflicted expression as he ascended the ramp, suggesting a harder edge for his future on SmackDown.

The result positions Rhodes as a logical No. 1 contender to Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Kevin Owens also strengthened his own claim to a title shot by defeating CM Punk on SmackDown earlier in the week. Potential matchups for the road to the February Royal Rumble include a triple threat involving Zayn, Owens, and Rhodes, possibly at Survivor Series.

Orton, who is known for his participation in Survivor Series, may enter the Team USA versus Team Mexico match. This scenario would allow him to compete against AAA talent, a group he has not previously faced in that specific context.

In the women's division, Tiffany Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to dethrone Chelsea Green. Green had just won the Crown Jewel Championship by roll-pinning Liv Morgan after a grueling match. Stratton interrupted Green's post-match celebration by striking her with the Money in the Bank briefcase before finishing the sequence with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. The victory effectively locks in a rematch between Stratton and Green, with Survivor Series identified as the likely venue for their next encounter.

Penta and Je'Von Evans captured the World Tag Team Championship from The Vision during the same night in Saudi Arabia. The win adds another major accolade to the team's resume as they continue their run in the tag division.

Roman Reigns defeated Sami Zayn in the main event to become the 2026 men's Crown Jewel champion. The match featured no interference from The Bloodline or the faction 946. Zayn pushed Reigns to his limits throughout the contest, leading to a moment where the two men acknowledged each other on the mat. Reigns stated, "I respect you," as both competitors reeled from the physical toll of the match.

Reigns concluded the contest with a spear to secure the title. This victory continues a trend of Reigns winning major matches without the outside assistance that characterized his 1,316-day championship run from 2020 to 2024. His immediate focus shifts to an assault he suffered at the hands of Cruz Montana and 946 on Raw last Monday. A Bloodline versus 946 showdown is shaping up for the main event of Survivor Series: War Games in Houston on Nov. 28.

Zayn returns to a crowded field of contenders on SmackDown, where he faces potential rematches with Owens and Rhodes. History provides context for a future match against Rhodes, who lost to Zayn at King of the Ring earlier this year in a bout that gave Zayn his first WWE Championship.