Crown Jewel just went down and while there was a ton of speculation leading up to it, the event came and went, no real issues, which is always good to see. But let’s be real, the biggest shocker, the *only* actual title change on the whole card, saw Penta and Je’Von Evans walk out as your new World Tag Team Champions!
The Raw Tag Division Just Got Shaken Up
So, Penta and Je’Von Evans, who aren’t even a regular team, went up against Austin Theory and Bron Breakker for the World Tag Team Championships. And yeah, Theory and Breakker weren’t a regular team before they won the belts either, so it’s a wild ride for the Raw tag division. It’s kind of a statement about how far that division has fallen, but hey, these two delivered! Evans and Breakker, in particular, were electrifying. You could tell they’re both future main event stars just waiting for their moment. Bronson Reed tried to mess things up, but it wasn’t enough to put Evans and Penta away. Then Oba Femi showed up, tossed Reed through some equipment off the stage, and that distraction was all Evans and Penta needed to grab the victory and those tag titles. What a way to crown new champs, seriously!
Orton and Rhodes: Great Match, Bad Timing
Now, Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes kicked off the night with their Last Man Standing match, and the crowd was absolutely hyped, even chanting for Orton despite him being the villain. But man, they had a tough spot, trying to follow CM Punk and Kevin Owens’ chaotic No DQ match from SmackDown, which had happened just 15 hours earlier. Orton and Rhodes fought in the crowd, used weapons, just like Punk and Owens did, but it never quite hit that same level of intensity. Their feud is personal, maybe even more personal, so that felt really surprising during the match.
All that said, these two still put on an enjoyable show. The match was pretty predictable, but what they did looked good. It’s just a shame they had to go on after Punk and Owens, it really put them in an uphill battle. There were stretches where it felt like not much was happening, while Punk and Owens never slowed down. If the timing had been different, this match could have stood out so much more. Things did pick up, and they got a long time to work, with some big spots that really elevated it. Cody Rhodes ultimately got the win with a punt kick. Honestly, calling them both winners and losers here is all about the timing and the booking, not their performance. They delivered an entertaining match, but management didn’t do their story justice, and having to follow Punk and Owens right after did them zero favors.
The Announcers Got a Comfy Ride
An interesting wrinkle to the whole event was that WWE sent a smaller crew to Saudi Arabia this year. That meant Michael Cole and Corey Graves weren’t actually calling the show live from the arena. Instead, they were back in the United States, calling it remotely. That had to be a totally different vibe for them. No feeding off the live crowd’s energy, but also no brutal long flights or travel nightmares. They got to do their job from a much more comfortable spot, so that’s a win for them, for sure.
So, what’s next? With Penta and Je’Von Evans holding the World Tag Team Championships, the Raw tag division just got a lot more interesting. Are they gonna be a regular team now? Who’s stepping up to challenge them? And for Orton and Rhodes, their rivalry is clearly still simmering, even with Cody taking the win. You know this isn’t over!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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