The 2026 Crown Jewel main event, a highly anticipated rematch between Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, is absolutely not a lock. Zayn, the undisputed WWE champion, has to defend his title against Trick Williams on the October 30 episode of SmackDown. If he loses, the dream main event goes right out the window, and that’s a huge curveball nobody was expecting for this year’s big Saudi Arabia show.
The Undisputed Question Mark
Talk about high stakes! Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn have serious history. Remember Montreal in 2023? Zayn, the ultimate underdog in his hometown, took Reigns to the absolute limit in an undisputed WWE universal championship match. It was legendary. Now, fast forward to 2026, and we’re looking at a similar vibe, only this time in Riyadh. Zayn is expected to get a hero’s welcome there, just like before. He’s still got that underdog fire, but now he’s rolling into this situation as a world champion, making him Reigns’ equal in a way he wasn’t three years ago. But before any of that can happen, Williams stands in his way. Can you imagine the outrage if Zayn falls to Trick before he even gets to Reigns? That would be insane.
History on the Line, But Who Gets the Shot?
It’s not just the men’s main event facing pre-show drama. Liv Morgan is a lock for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship, and she’s got a shot at making history. So far, four Crown Jewel champions have been crowned, two men and two women, but nobody has ever won the title twice. Cody Rhodes almost did it last year but came up short against Seth Rollins. This year, Morgan can be the first to pull it off. But here’s the kicker for her opponent: current Women’s WWE champion Chelsea Green is in the exact same boat as Zayn. Green could lose her spot at Crown Jewel if Nikki Bella manages to dethrone her before the event. So, Morgan is definitely showing up, but she’ll be watching that pre-Crown Jewel match super closely to see who she’ll face down.
Blood Feuds and Tag Team Brawls
Beyond the championship drama, we’ve got a couple of other absolutely confirmed matches that are gonna deliver. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are finally settling their feud in a Last Man Standing match. These two have been going at it for over six months, and things have only gotten crazier since WrestleMania. Remember at ‘Mania when Orton legitimately fractured Rhodes’ orbital bone with a punt? Yeah, that happened. They were pupil and mentor in The Legacy, they headlined WrestleMania this year, and that should’ve settled it, but injuries on both sides just kept the rivalry burning. Orton was sidelined for months, and Rhodes had to deal with that gruesome injury. Now, it’s finally time to end it. Plus, The Vision will defend their world tag team titles against Penta and Je’Von Evans. That’s gonna be pure chaos.
Crown Jewel kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 7, streaming live on ESPN Unlimited, with the main card starting at 12 p.m. ET. With so much on the line before the main eventers even step into the ring, you just know this show is going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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