10 Best WWE Matches In Saudi Arabia

On October 31st, WWE returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the annual spectacle dubbed Crown Jewel. We have several huge matches already announced for the event such as Brock Lesnar defending his WWE Championship against recently signed Cain Valesquez, and Braun Strowman facing The Lineal Heavyweight Champion of the World, Tyson Fury. Don’t forget we also have Seth Rollins defending his Universal Championship against ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

I’ve taken the liberty to go back and rewatch The Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel and Super ShowDown from earlier this year to determine the best matches from the land of the sun. Make sure you drop your own personal favourites in the comments below.

 

10. The Undertaker vs. Goldberg – Super ShowDown

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7jr4l1

I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention this match. Two of the biggest icons in sports entertainment, The Undertaker and Goldberg, were set to do battle for the first-time-ever in Saudi Arabia. The WWE Universe was looking forward to this monumental dream match whether they wanted to admit it or not.

Unfortunately, the match was tarnished after Goldberg crashed into the ring post and bust his head open. In my opinion, the contest should have been thrown out at that point. To make matters worse, a fifty-three year old Undertaker was forced to carry the remainder of the match. Goldberg horribly botched several spots including his signature Jackhammer, almost dropping Taker right on his head.

‘The Deadman’ delivered a dangerous Tombstone Piledriver that saw Goldberg’s head slam straight into the mat unprotected. Undertaker then finished the WCW star off with a lousy Chokeslam to put an end to this monumental match gone wrong.

 

9. The Brothers of Destruction vs. D-Generation X – Crown Jewel

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6wnwnt

At Super Show-Down, The Undertaker and Triple H did battle for the “last time” in Melbourne, Australia. This was also the first time since WrestleMania 28 that HHH and Undertaker had been in the same ring together. After a hard-fought battle, HHH beat his rival, but the biggest talking point wasn’t their match, it was Shawn Michaels himself getting physical for the first time since retiring in 2011.

Following the match, both Kane and Undertaker delivered double Chokeslams and Tombstone Piledrivers to D-Generation X, setting up this dream tag team match for Saudi Arabia.

All four competitors were unable to mask their age with their brawls or high spots. This tag team contest was all about the nostalgia of seeing The Brothers of Destruction vs. D-Generation X and after the match seeing both teams with their hands raised.

This will forever be remembered for being another match where things just fell apart at the seams. Triple H suffered an injury part-way through the match, leaving a rusted HBK to carry the majority of the 20 minute bout. We’ll give props to Shawn for being able to pull out a reasonable effort after being away from the ring for so long, but this was nowhere near the Attitude-era classic that it should have been.

 

8. Kurt Angle vs. Dolph Ziggler – Crown Jewel

I was extremely excited to see this match based on both superstars’ amateur wrestling repertoire. There was a tonne of grappling and rest holds in this one. Given his age, the Olympic gold medallist delivered a great performance but the arrogant and hungrier Ziggler pulled out the well-deserved victory after Angle crashed into the ring post.

I was disappointed that we didn’t get Kurt Angle vs. Seth Rollins in the semifinals, especially after 2K18’s fantasy warfare campaign, but all in all, this was a great performance by Angle. It was a shame that WWE couldn’t have put any more faith in Ziggler than they did on this occasion, as he then went on to face, and lose to, Shane McMahon in the finals of the tournament.

 

7. The Miz vs. Jeff Hardy – Crown Jewel

This was the first time that Miz and Hardy had faced each other since Hardy’s return at WrestleMania 33. Miz carried most of the match while Hardy was able to deliver his high-octane offense that shows he hadn’t missed a step. The action spilled outside and ‘The Charismatic Enigma’ delivered his walk the barricade splash.

Miz attempted to utilize underhanded tactics to gain the victory, but was thwarted by the valiant Hardy. Miz eventually hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the victory, getting him one step closer to the title of ‘Best in the World’.

This was better than I expected and both competitors gelled perfectly. The two went on to have a couple of matches on various episodes of RAW and SmackDown Live but have yet to come together for a sustained feud.

 

6. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar – The Greatest Royal Rumble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plY6QXd3BWU

At WrestleMania, much to the shock of the WWE Universe, Brock Lesnar successfully defended his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns after delivering six vicious F5s.

Both Lesnar and Reigns delivered another hard-hitting affair with multiple F5s and Spears during Reigns’ trip to Suplex City by way of Saudi Arabia. Every time these two behemoths clash it’s a mega-match, and this one was no different.

Everyone expected this to be the time that Roman was to finally defeat Brock. But as always, WWE want to throw in the controversial finish to keep this money-feud going for another six months or so. Reigns speared the Universal Champion straight through the cage, although Reigns’ body hit the floor first, Lesnar’s feet landed before, declaring him the winner and still champion.

Naturally fans at home weren’t overjoyed to see this finish, but the Saudi audience were buzzing to see Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar live and in person.

 

5. Fatal-4-Way Ladder Match For The Intercontinental Championship – The Greatest Royal Rumble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZ2KnJXvIY

Seth Rollins defended his recently acquired Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor, and Samoa Joe. Each superstar got a chance to showcase their incredible talents for the Saudi crowd. If you’re looking for high-octane action and some crazy spots then this one’s for you.

Kudos to all four competitors risking their bodies to produce a classic ladder match that deserves more credit that it gets. The finish was absolutely breathtaking, with Rollins leaping from the top rope onto the ladder and climbing above Balor to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

You’d think that a match involving these four immensely talented performers would garner a lot more attention, but this will always remain one of the low-key greatest ladder matches to take place in the modern era.

 

4. AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura – The Greatest Royal Rumble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sqzkJv1NrQ

At WrestleMania 34, Shinsuke Nakamura delivered a low-blow that shocked the entire WWE Universe, leaving AJ Styles laid out after seemingly showing him respect in defeat. After weeks of mind games and low-blows, Styles was ready to beat the holy hell out of Nakamura in Saudi Arabia.

The match began with a slow, methodical pace as Nakamura showcased his new relentless attitude with stiff strikes to the WWE Champion. Styles mounted a comeback, bringing the fight to his rival and delivered an Ushigoroshi for a near-fall. The challenger retaliated with a front suplex and teased a Kinshasa but the champion locked in the Calf Crusher looking for a tap-out victory. Both Styles and Nakamura engaged in a full-blown slugfest in the middle of the ring.

The finish saw Styles attempt a Phenomenal Forearm, almost hitting the official. During the distraction, Nakamura delivered another low-blow. An enraged Styles blasted the challenger, sending both wrestlers crashing outside. The brawl continued past the official’s ten-count that ended the highly-intense match prematurely.

Fortunately, the feud would carry on and deliver on the promise of being one of the most hard-hitting affairs of the time in their next one-on-one encounter in London. This feud just seemed to get better with age, so don’t sleep on the rematches after WrestleMania.

 

3. Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin – Super ShowDown

Before things get ugly, let me start off by saying that, in my opinion, Corbin has truly adapted and grown as an in-ring performer in the last two years. Over the past year, the big man has battled against The Shield, Braun Strowman, and the Universal Champion, Seth Rollins. Corbin’s rise to the top may have taken a detour after he lost his cash-in attempt in 2017, but it has definitely made him a much better performer in matches such as this one.

The story going into this match was that, on the last episode of Raw, the Universal Champion Seth Rollins was brutally attacked by Brock Lesnar with a steel chair. His challenger, Baron Corbin, was coming to pick the bones and walk out of Jeddah with the Universal title.

Corbin came right at Rollins with everything he had, punishing the champion’s injured ribs at every turn. Every maneuver executed was designed to inflict pain and wear down the Universal Champion. Corbin’s one mistake was his increasing frustration over WWE official John Cone’s officiating after several near-falls. The challenger put his hands on Cone, who pushed back, allowing Rollins to roll him up to capitalize and walk out with the title.

While Corbin didn’t walk away with the Universal Championship, he did produce a hell of a performance, one that shouldn’t be forgotten just because we hate our new king. Which we do.

 

 

2. Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler w/Drew McIntyre – Crown Jewel

Over the summer, Rollins and Ziggler had incredible battles over the Intercontinental Championship, Raw Tag Team Championships and in all the six-man tag matches between The Shield and Ziggler’s company. Which makes this match very intriguing, as both competitors were vying to become “The Best in the World.”

Ziggler was like a shark smelling blood in the water going right after Rollins’s injured neck, keeping him grounded for nearly half the match. Rollins mounted a comeback and made one critical mistake when he attacked McIntrye on the outside. ‘The Scottish Psychopath’ answered back with a Claymore, which allowed Ziggler to gain the victory.

I believe that Rollins and Ziggler are incapable of having a bad match, they have stellar in-ring chemistry and always deliver when put in the ring together. The WWE Universe could watch them fight forever, although this match almost seemed to serve Drew McIntyre more than it did Ziggler.

Lucky for him, this wasn’t the last time Jeddah would witness Dolph Ziggler in a high profile match.

 

1. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler – WWE Super ShowDown

A year on from his match with Seth Rollins, a jealous and irate Dolph Ziggler returned to Saudi Arabia to challenge for the WWE Championship. A few weeks prior, Dolph Ziggler returned and viciously attacked Kofi Kingston, resulting in the champ almost needing a stretcher to leave the arena.’The Show-off’ addressed his heinous actions proclaiming that “it should have been him”, referring to Kofi’s journey to the WWE title. Kofi was looking to shut up his long-time rival with a successful title retention.

The challenger came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, relentlessly attacking the champion and keeping him grounded, utilizing his technical wrestling skill-base that gelled so well with Kurt Angle a year prior. Kofi fought back, delivering his signature Boom Drop, but was caught during a Trouble in Paradise attempt. Ziggler managed to pull his rival to the ropes, allowing him to execute his picture-perfect DDT for a long near-fall.

The action spilled to the outside where Kofi nailed Ziggler with a trust fall, wiping him out. The challenger answered back by sending the champion into the steel steps and blasting Woods with a Superkick. An irate Kofi fired up, beating the hell out of his rival and bringing him back into the ring. A Trouble in Paradise was countered into a roll-up but Kofi kicked out. After a swift assist from Xavier Woods on the outside, Kofi managed to finally hit his finisher and secure the win.

An incredible title match between two superstars that have this never-ending chemistry with one another. Don’t sleep on their series of matches.