Crown Jewel is here once again, and it’s time to decide who is the champion of champions for about 12 hours before everyone on both shows forgets it ever even happened. As pointless as these champion vs champion matches are in WWE, this year I am quite looking forward to them.
Roman vs Sami will always be an interesting match, and while the women’s Crown Jewel match hasn’t been built very well, there is the intrigue of Tiffany Stratton’s cash-in looming to make things interesting.
There are only four matches on his show, though (possibly due to the political situation in the region, meaning no talent actually wants to be on the show), so I hope you’re ready to enjoy some adverts with wrestling matches begrudgingly crammed in between.
Full WWE Crown Jewel 2026 match card
The Vision(c) vs Penta and Je’Von Evans – World Tag Team Championships
Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penta during the Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
I wouldn’t blame you for forgetting that these titles even existed. They’ve barely been defended and are more an albatross around Bron Breakker’s waist than anything useful. It’s been clear for a while that Breakker and Reed need to pull away from The Vision; it’s only hurting their auras.
Despite it being a pointless Franken-team, Penta & Evans taking the titles would at least move that story along, get Bron away from The Vision and, at the very least, at least make something vaguely interesting happen with those tag belts.
Prediction: Penta and Je’Von Evans
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton – Last Man Standing
WWE wrestler Randy Orton yells out into the a cheering crowd as he makes an appearance for a 20-year celebration as a wrestler during WWE “Raw” in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, April 25, 2022. Orton got the crowd cheering when he mentions that he was born in Knoxville. Kns Biancahomecoming 0427
My problem with this match is the same problem I have with basically everything Randy Orton does: the build is quite good, and then the match is extremely boring.
The Rhodes/Orton story has been one of my favourites this year (when it doesn’t have Pat McAfee involved), and I think it’s brought a new dimension out of Cody Rhodes’ character that we haven’t seen from him in quite a while. It’s a testament to the fact that Rhodes would benefit from being out of the world title picture for a while.
However, this duo has had two matches so far, and neither of them were particularly good, and I don’t expect a Last Man Standing stipulation to change things. Orton’s pace is slow and dull at the best of times, never mind having to pause the match every few minutes so the referee can count to ten.
Since this is likely the blow-off match, I think Cody is a safe pick to win, and he’ll probably shoot right back up into the world title scene afterwards.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
Liv Morgan vs Chelsea Green – Women’s Crown Jewel Championship
Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Liv Morgan during the Women’s Royal Rumble during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
It’s hard to get all that riled up about this, in either a positive or a negative way. Liv Morgan as champion continues to be the biggest nothing-burger of all time, and while I’m very happy with Chelsea Green as the champion on SmackDown, it’s hard to get excited when I know she’s just keeping the belt warm until Rhea Ripley is healed.
Still, as I mentioned in the intro, Tiffany Stratton and the Money in the Bank briefcase are looming, and while she’s kept trying to cash it in on Liv, I think we all know the heel turn and cash-in on Chelsea is coming. Whether it’ll be on this show, I don’t know, but I’m sure they’ll tease it at the very least.
Picking a winner is a tough call because it truly doesn’t matter. Liv has already won the belt before, and an upset win for Chelsea might help her story, but I think it’s more likely Liv gets a second win to continue her obnoxious “greatest of all time” schtick.
Prediction: Liv Morgan
Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn – Men’s Crown Jewel Champions
Sami Zayn fires up during his match during the WWE Road to WrestleMania show, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in United Supermarkets Arena at Lubbock.
This feud has really worked for me. Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn will be one of those matchups that will always be exciting. They have so much history that, when they inevitably come together again, it makes for magic. I’ve loved the promos, and while Roman’s strategy these days just seems to be “say a naughty word and pretend you’ve won,” Sami’s indignant fire about the Bloodline has been great to watch.
I’m going to take a big swing on the predictions too. Part of this feud has been the fact that Roman’s attention is diverted ahead to WarGames and the 946, and I think that chaos will be to Roman’s detriment, letting Sami Zayn get away with the sneaky win.
Prediction: Sami Zayn
