Predicting WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Winners, Surprise Returns and Bold Booking Calls

WWE returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday for Crown Jewel, a premium live event that will pit the top men's and women's champions against each other in marquee matchups.

Who will emerge victorious from the night's biggest bouts, what surprises might the company have in store, and which bold booking decisions will have fans buzzing in the show's aftermath?

Find out with this preview of the international PLE.

World Tag Team Championship: Penta and Je'Von Evans vs. The Vision

World tag team champion Bron Breakker has regained considerable momentum of late, looking like the unstoppable ass-kicker most expected him to be upon his return post-WrestleMania 42.

He steamrolled Evans at Money in the Bank, then shoved him off a ladder and through the roof of an ambulance.

This is a rare case in which, for The Badass to sustain that momentum as a top star on Raw, he needs to drop the tag team titles and eventually distance himself from the rest of The Vision.

Penta and Evans are red-hot right now, with the former possessing the Money in the Bank briefcase, and losing to them would do no damage to Breakker at all, especially with Austin Theory available to take the pin.

This feels like the perfect opportunity to move the titles to Penta and Evans while protecting Breakker and setting up his eventual singles push.

Prediction: Evans and Penta win the titles

Last Man Standing: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Rhodes has to win here, and he has to do it by punting Orton in the head. Anything less, and the entire months-long rivalry has served no purpose.

If Rhodes fends off the urge to turn to the dark side to defeat The Viper, he essentially becomes John Cena. As great as he is, the last thing any fan of any age needs is another vanilla babyface who does the right thing at all times.

WWE relied on that formula for two decades, and now is not the time to go back there. Especially when The American Nightmare badly needs to prove he is a man of his word and follows through with his threats.

Anything less would damage Rhodes' relationship with the fans.

Orton got the better of his rival at Sunday Night's Main Event and has taunted him ever since. The Last Man Standing match in Riyadh has to be the end of the feud, with Rhodes exorcising the demon that is The Legend Killer from his life and moving on.

Prediction: Rhodes wins with two Cross Rhodes and a punt to the skull

WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green vs. Women's World Champion Liv Morgan

The biggest winner Saturday night may well be Tiffany Stratton, whose Money in the Bank cash-in attempts have ramped up, typically a sign that a genuine cash-in is drawing near.

While that may imply Morgan is in trouble, based on recent creative decisions, it would likely result in a bad night for Green in Riyadh.

After all, everything with this second Stratton briefcase run has mimicked her first, including a show-closing cash-in tease on Monday's Raw that was beat-for-beat the same as one from two years earlier.

If that trend continues, the cash-in will be accompanied by a shocking betrayal.

Morgan will defeat Green in their inter-promotional matchup thanks to interference from The Judgment Day's Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. Stratton will then appear to come to Green's rescue, only to betray her, cash in Money in the Bank and win her second WWE Women's Championship—one of two bold booking decisions we predict for the event.

Prediction: Morgan beats Green, and Stratton cashes in

Why Triple H Can't Wait on Reigns vs. Femi 😮‍💨

World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn

Reigns and Zayn rekindle their epic story Saturday in Riyadh in a battle between the top two champions in WWE today.

The Tribal Chief has been extraordinary in 2026, delivering his best in-ring performances to date and remaining undefeated along the way. He has been on another level, to the point that a loss to Zayn in Saudi Arabia seems unfathomable.

Except, The OTC and his Bloodline are in the midst of a rivalry with The 946 that is destined to culminate at Survivor Series: WarGames. This is the right opportunity to give Zayn a victory over Reigns, thanks to interference from Royce Keys, Bronco Nima, Lucien Prince, Carmelo Hayes and Jaida Parker.

If Zayn going over is not enough of a bold booking decision, perhaps the arrival of The 946 brings with it the return of Jacob Fatu, with the distraction playing into Reigns' loss.

Having won his biggest matches without help, The Head of the Table would likely need to be heavily outnumbered for a defeat to feel credible.

Prediction: Zayn wins amid plenty of interference in a chaotic main event