5 Things WWE wants you to forget about Crown Jewel

Crown Jewel has become one of WWE's major premium live events in the calendar year. While it has been a staple of Saudi Arabia in recent years, the company is set to host the marquee spectacle this year in Perth, Australia, on October 11. Therefore, the excitement among fans is at an all-time high, as it is set to be WWE's next premium live event.

While the company is heavily promoting it, there are certain things that the global juggernaut may want fans to forget about the Crown Jewel PLE. Over the past few years, there have been a lot of controversies that have marred the show. From an infamous showdown that shouldn't have happened to the WWE roster being stranded in Saudi Arabia, there have been several terrible moments related to the PLE since its inception.

Let's take a look at five things WWE wants you to forget about Crown Jewel:

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#5. D-Generation X vs. The Brothers of Destruction (2018)

Shawn Michaels came out of retirement at Crown Jewel 2018 to revive D-Generation X alongside Triple H. They battled The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) in a tag team match at the marquee event in Saudi Arabia. While it was a dream match for many, the moment it happened, it became a nightmare for fans as well as for the legends involved.

In the first few minutes of the match, Triple H injured his shoulder, causing chaos. Not only that, the showdown was filled with sloppy sequences and botches. At one point, HBK accidentally unmasked Kane during a Moonsault attempt from one of the corners. To this date, many consider it one of the worst matches in WWE history that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

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#4. Shane McMahon winning the World Cup Tournament (2018)

In 2018, the Stamford-based company announced a World Cup tournament for Crown Jewel. The hype was all about crowning the best WWE star in the world. While the tournament featured stars like Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and The Miz, surprisingly, a part-time wrestler like Shane McMahon won it all in one of the most controversial moments in WWE history.

The Miz was the original finalist to compete against the erstwhile Dolph Ziggler. However, he was unable to compete, and McMahon stepped up to replace The A-Lister. It was a surprising decision, as people were actually rooting for The Showoff to win. In a match that lasted less than three minutes, Shane 'O' Mac went on to defeat the current TNA star to claim the "best in the world" moniker and the World Cup trophy.

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#3. The plane delay fiasco at Crown Jewel 2019

One of the most dreadful things took place in 2019 when WWE experienced a plane delay following its Crown Jewel event. While the authorities suggested that it was a mechanical issue, reports stated that it was due to an internal conflict between the sports entertainment giant and Saudi Arabia. This delay led to almost 200 wrestlers and other employees being stranded in the nation.

While Vince McMahon and a few top stars managed to leave the country on private jets, the rest of the WWE roster was left stuck for nearly 24 hours. Many stars even expressed frustration over the Saudi Arabian authorities and the fact that McMahon opted to leave without them. Besides, this unexpected delay jeopardized the following episode of SmackDown, marking a controversial point in Crown Jewel's history.

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#2. The botch in the Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight main event (2023)

LA Knight challenged Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of Crown Jewel 2023. The match had a lot of hype among fans, as The Defiant One was on a meteoric rise at the time. However, it was marred by criticisms due to an embarrassing botch. At one point during the contest, Knight hit a BFT to the OTC, and the referee counted the pinfall to three, marking LA's victory.

However, the WWE official waved off the three-count after noticing that Reigns' leg was on the rope. It was a clear timing error and miscalculation that created an awkward situation. People started demanding that WWE crown LA Knight as the new champion due to the botched spot. It created yet another controversy at Crown Jewel, something that the company may want its fans to forget.

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#1. The first-ever historic women's match in Saudi Arabia (2019)

At Crown Jewel 2019, Natalya faced Lacey Evans in the first-ever women's wrestling match on Saudi Arabian soil. It was a massive step toward WWE's push for inclusivity regarding the women's division. What was supposed to be a historic moment met with an underwhelming response from fans at the arena. The match was positioned mid-card and was given less than 10 minutes.

It felt like a token gesture rather than a main attraction, unlike other high-profile matches on the card. The atmosphere felt subdued compared to typical WWE women’s matches, reducing the sense of a historic pop that the company had hoped to capture. The historic moment felt underwhelming and flopped and was quickly buried in Crown Jewel's history.