WWE Crown Jewel 2022: Roman Reigns Winning And 5 Smart Booking Decisions

SportsMoney WWE Crown Jewel 2022: Roman Reigns Winning And 5 Smart Booking Decisions Blake Oestriecher Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Analyzing WWE, AEW and pro wrestling as a whole. Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

Got it! Nov 5, 2022, 04:00am EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Roman Reigns continues to shine as Undisputed WWE Champion. (Credit: Fayez Nureldine / AFP) AFP via Getty Images WWE Crown Jewel 2022 represents one of the most pivotal stops on the road to WrestleMania 39, and with blockbuster matches like Roman Reigns vs. Logal Paul and Bianca Belair vs.

Bayley, WWE’s second-to-last pay-per-view of the year could have long-term ramifications on its short and long-term futures. With WWE reportedly revamping its PPV schedule next year, its marquee live events are going to mean more than they have at any point in recent memory. That will start at this weekend’s showdown in Saudi Arabia, where an undisputed Universal Championship match between Paul, the worldwide social media sensation, and Reigns, arguably the hottest act in all of pro wrestling, will set the tone for a new-look slate of premier events.

As the quality of WWE’s programming has improved considerably over the past few months with Triple H at the helm, WWE will be attempting to continue that momentum with a pivotal event that will lay the framework for Survivor Series and beyond. How should the show be booked? Let’s take a look. MORE FROM FORBES AEW, CM Punk Reportedly Discussing Contract Buyout By Blake Oestriecher Bobby Lashley Topples Brock Lesnar MORE FOR YOU The Inside Story Of Papa John’s Toxic Culture Jose Mourinho Adds Another Layer Of Intrigue To Injury-Hit Rome Derby The Memo | Forbes: Charge Faster Than Tesla; Setjetting And Daylight Saving Time Kills Deer Brock Lesnar vs.

Bobby Lashley is quite the booker’s conundrum. With Lesnar recently returning after a lengthy layoff, Lashley being one of WWE’s best-booked stars and both behemoths currently performing as babyfaces, one could argue that neither man should be losing this match. That’s why a controversial non-finish—that builds to a rubber match—is a likely option here, but if we’re picking the lesser of two evils? That would be Lashley winning.

He’s the full-timer of the two, and his 2022 Royal Rumble victory over Lesnar was a tainted one that didn’t exactly make him look strong. Lashley has been such an important part of Raw over the past two years, and in many ways, he’s filled the void created by frequent absences from Lesnar. Lesnar’s next WWE appearance had been scheduled for January’s Day 1 pay-per-view, which has since been cancelled, and that means that he’s likely going to be off TV long enough that a loss to Lashley will long be forgotten by the time he’s back, probably right around Royal Rumble time.

Bayley Upsets Bianca Belair Something about Bayley’s Damage CTRL stable hasn’t quite clicked, which is odd given all the talent the group has. Perhaps part of the problem is that the faction lacks credibility, with an ill-advised loss in the women’s tag title tournament, another one this week on Raw and then Bayley’s loss to Belair at Clash at the Castle. WWE has booked Belair to be almost unbeatable, and given how popular she is, that’s with good reason.

But if Bayley doesn’t beat Belair, that could be detrimental to Belair long-term. She has held or fought for the women’s title for much of the past two years, and WWE does not want to reach a point where—like Reigns or John Cena before her—she gets pushed so strongly as a face that it comes back to bite WWE. With the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39 likely to be Ronda Rousey vs.

Becky Lynch, there is no more credible opponent to take down Belair than Bayley, who badly needs to win the title in Saudi Arabia. Drew McIntyre Ends His PPV Losing Streak It’s rare for Drew McIntyre to lose a match, much less to fall short in two consecutive pay-per-view bouts. Yet, that’s exactly what has happened with the former two-time WWE Champion, who fell to Reigns at Clash at the Castle and then Karrion Kross at Extreme Rules.

Of course, both of those losses concluded with dirty finishes, so McIntyre was protected as he usually is. But perception is reality, and if McIntyre loses three consecutive PPV matches, fan perception of him being a top star could take a hit. Triple H is clearly a big supporter of Kross, and though Kross’s gimmick could be appealing if booked right, he hasn’t really done much to stand out or establish himself as a main event-caliber star.

McIntyre is a better fit for that role and needs the win at Crown Jewel, if for no other reason than to build to a rubber match with Kross while also reestablishing some much-needed momentum. The Next Step For Bray Wyatt Despite Bray Wyatt having his fair share of detractors, his WWE return has been a massive hit. He’s already proven to be a huge draw for the company, generating incredible viewership numbers across social media while also becoming WWE’s No.

1 merchandise seller . Any anti-Wyatt sentiment should be squashed by the obvious eyeballs he brings to WWE, and yet on that same note, WWE could run into a problem with his booking sooner rather than later. Thus far, there has been no indication of an upcoming feud or match for Wyatt while rumors of a potential “Wyatt Six” stable have been unsubstantiated to this point.

Depending upon the perspective, some might argue that WWE is very early on into Wyatt’s current WWE run, but as you know, pro wrestling fans aren’t exactly known for their patience. In other words, WWE needs to evolve Wyatt’s character beyond cryptic promos and creepy vignettes, giving him something of substance in the form of a new rival or storyline twist. That should come in Saudi Arabia, or else WWE will run the risk of ruining a good thing before it really gets going.

Roman Reigns Win, But Logan Paul Shines Much like Wyatt, Reigns’ ongoing storyline with Sami Zayn and The Bloodline has been a significant draw for WWE, and despite going on for more than two years now, this championship run for Reigns as “The Head of the Table” continues to be the best thing going in pro wrestling. There is no reason to take the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship off of Reigns anytime soon, but WWE does have another booking pickle with his match against Paul. One could argue that Paul is getting a WWE title shot far too early into his WWE stint, but as an incredibly recognizable name outside of the world of sports entertainment, it’s not difficult to see why WWE is putting Paul in this spot to begin with.

For Reigns, his job at Crown Jewel is simple: Make Paul, who has looked like a million bucks in the ring so far, look phenomenal once again while also retaining the WWE Championship in clean fashion. Reigns is certainly up to the task, and barring one of the most shocking swerves in pro wrestling history, that’s the only logical outcome in Saudi Arabia. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

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