Get your coffee ready because WWEs next premium live event, WWE Crown Jewel 2025, kicks off bright and early on Saturday morning from Perth, Australia.
Here at Uncrowned, Kel Dansby, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger have been grinding on some of the key questions heading into the event and have brewed up some Auss-ome answers down under. (OK, enough with the puns.)
Lets ride!
Sulla-Heffinger: I cannot see her winning on Saturday, which is fine because these Crown Jewel Championships exist in a bit of a WWE vacuum. Vaquers rapid, justifiable ascent should continue and a victory in probably her most high-profile match on the main roster is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Its not that Stratton isnt immensely talented in the ring weve seen this in matches this year with Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill but she needs some adversity to overcome in order to really connect with fans. This formula worked for the WrestleMania match against Flair, and honestly, thats why I would love to see Cargill step in and dethrone her. Theres a chance for a division-defining feud here, and itll benefit both women if the title changes hands, especially after Cargill has fallen short several times.
Riggs: Not a snowball’s chance in hell, and it’s evident with the handling of each wrestler in recent months. The only way I could see her win coming is from an interference, which doesn’t make sense from any outside party. That being said, WWE has been more consistent in avoiding shoddy finishes at PLEs, so I commend them for that, but it limits Stratton’s chances to 1%.
She very clearly needs a reset of challengers. There needs to be a draft or shuffle of sorts to freshen “SmackDown” up, because Stratton’s opponent booking has been embarrassing. Let’s break it down, shall we? Nia Jax (5x), Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Trish Stratus and Jade Cargill (3x). It’s less about Stratton matches delivering and more about the variety in what she’s doing, because there’s been next to none of that.
Jackman: I think shes in with a chance. Youre absolutely right that Stratton’s run has felt disjointed, but Vaquers main roster run still feels like its in the pre-launch stage. Thats a slightly odd thing to say about a woman who’s just won the Womens World Championship, but I dont feel theres been any attempt at least so far to round out Vaquers character and show us where she fits in the WWE landscape.
Im not saying any of that to knock Vaquer I think shes going to be an absolute beast of a champion before long. But I could see the case for having her lose to Stratton in a workhorse match that ends with both women showing mutual respect. Tiffy beat Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill this year winning this one shouldnt be beyond her.
As for what happens next, I think Stratton just needs a feud with a bit of grit to it. Whatever the truth about that controversial 0 for 3 promo between Stratton and Flair before WrestleMania, it did at least have some spark to it. Bring more of that energy to the table and her title run will be on track before you can say Tiffy Time.
Dansby: Stratton arguably needs the win Saturday more than newly-crowned World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. In true WWE fashion, this may end with outside interference or a screwy finish, setting up the next feud for either woman. However, a clean victory for Stratton would go a long way toward legitimizing her first reign and establishing her as more than just a transitional champion.
The bigger issue is that Stratton hasnt been consistently booked on “SmackDown,” leaving her without the weekly momentum a new champion needs. If WWE wants her reign to work, she needs defined storylines, longer promo segments, and regular in-ring showcases against top opponents. Otherwise, fans will continue to see her as someone still searching for footing at the top.
Riggs: It does matter because it completely displays how careless WWE was with Cena’s run. His entire retirement should have been fully booked and planned from start to finish. Yet, here we are with a match Cena went into business for himself with on social media and I’m all for that. But, man, the treatment of this literal all-time great has been promotional malpractice of the highest degree.
Part of me really hopes Cena can somehow escape his WWE shackles after this for a proper retirement sendoff in a one-off program against Adam “Edge” Copeland in AEW. Could you imagine?
Jackman: Im firmly in the its been a terrible thing category, as you can see from my recent column on this. Whats more, I really cant work out why there has been zero build-up? After all, its not like Styles has been juggling wrestling with filming rom-coms for Netflix, is it? He would have been more than capable of going out there with a microphone and telling a decent story.
It also bothers me how many big matches just get announced on Triple Hs social media these days. It isnt just the self-interest in that it makes my job marginally more difficult by having to stay on top of everything. I think these off-screen announcements short-change the live audiences. Part of the fun is seeing the crowd reaction when these big matches get confirmed.
Sulla-Heffinger: Would the hype for this match be bigger if they exchange promos in the ring? Sure, but I am firmly in the camp that it doesnt really matter. We knew a match against Styles needed to happen during this retirement tour, it was just a matter of when. Anyone who is familiar with the in-ring history between these two knows this match is going to be great, so the video package we got as the lead-in is more than enough for me.
I think when we look back at this whole retirement run for Cena, there are going to be moments that stick out in our brain as excellent and this will be one of them, especially coming off the Brock Lesnar squash that felt as wonky as the majority of the heel turn.
Dansby: The lack of build for Cena vs. Styles has frustrated some, but context matters. Crown Jewel events are often treated as spectacle-based shows rather than part of WWEs week-to-week continuity. Cena isnt clogging up the title scene anymore, so him checking dream matches off his list doesnt feel disruptive.
This also lines up with Styles entering what many see as the final stretch of his own career. Longtime fans often debated whether Cena or Styles defined the late 2000s era, and now theyll see the clash one more time on a major stage. Even without weeks of promos and angles, the simple star power of Cena vs. Styles gives this match the big fight feel Crown Jewel thrives on.
Sulla-Heffinger: I think the answer here can be both. As youll see in the predictions later, I think Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky walk out as winners here, and they can immediately jump in to challenge Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss for the oft-maligned Womens Tag Team Championships. Thats a big of a match as weve seen in the history of the division.
From what weve seen on Raw, the rift between Asuka and Kairi Sane is growing, so a split there makes sense, with a singles program against one another and potentially a run against Womens World Champion Vaquer for the winner there. When we look at the Raw and SmackDown womens divisions, the edge immensely goes to the red brand, and this match and its options coming out of it is a big reason why.
Dansby: The RhIyo (Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky) vs. Kabuki Warriors tag match might actually have the strongest build of this entire card. The in-ring potential is undeniable. But the lingering question is whether it will elevate the womens tag-team division or simply serve as a springboard to singles programs.
History tells us the latter is more likely. WWE has rarely invested long-term in its womens tag titles. While the Kabuki Warriors could thrive with a proper push, the more natural outcome is a triple-threat singles program between Iyo, Asuka, and Kairi Sane.
Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley looks primed to re-enter the world title picture after this feud wraps. With her star power, WWE will likely want her back as a singles force sooner rather than later.
Riggs: I very much hope to see this build toward a cohesive tag title push for both, because obviously the division always needs teams, and more so, either team against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss would be awesome.
I still firmly believe a mega-feud between Vaquer and Ripley is inevitable, but it can wait while things between Asuka and this whole toxic friendship angle get resolved.
Jackman: Ive made the point a few times elsewhere that Ive been underwhelmed with Rhea Ripleys booking this year. It frustrates me that WWE will happily send her out week after week to get these monstrous pops from the live audience but dont seem willing to give her the kind of massive singles feud that her star power clearly merits. She wasnt even on the last two PLEs for crying out loud.
On that basis, then, my hope for this match is that it serves as the precursor for a juicy feud between Rhea Ripley and Asuka. Preferably one that doesnt just result in The Eradicator putting things to bed with an immediate PLE win as we saw with Ripley vs. Rodriguez a few months ago.
On the other hand, though, wouldnt Rhiyo vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss be one of the biggest womens tag matches in WWE history? I can see them being tempted by that
Jackman: Thats where my money would be. After the big reset at SummerSlam, it looks like WWE is sticking to the path of Cody Rhodes being the self-styled honorable champion. That provides a clear window to have Rollins win this one with some shenanigans, leaving Rhodes to brood about whether he should have fought dirtier.
For obvious reasons, there arent many occasions when WWE can seriously contemplate having Rhodes lose. This one comes with two big advantages. First, the history between the two men means that any defeat particularly an underhand one would add some complexity to Rhodes’ character. Second, it doesnt have any consequences for the Universal Championship.
Sulla-Heffinger: I dont think this match ends clean, which will lead to a Rollins win over Rhodes, protecting both men in the process.
If The Vision is going to survive on Raw, Rollins needs to win here Paul Heyman hinted as much this past Monday. The tension between Heyman and Rollins is a really intriguing aspect of the dominant stable on Raw, so a DQ for Rollins can advance that.
How does that happen, though?
Jey Uso interferes and attacks Rollins, giving him the DQ win over Rhodes and playing into the latest Bloodline angle weve seen develop (and will talk about in a moment). Roman Reigns has essentially been telling Uso go get whats yours, and what better way to jump to the front of the line than to attack Rollins on a PLE? Itll also create/widen a rift with Rhodes, the biggest babyface in the company. Were heading for a full Uso heel turn, this will fast-track it.
Dansby: The Visionarys faction seemed destined for long-term dominance, but recent storylines have teased cracks in the foundation. Each member being pulled into their own singles rivalries hints at possible implosion. Rhodes, however, rarely takes losses, and the company has carefully protected his momentum as he inches toward another WrestleMania main-event run.
If Rhodes wins again, it further alienates Rollins as the supposed leader of his group and deepens the cracks in The Vision. WWE may use this to set the stage for a WarGames showdown in November, keeping the feud hot while escalating the faction drama.
Riggs: Although I mentioned that WWE is better with its PLE finishes, I still have a fear that Brock Lesnar will ruin this match. At the very least, we’ll see him directly at its conclusion. And I would have to think that is to help current “Heyman guy” Rollins before immediately turning on him, considering how the foundation has been laid in recent weeks.
There are interesting paths to take with a win for either, but depending on Rollins’ long-term plans, it should be him. Rhodes is bulletproof, and a loss would be something more unique for his second run as a world champion.
Riggs: Is it interesting, though? We’ve seen this song and dance before, and even though there’s been some Bloodline breathing room this year, it could use a little more.
WWE clearly has no clue what to do with Reigns as a non-champion because it continues to fall back on former rivals or The Bloodline saga. Unless Jimmy Uso emerges from this with a significant boost or appears stronger, I couldn’t care less about this angle because it feels too similar to what we’ve already seen.
Jackman: If we were doing a podcast, Id be attempting a William Regal impression right now. Isnt this the time of the year where everything has to gravitate toward WarGames, even if it means some very contrived plotting or in the case of last years womens match the hasty assembly of some pretty random alliances?
In terms of the reunion, I was intrigued by the hints we saw on Raw about The Usos being out of sync. They were defeated at Wrestlepalooza so I think it makes sense to run with this idea of the Usos not being quite on the same page just yet. Is that how this years WarGames shakes up, with Roman assembling a rusty version of The OG Bloodline to take on The Vision, all while haunted by the ghost of his former Wiseman? I wouldnt say no to that.
Dansby: The Bloodline saga feels endless, and now WWE is circling back to its original core: Roman, Jey and Jimmy Uso.
The latest twist is puzzling. Many assumed the natural move was to reunite the Usos and have them chase the tag-team titles again. Instead, Roman has inserted himself, likely before disappearing for another extended break. The familys constant shifts between loyalty, betrayal, and uneasy alliances keep fans hooked, but the story sometimes risks spinning in circles.
That said, the Bloodline continues to dominate WWEs biggest stories. With WarGames on the horizon, its not hard to imagine a temporary reunion between Roman and the Usos to battle alongside Punk and LA Knight against The Vision, before another betrayal splinters the family once more. The endless cycle is both the Bloodlines weakness and its enduring strength.
Sulla-Heffinger: The Bloodline story arguably the greatest in professional wrestling history works best when the Big Three (Reigns, Jimmy and Jey) are at the center. Im buying into this because, as mentioned above, were going to get new wrinkles in characters that we havent ever seen. Reigns steps in as the de facto Wise Man, guiding a heel Jey Uso.
Heres where things get spicy. While Jey Usos World Heavyweight Championship run was justified, I think the majority of people will agree when I say it wasnt the greatest. The turning point in the build for Jey vs. Gunther at WrestleMania was when Gunther viciously beat Jimmy. Jimmy has always been excellent on the microphone and is very good in the ring. I think we may be looking at a babyface singles run to the top for Jimmy, and while it might not reach the level of pop the Yeet entrance and movement had, theres potential for it to be the better of the two.