WWE Crown Jewel RESULTS: DX top Undertaker and Kane, Hulk Hogan returns, new champion
WWE Crown Jewel featured a series of shockers at the King Saud University Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
Shawn Michaels came back from retirement and reformed D-Generation X with Triple H to take on The Undertaker and Kane in a Tag Team Match.
Brock Lesnar returned to the squared circle to face Braun Strowman for the vacant Universal Championship.
WWE Champion AJ Styles reignited his rivalry with Samoa Joe, who took Daniel Bryan’s place in the major title match.
WWE CROWN JEWEL SAUDI ARABIA CONTROVERSY EXPLAINED
Bryan as well as WWE megastar John Cena were removed from Crown Jewel for unspecified reasons, but rumours suggest they refused to be part of the show in Saudi Arabia who have sparked a global outcry following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and outspoken critic of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Cena was scheduled to compete in the World Cup Tournament, against the likes of Kurt Angle, Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton, The Miz, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio as well as Intercontinental and RAW Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins, but was ultimately replaced by Bobby Lashley.
Relive all the action in our RESULTS page below:
United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura def. Rusev (Kickoff Match)
Rusev came just a whisker away from winning the US Championship but Shinsuke Nakamura picked up a controversial victory.
The Bulgarian Brute hit Nakamura with a devastating Machka Kick just when the champion landed from the second rope.
However, the Japanese megastar managed to kick out just before the referee's hand came down for a three.
Rusev then locked in The Artist in the Accolade but the champion seemed to have hit him between the legs with the back of his head.
It is not yet certain if that was intentional but Nakamura took advantage of the situation and delivered a devastating Kinshasa for the win.
Hulk Hogan returned as WWE Crown Jewel host
Hulk Hogan made his first WWE in-ring appearance since his dismissal three years ago.
Hogan was let go in 2015 after a tape was released showing him making a racist remark but WWE brought him back recently after the WWE Hall of Famer repeatedly apologised for the incident.
The 12-time world champion was very pleased to be back as he saluted his Hulkamaniacs and promised an unforgettable show.
Eight-Man World Cup Tournament First Round - Rey Mysterio def. Randy Orton
Rey Mysterio picked up an upset victory with a stunning Small Package right when Randy Orton was ready to hit an RKO.
But Mysterio then suffered a vicious attack by Orton who hit his victorious opponent with his signature finisher.
The Viper then slammed Mysterio face-first on the announce desk and questions are raised as to how capable he will be to continue fighting tonight.
Eight-Man World Cup Tournament First Round - The Miz def. Jeff Hardy
The Miz became the second Smackdown superstar to make the World Cup semi-finals.
The A-Lister picked up the win after hitting Hardy with a devastating Scull Crushing Finale.
He is now set to face Mysterio who doesn't seem to be fighting fit after the savage attack he suffered at the hands of Orton.
Rey Mysterio makes shock return in WWE Royal Rumble
Eight-Man World Cup Tournament First Round - Seth Rollins def. Bobby Lashley
Seth Rollins picked up a huge victory over Bobby Lashley in the first round of the World Cup.
Lashley dominated most of the match but Rollins found an opening and levelled his much bigger opponent with a Curb Stomp.
He will now face either Kurt Angle or Dolph Ziggler in the next round.
Eight-Man World Cup Tournament First Round - Dolph Ziggler def. Kurt Angle
Dolph Ziggler advanced to the World Cup semi-finals where he will face his nemesis Rollins.
Kurt Angle put together a valiant effort as he hit his opponent with an Angle Slam and almost made him tap out to the Ankle Lock.
Ziggler though managed to fight back and delivered a vicious Zig Zag for the win.
The Showoff will now resume his war with Rollins, with whom he feuded for the Intercontinental as well as RAW Tag Team Championships.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar def. The New Day
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the belts against The New Day thanks to Big Show's help.
Big E was clocked in the head by The World's largest Athlete KO Punch and then Sheamus hit him with a devastating Brogue Kick.
The Bar picked up the victory but their war with Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods is probably not over yet.
Eight-Man World Cup Semi-finals - The Miz def. Rey Mysterio
Mysterio put together a herculean effort following a savage attack by Orton in their first-round match.
However, The Master of the 619 couldn't overcome The Miz even though he kicked out of a Scull Crushing Finale.
Mysterio came close to victory as he delivered a 619, however The A-Lister got his knees up just when the luchador tried to hit him with the Frogsplash.
If The Miz doesn't beat his RAW opponent in the final he will be fired by Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon
Eight-Man World Cup Semi-finals - Dolph Ziggler def. Seth Rollins
Ziggler will face The Miz in the World Cup Final after beating his nemesis Rollins.
The Showoff, though, had helped from his associate Drew McIntyre once more as he pushed The Kingslayer from the top rope.
That allowed Ziggler to hit his opponent with a Zig Zag for the win.
He later promised to beat The Miz and prove the entire world wrong once again.
WWE superstar AJ Styles launches scathing off-air attack on producers
WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Samoa Joe
AJ Styles picked up another big win over Samoa Joe, who replaced Daniel Bryan after the Smackdown superstar was removed from Crown Jewel.
Joe came close to winning his first world title in WWE when he locked in the Coquina Clutch on his opponent.
However, The Phenomenal One took advantage of the challenger's bad leg and applied pressure on it until he escaped the clutch.
Styles then hit Joe with the Phenomenal Forearm and picked up the win to extend his stunning title reign.
Brock Lesnar def. Braun Strowman for the vacant Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar made history in Saudi Arabia as he became he first ever two-time Universal Champion.
Lesnar had an early advantage in the match as Acting RAW General Manager Baron Corbin wacked Braun Strowman in the back of his head with the Universal Championship.
Strowman was unable to build up any offence as he suffered a whopping five F5s, one of which took place at ringside.
The Beast's next appearance is now unknown as he seems to be training for a UFC comeback in order to challenge Daniel Cormier for the Heavyweifht Championship.
Shane McMahon wins World Cup Tournament
Shane McMahon shocked the WWE Universe when he took The Miz's place in the final after the Smackdown superstar picked up an injury before the bell and was unable to face Ziggler.
McMahon replaced him despite The Showoff and Corbin's protests as the Smackdown Commissioner was never part of the tournament and didn't have a match earlier on.
Ziggler almost picked up the win when he hit the former European Champion with a Zig Zag but his opponent kicked out at two.
Shane then regained control of the match and picked up the win when he hit the RAW superstar with Coast-to-Coast.
WWE Crown Jewel: John Cena pulls out of Saudi Arabia event
Triple H & Shawn Michaels def. The Undertaker & Kane
Shawn Michaels made a triumphant return to a WWE ring after over eight years in retirement as he and his D-Generation X partner Triple H defeated the legendary Brothers of Destruction.
Michaels put together an impressive performance as he took some serious bumps, performed a stunning Moonsault at ringside and also hit both The Undertaker and Kane with Sweet Chin Music.
The match looked like it would go either way as Taker and The Big Red Machine were ready to ht both DX leaders with a Tombstone Piledriver.
However, The Heartbreak Kid thumbed Kane's eye and hit both his opponents with his signature Superkick finisher.
Triple H delivered a Pedigree to The Big Red Monster and picked up the win for his team.
WHAT HAPPENED AT CROWN JEWEL?
WWE Crown Jewel kicked off with the return of Hulk Hogan who was named as the show’s guest host.
Hogan hadn’t been seen in a WWE ring since his dismissal in 2015 when a leaked tape showed him making racist remarks.
Rey Mysterio, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins made it to the World Cup semi-finals after eliminating Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and Bobby Lashley respectively.
The Bar successfully defended the Smackdown Tag Team Championships against The New Day with the help of Big Show once more.
Sheamus and Cesaro became the second title-holders to retain their belts that night as US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev in the pre-show earlier on.
WWE Crown Jewel: John Cena pulls out of Saudi Arabia event
The Miz and Ziggler than made it to the World Cup Final after beating Mysterio and Rollins respectively.
AJ Styles was supposed to defend the WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan but the challenger was replaced by Samoa Joe.
Styles defeated Joe once more in a gruelling match thanks to the Phenomenal Forearm.
Bryan and John Cena were removed from the event for unspecified reasons but rumours suggest they refused to take part in the controversial event as the host nation Saudi Arabia has sparked a global outcry following the murder of journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul.
Brock Lesnar became a two-time Universal Champion when he beat Braun Strowman two weeks after former champion Roman Reigns announced he has leukaemia and vacated the belt.
Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon stunned the crowd when he replaced the injured Miz in the World Cup Final and defeated Ziggler for the trophy.
The show closed with the returning Shawn Michaels and Triple H defeating The Undertaker and Kane in a brutal encounter.
Michaels put together an incredible performance and The Game picked up the win for his team when he delivered a devastating Pedigree to The Big Red Machine.
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