Coming into this weekend’s WWE Crown Jewel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, many feared it was dangerous move given the unrest inside the country and the recent bombings at the airport. The concern and welfare for the WWE superstars and those behind the scenes that did travel to the Middle East was of utmost concerns to longtime fans.

Luckily, the WWE put on their latest PLE on Saturday, November 7 and got out of the country in time, before a missile strike hit on Sunday, November 8.

Crown Jewel 2026 featured a showstopping main event between Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, the long-awaited punt kick by Cody Rhodes to the head of Randy Orton, a Money in the Bank cash-in, and new Men’s Tag Team champs.

Let’s take a look at what went down and give you our top 4 takeaways on the four match card that was streamed on ESPN Unlimited.

Photo: WWE

A TRUE UCE

In Riyadh, Sami Zayn was the hometown favorite even though he is the heel. Zayn is of Syrian-decent, and he delivered probably his best in-ring performance of his career facing the Tribal Chief, the OTC, Roman Reigns, with many in the attendance also lifting their ones to the sky.

The Crown Jewel matches as is tradition feature champion vs. champion of Raw and Smackdown. While no title is on the line, the Crown Jewel winners receive a magnificent belt and a ring.

It should be mentioned, once again, that there is no one better right in the ring right now, who can deliver their character and tell a story better than Roman Reigns. Everything he does in the moment moves the in-ring story forward.

At Crown Jewel, it took everything the Tribal Chief had to defeat the WWE champion Sami Zayn, who just refused to go down until Reigns finally hit yet one more spear. Throughout the match, Zayn even copied the OTC’s signature moves, Superman Punch and all!

In the end, and after all the back and forth, Reigns was able to secure the pin. But, it was the aftermath that had everyone talking. Zayn refused to leave the ring before getting an acknowledgement from the OTC. He demanded a handshake. But to everyone’s surprise, Reigns did him one better and gave Sami a hug.

The pièce de résistance came when Reigns called Zayn a true “Uce.” This harkened back to the original Bloodline storyline when Sami was called an “Honorary Uce” because he was not a real brother or cousin. With this decision by Reigns, could that mean that Zayn might be called upon to help the Bloodline fight the 946 at War Games? More to come.

Photo: WWE

CODY PUNTS, BUT IN THE END DOES IT MATTER?

As they say in the song “Cell Block Tango” from the musical Chicago, “He had it coming!” Randy Orton finally got the highly-awaited punk kick to the head in the Last Man Standing Match with Cody Rhodes, which served as the end of the trilogy to their botched feud.

In what can only be deemed as a lackluster opening bout between these two megastars, it felt slow and plodding. The crowd in Riyadh was firmly behind Orton, while they often booed Rhodes. The question was, how far would Rhodes go in the match? Would he completely snap and turn heel?

After failed ten counts to win inside and outside the ring and the arena floor by both men, Rhodes countered an attempted RKO into two back-to-back Cross Rhodes. The second nicked Orton’s head on the steel steps that Rhodes brought in earlier. Orton was bleeding. Next, Cody make referee Charles Robinson stop the count, so he could set up the punt to the head, this time with no hesitation.

Cody struck Orton and knocked out The Viper to end the match. The most interesting moment occurred as Cody walked from the ring up the ramp and the cameras showed a well-played moment by Rhodes. In it, he played the conflict of the realization of what he just stooped to, but how he sort of liked it. Many are hoping a heel turn is just a moment away, but is it?

However in the post show, Rhodes said that this feud with Randy took all the joy he once had for pro wrestling, and because of it he wants to do something light and fun. So, he asked Rey Mysterio to led him lead Team USA against Team Mexico at Survivor Series. The answer should come this week. A disappointing match and confusion to where Cody and Randy go next reign supreme!

Photo: WWE

TIFFY TIME UNWANTED

This went down as we had predicted on our  What’s Up? Wrestling Crown Jewel Prediction Show. Chelsea Green just can’t catch a break for too long and now she is betrayed by her “bestie” with a Money in the Bank briefcase to the head after getting one up on Liv Morgan.

Throughout the Morgan vs. Green Women’s champion vs. champion match-up, Liv continued to berate and talk down to Green. At one point during the match, Liv’s Judgment Day stablemates Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez showed up at ringside, and Morgan told them to shoo! She said she can handle Chelsea all by herself, but that proved costly. Green was able to roll up Morgan for the victory.

Triple H enters the ring and gives Green the Crown Jewel belt and ring. Next, Chelsea addressed the crowd expressing, “Thirteen years I was overlooked, and we did it, baby.”

Suddenly, Liv Morgan attacks her. Even more suddenly, Tiffany Stratton’s music hits and she comes out making it look like she is going to cash in on Morgan. The Judgment Day gals save Liv, but then Tiffany hits her friend Chelsea in the head with the briefcase. She tells the ref that she is cashing in on Chelsea Green.

Tiffany does her patented moonsault finisher and that’s all she wrote. Tiffany is the new WWE Women’s champion and for good measure she takes Green’s just won Crown Jewel belt and ring and reveals it’s “Tiffy Time.” The problem with this finish is you could see it coming a mile away.

Photo: WWE

LOST THE VISION

Current beloved babyfaces, Je’Von Evans and Penta added tag team titles to their waists after defeating Vision members: Bron Breakker and Austin Theory.

The match had plenty of interference, in particular from The Vision’s Bronson Reed who wound up getting payback from Oba Femi when he showed up to take him out leveling the playing field.

In the end, Penta delivered a Mexican Destroyer while Evans finished the match with an OG Cutter. Now, Evans won his first title in more than 1,0000 days. The final shot at the ring ramp of Femi raising the arms of Evans and Penta in victory showcased the future of the WWE.

With this lost, it stands to reason, Bron Breakker has to “break” away from the Vision and go off on his own. He’s too good and can be utilized back in the singles title pictures. This faction has been plagued with injuries since day one. It’s time to let the likes of Logan Paul (when he is set to return from injury) and Breakker go back to being on the upper card.

OVERALL GRADES

CROWN JEWEL 2026: C+

BEST MATCH: Reigns vs. Zayn: A

WORST MATCH: Rhodes vs. Orton C-

Check out the Crown Jewel 2026 video highlights below, followed by the What’s Up? Wrestling’s Post Show.

Now let us know: What did you think of Crown Jewel 2026? What was your favorite match? Favorite WWE Superstar in it? Least favorite match? Overall grade? Tell us in the comment section.

The motto, “I believe in Joe Hendry” is catching on even outside the WWE Universe! The Scottish-born pro wrestler is having a banner October (well not so much on this week’s Monday Night Raw), but with the release of his new album Beyond Belief and appearing in WWE’s first-ever microdrama Agent of Shadows in its partnership with vertical leader ReelShort.

On Friday, October 23, ReelShort launched Agent of Shadows on its mobile-first storytelling platform that is available in more than 100 countries, reaching more than 70 million monthly active users.

Hendry joins fellow WWE stars Drew McIntrye, Jacob Fatu, plus Booker T, Michael Hayes and Nikkita Lyon and more in the cast as they mix it up with microdrama leading men, Chase Mattson and Marc Herrman, in the action-packed series.

Photo: ReelShort

A NEW FRONTIER FOR WWE SUPERSTARS

As the story begins, the world’s greatest secret agent must protect and care for his 6-year-old daughter while posing as her nanny. Now, without revealing his true identity, he must win his daughter’s (and her mother’s) trust, while secretly thwarting corrupt suitors, mafioso strongmen and even a megalomaniacal billionaire who’s using his family to get to him. What could go wrong?

Michael Fairman TV chatted with Hendry on his ascension and rise in the ranks of the WWE, bringing his brand of satire, music and singing to sports entertainment, plus his thoughts on branching out into the acting world of motion pictures, microdramas and more. The full conversation can be seen with Joe on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Photo: ReelShort

JOE HENDRY ON PLAYING … JOE HENDRY

Unlike the other WWE superstars in Agent of Shadows, Hendry is taking on the role of … himself! Seems like it may not be then been too much of a stretch to play or is it? Joe explained, “I don’t know how much of this I’m allowed to reveal, so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of fun in discovering what that is. But what I will reveal is what I think is the best thing about my involvement … everyone else plays a character and I play Joe Hendry. So, I’m very pleased about that.”

Speaking on his background, Joe explained, “For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been a wrestler for 14 years, but I kind of had a mainstream crossover in 2024 when my music video became a meme. It did really well in the charts.  I’ve now been able to carry that forward and I’m in one of those positions where I can just appear as myself.”

“This is the first film-type project I’ve been a part of,” elaborated Hendry. “I think that’s why WWE stars crossover so well into movies, because we’re so used to having to do everything in one take, whereas in Hollywood you may get as many takes as you need. In microdramas, you can look at these chapters as well. So, let’s say you manage to get through the first give chapters on your way to work or whatever, you can always come back to that. I think’s its a smart combination for storytelling.”

Photo: WWE

NEW LP TRACK LIST INCLUDES ‘FIRE LOGAN PAUL’

Back on October 5, Hendry released his LP Beyond Belief filled with hilarious and clever send-ups. The track list includes: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Fire Logan Paul (the social media phenom and pro wrestler), Give Joe Hendry Every Single Belt and more. Hendry added one more favorite, that is his latest single and music video!

“The other main one is If You Don’t Love Joe Hendry, and the lyrics are, ‘If you don’t love Joe Hendry, then, you’re a useless piece of … ‘ So, I think we should fire Logan Paul, and I think we should give Joe Hendry every single belt. I just think these are sensible messages we have to get out to the world.”

The album was completed in what some would consider lighting speed! “We had a lot of fun recording these, but it was done so fast. It was actually a lot of pressure to get it done. I wrote the album except Fire Logan Paul in a span of four days.  It was pretty intense. We recorded all the vocals in five hours, which is insane,” recalled Joe. “But it’s kind of what I was talking about before. In WWE, everything is done live. We do not have retakes. So, I think being a WWE superstar has prepared me well for producing other forms of media quickly.”

Photo: WWE

TEENAGE DREAMS BECOME A REALITY WRESTLING RANDY ORTON

Back in the squared circle, Hendry has been in a feud with the Judgment Day, and in particular of late with JD McDonaugh on Raw. But taking a look at his rise from NXT to TNA to WWE, Joe reflected on his heart-stopping moment at WrestleMania 41 against one of his legends, Randy Orton.

“I remember being 15 and kind of imagining being a pro wrestler. I also remember specifically thinking, ‘What if I had a feud with Randy Orton?’ And then, I became a wrestler when I was just about to turn 25 and all these years later, it happened!

“It such an unlikely story,” said Joe of getting the call he would be facing the 14-time WWE champion. He added, “I’m so grateful that I’ve had that moment early on in my WWE career and it kind of takes the pressure off, because it doesn’t get any bigger than that. So now, I can focus on my goal which is just to get better all the time; improve as a wrestler all the time. I can see the progression in myself. I’m gaining skills and confidence all the time.”

Photo: WWE

SHOULD JOE STAY GOOD OR TURN BAD?

The proverbial question had to be asked, “Does Joe prefer being a babyface or would he like to see a heel turn? Hendry replied, “Interesting question. Never say never. You just never know. Anything can happen in the WWE. It’s funny, originally, my character was designed by me to be hated, and people just happened to like it! You can’t force it. The audience is going to tell you. They are a huge part in dictating our paths as wrestlers.”

Check out Joe in Agent of Shadows by visiting ReelShort.com to download the ReelShort app on Apple and Android devices. You can also check out @ReelShort on YouTube.

You can also watch our full conversation with Joe Hendry now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Now let us know, will you check out WWE’s first microdrama, Agent of Shadows? Do you get a kick out of Joe Hendry’s songs and how it relates to his feuds in the WWE and his rise in the ranks of pro wrestling? Hoping Joe stays a babyface or would you like to see him turn heel? Weigh-in via the comment section.

Money in the Bank is always one of the most highly anticipated PLE’s of the year in the WWE, and for the WWE Universe. The winners of the Men’s and Women’s ladder matches get to carry around the coveted briefcase, which they can cash in at anytime in the next year and on any current champion. But, did the WWE creatives get it right in 2026? We half think so!

In addition, 3 other major matches were on the card emanating from New Orleans on Sunday night, October 1o, including two championship bouts where in one case the title changed hands, but again, to the right winner?

Let’s give you a breakdown of the action in a card that featured highs, lows, botched spots, but plenty of talent on display!

Photo: WWE

Roman Reigns defended his WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the opener against LA Knight

This was overall one of the strongest matches of the night. Reigns and Knight delivered near pins and counters that had fans believing for a millisecond that the OTC might actually lose to Knight, who if he didn’t win, would have his main-eventer status in question, and if he would ever get a championship opportunity again.

In the end, Reigns got a clean pin finish, and Knight was left reeling off the ring apron as the audience acknowledged their OTC one more time. Suddenly, at the top of the arena entrance, the 946 emerged and right behind them the Bloodline. The trios then got into a brawl inside the concession stand area of the arena, which eventually took them outside where Jaida Parker, picked up the men in their vehicle and drove away.

We were hoping that somehow, LA Knight would have been revealed in a quick switch to be with the 946. But that has to be coming to save the career of Knight, who has nowhere to go right now as a babyface, right? Kudos though to Roman Reigns who remains the greatest current attraction on the WWE active roster.

Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match

While this could have gone numerous ways with Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez, as the kind of veterans of the group, this was rough match which early on had a spot where Stratton almost knocked herself out when she did a dive from a ladder to the outside of the ring, crashing into her opponents, but landing oddly on her head.

The MVP of this match turned out to be Sol Ruca, who landed some exciting moves off the ladder, with the ladder, and off the ring post to the outside. However, there was also another odd spot that had Lola Vice and Jacy Jayne taking a bad-looking spill on ladder that landed them awkwardly on the outside of the ring.

While the red-hot crowd was definitely behind Roxanne Perez, in the end the powers-that-be knighted Tiffany Stratton to grab the briefcase and become a two-time MITB winner having won back in 2024. On her way to victory, Stratton was facing off with Lash Legend, who actually seemed not high enough to get clunked in the head with the briefcase. In the end, Stratton came out victorious.

Oba Femi vs. Bronson Reed

The cliffhanger coming into this match seemed to be from the opening shot of Paul Heyman watching Oba Femi and Bronson Reed on a monitor. Would Heyman align himself with Femi, or continue to do for Reed and the Vision? Well, we won’t know till perhaps tomorrow’s Monday Night Raw, because they never included Heyman in another section of the match or its aftermath.

That being said, Reed gave one of his best performances of his career, really working and selling the moves, and the beatdowns from Femi. It’s clear that WWE is banking on Femi as their next superhero, superstar, so when the Vision came to ringside to interfere, even after getting hit twice with brass knucks courtesy of Austin Theory passing them on to Reed, it did not matter.

The WWE is showing us nothing you do to Femi can keep him down. He’s an invincible force. At the end of the match, Femi got the pin on Reed. In the WWE Post Show, Oba appeared, and in his drop-the-mic moment says he is waiting for Roman Reigns who can’t keep running from him. Many are predicting that match won’t happen until WrestleMania 2027. Stay tuned.

Photo: WWE

Women’s World Heavyweight Championship Triple-Threat: Stephanie Vaquer defends against Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch

The audience for this match was very cooled-down as opposed to all the others on the card thus far. Vaquer asked for this triple threat after having it up to here with both Lynch and Morgan. Vaquer won the title in her home country of Chile from Morgan with Lynch as the special referee.

At the end of the day, Vaquer knocked Becky Lynch off the apron through a table on the floor (which did not break!), and Morgan immediately capitalized by hitting her patented Oblivion inisher on La Primera to secure the pin and the win.

The WWE universe has been questioning this move. If you were going to have Morgan win back the WWE World’s Women’s title, why wouldn’t they have had Roxanne Perez win the Women’s Money in the Bank to cause dissension among the ranks and a storyline within the Judgment Day where Perez could cash-in on her stablemate? Is this the missed opportunity? Stand by.

MEN’S MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH

Going into this match, it had all the intrigue. Would the creatives give the Money in the Bank briefcase to Bron Breakker, the bad ass. to have him go on an uber-threatening run in the WWE with all the power the briefcase holds to win a championship? Would they go with Penta, who showed just how beloved and remarkable he is as a performer after his championship match against Roman Reigns in Mexico City? Would they chose to make CM Punk, the first ever three-time Money in the Bank winner in history?

All of that was at play, plus Trick Williams, Kevin Owens and Je’Von Evans as well. When the smoke cleared, it was Bron Breakker who showed why he was the MVP of the match with spear after spear and takedowns. If he does not break away from The Vision after this, I don’t know what was the point, because in the end he did not get the job done and win the briefcase.

Trick Williams seemed to be the crowd favorite throughout and together with Lil Yachty gave us some fun and entertaining moments. KO and Punk, just kept beating each other up. And this leaves the Je’Von Evans story point.

Photo: WWE

Breakker spears Evans outside the ring. Evans “appears” to be hurt. They take him out on stretcher and load him into an ambulance. We go to the back (first sign we are in kayfabe) and RAW GM Adam Pearce is there making sure they get Evans to a hospital fast.

However, that was not the last we saw of Evans. Suddenly an ambulance makes it way all the way back to ringside, and Je’Von jumps out of it and goes after Breakker. Then alone in the ring, he seems to have trouble with three ladders. We are not sure if one was broken, but he gets an incredibly tall ladder all set up to climb it to retrieve the briefcase.

However, Breakker is back in the ring and pushed Evans off of the ladder and Je’Von goes flying into the middle section of the ambulance which crumbles. WWE playback kept repeating the move, which didn’t help this spot go over one bit.

Photo: WWE

In the end, it was Penta who was able to climb the ladder and win the briefcase, leaving the audience at home, the fans in attendance, and the WWE Universe leaving the Money in the Bank PLE on a big up note! Penta was the feel-good choice and they gave it to us.

You can check out the full highlights from Money in the Bank below, followed by the Michael Fairman Channel’s “What’s Up? Wrestling” MITB Post Show.

So, what did you think of the 2026 Money in the Bank? Happy for Penta and Tiffany Stratton? Would you have preferred others to win the briefcase? What do you think will happen next for LA Knight now that he lost to Roman Reigns? What did you think of Liv Morgan winning back the Women’s World title? Let us know via the the comment section.