Hello everyone, this is @TheMagnumDA with the first of two Pick’em reports this month! Tonight, the WWE will present Crown Jewel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There’s some of us who rightfully have their reservations about this show, but that’s another conversation for another time. We wish everyone on those flights an abundance of safety and smooth travels, both to your destination and back home.

One of the perks of being WOPC Champion (and writing the Pick’em reports) is that I get to make up the rules as we go along. For today’s event, Colin and I are going to put a twist on an old favorite – we’re going to have another Confidence Pool Pick’em, but the points are going to be doubled since there’s only four advertised matches on the card…that said, you never know!

There could be more than four matches on this show, depending on who flew out to Riyadh with their Money in the Bank contract. In fact, there might even be a Bonus Question about it at the end of this report! With that in mind, it’s time for yours truly to defend the WOPC Championship.

What are we waiting for? ON WITH THE PICKS!

Last Man Standing
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Colin: Let’s hope this is the end of the feud for these two. Time to move on to something new. They had a decent build for this match to be fair, but still, I don’t want them in the ring together again for a while. If this is the blow-off match, I’m expecting Cody to come out on top. 6 points.

Magnum: I would imagine this is the end of their saga, if HHH vs. Orton from 2009 taught us anything. This has been such a strange couple of months – this was the WWE Championship match at Mania this year (and it landed with a thud), and yet 7 months later, these guys can’t seem to escape each other. I do feel like between the two, Cody would be the one who gets right back into the title picture with a win here. I’m going to take Cody in this one, and I’m going to put 8 big points on it.

World Tag Team Championship (Raw)
The Vision (Bron Breakker and Austin Theory) (c) vs. Penta and Je’Von Evans

Colin: I can’t see them giving this to Penta and Evans. Penta will have bigger fish to fry soon with that Money in the Bank contract in hand and I’d be willing to put money on a successful cash in. But anyway, as much as The Vision has fizzled out, Breakker and Theory will walk out with the titles. 4 points.

Magnum: To me, this is the tough pick. I am inclined to believe that there is something really big planned for Penta soon (see bonus question below). If that’s the case, I don’t see him walking out of Crown Jewel with two titles, though that would be pretty incredible. Let’s just say this – if the World Tag Titles don’t change hands, then I think we’re going to have some kind of cash-in later in the night. Keeping that in mind, let’s go with The Vision to hold on to the tag straps in a very close but entertaining title defense. 2 points on it.

Women’s Crown Jewel Championship
Liv Morgan (Women’s World Champion – Raw) vs. Chelsea Green (WWE Women’s Champion – SmackDown)

Colin: The greatest women’s champion of aaaaaaaallllllllll time already has a Crown Jewel championship to her name from 2024. But there’s nothing in the rule book that says you can’t win it twice! Yes, from how this has unfolded on TV, it would make sense to give Chelsea Green the win here, but I have a feeling that Liv will come out on top again. 2 points.

Magnum: This has been a fascinating build…Judgment Day has been cutting down Chelsea at every turn, mocking her title reign and treating her like an afterthought. Even though the oddsmakers are starting to lean towards Liv Morgan, I have a feeling that Chelsea is going to get her retribution this weekend. Give me Chelsea Green to win this match, and I’ll put 4 points on it.

WWE Crown Jewel Championship
Roman Reigns (World Heavyweight Champion – Raw) vs. Sami Zayn (Undisputed WWE Champion – SmackDown)

Colin: It would be nice to see Sami Zayn get a win over Roman Reigns considering their history. Will it happen? I personally think it’s highly unlikely. The 946 might interfere here and maybe help Zayn, but this is Roman Reigns we’re talking about and the man rarely loses. Roman wins. 8 points.

Magnum: Another situation where the oddsmakers favor Roman Reigns in a big way – one thing worth pointing out, though. In recent WWE storylines over the last few years, there’s been a big emphasis on injured wrestlers losing. For example, Je’Von’s taped ribs or Gable selling the neck injury before losing the Intercontinental Championship to Ethan Page on the most recent Raw. In this match, I think Roman is going to sell the beating that 946 gave him. All signs point to The Bloodline winning War Games later this month, so for tonight I’m going to take Sami Zayn in a shocker! 6 points on it.

Additional Bonus YES or NO Question – Worth 3 Points if Correct!

Will there be a Money in the Bank Cash-In Attempt at this Show?
(Teases do not count! The Match *must* take place during Crown Jewel)

Colin: No. It would be stupid to do it at this show to be completely honest. Save it for a bigger show which means something.

Magnum: YES, but I have no idea who’s going to do it, and who they’re going to do it on. I would imagine that the more likely scenario involves Penta cashing in on Roman to take the title off of him for the rest of the year. Then again, it could be Tiffy Time…(?)

All right everyone, that’s going to do it for the Pick’em Crew! Enjoy the show and we’ll see you later this month for Survivor Series: War Games! @TheMagnumDA signing off.