Logan Paul might not be able to follow up his Crown Jewel performance for a while

Alas, injuries are a pretty common part of pro wrestling too.

After dazzling viewers with another stellar performance in a losing effort against Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel, Logan Paul probably couldn’t be blamed if he wanted to return to the ring at another big event as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, it appears his next match will have to wait.

As Paul himself shared on social media Saturday night, he damaged his right knee during his attempt to upset Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Reigns. He said the prognosis was a torn meniscus and MCL, with his ACL potentially torn as well.

Paul was competing in only his third WWE match at the event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a fact that all involved used to help promote it, framing his chances of winning as being able to land “one lucky shot.” In truth, the social media personality proved again that he has talent and a knack for pro wrestling that belies his inexperience, hanging with Reigns over nearly 25 minutes and both executing and selling maneuvers much more effectively than anyone would have the right to expect.

He also took impressive risks, including using his phone to film himself launching into a splash from the top turnbuckle to land on Reigns on one of the announce tables on the floor.

But injuries are an unavoidable part of pro wrestling, and Paul seems to have learned that the hard way in Riyadh. A torn meniscus means it could be six months before he’s able to return to any in-ring action, while an ACL tear would mean even more time on the shelf.

Still, Paul can take time to recuperate secure in the knowledge that the pro wrestling world will look forward to his return. And having experienced both the highs and lows of the business in one night, he’ll know for sure whether he wants to push forward and become a more common presence in WWE over the rest of his multi-year deal.

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WWE Crown Jewel 2022 results: Logan Paul looks for the ultimate upset of Roman Reigns

Get full WWE Crown Jewel 2022 results, as Logan Paul takes on Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

Underdog stories of people beating long odds to become champion are some of the most basic building blocks of pro wrestling. Yet there are few quite like the one that’s about to play out in the main event of WWE Crown Jewel.

Logan Paul has a massive social media following and has impressed in his first few appearances in a WWE ring. But “few” is doing a lot of work in that sentence, as he had only two official matches before challenging Roman Reigns, he of the two-plus-year run as Universal Champion.

It’s not wonder that WWE has framed Paul’s chances as whether he can land “one lucky shot,” as well as dubious things like suggesting that the screws he’s had inserted into his hands for surgical reasons somehow make him a feared KO artist. There’s no denying, however, that there’s a level of intrigue around this match that there might not be with a more standard challenger.

Part of that is because the weekly saga of Reigns’ family, the Bloodline, has been the most consistently entertaining part of WWE programming for months. It will be fun to see if the various members of the faction are on the same page, especially since The Usos have their own history to worry about when they defend their undisputed tag team titles.

There are other big matches on this card as well, including Bianca Belair and Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match and what should be a straight-ahead collision between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley. Will they prove enticing enough for people who tend to skip WWE’s annual Saudi Arabian showcase to tune in?

If you aren’t planning on watching this afternoon/morning, bookmark this page and check back as we’ll update it with the latest WWE Crown Jewel results as they go down.

Roman Reigns will have to deal with Jake Paul too at Crown Jewel

Now there’s twice as much chance for “one lucky punch,” or so it would seem.

One Paul brother shouldn’t be that much of an issue for Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel, given their vast gap in experience. But what about two?

As revealed during the official Crown Jewel press conference (h/t to Wrestling Observer), Jake Paul will be in the corner of his brother Logan Paul for his attempt to upset Reigns. The younger Paul sibling has been an even more active boxer (with a 6-0 pro record) than Logan, and WWE can no doubt have some fun with his potential to KO Reigns or any members of the Bloodline on hand.

After his introduction by Logan, Jake hyped up the crowd on hand at the press conference as Reigns complained to his special counsel, Paul Heyman.

“My brother’s about to get this ‘W’ tomorrow,” said Jake Paul. “Inshallah, my brother will do the unthinkable and beat Roman Reigns.”

Jake Paul also taunted Heyman about his prediction that MMA legend Anderson Silva would win by knockout when they fought on Oct. 29. Though it was a back and forth affair, Jake Paul won by unanimous decision, even knocking Silva down in the eighth and final round.

While Logan Paul signed a multi-year, multi-event deal with WWE earlier this year, it’s not known whether Jake Paul is considering something similar. On one of her recent gaming streams, Ronda Rousey expressed her support for the company to bring in Jake Paul as well, and even explained why she thought having Logan Paul beat Reigns made sense to her.

Not many people will expect that outcome even with Jake Paul in his brother’s corner, but having him there does give WWE a lot more possibilities to play off the Bloodline, which has been at the center of its most entertaining segments in recent weeks. And there’s always the chance his presence will draw in a few more eyeballs, which isn’t bad for anyone involved either.

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WWE Crown Jewel preview: When and where it’s going down, what to expect

Prepare yourself for WWE Crown Jewel 2022 with our full preview, including the start time, card and predictions for every match.

It’s fight week in WWE, and if you feel like that’s a slightly strange way to phrase things heading into WWE Crown Jewel, that’s only because that’s sort of the way the company is promoting its latest Saudi Arabia show.

Take a look at the image above to see what we mean. The Logan Paul vs. Roman Reigns match that will headline the card is being presented a bit more like a heavyweight boxing match than a traditional WWE wrestling match. Perhaps that should come as no surprise since social media superstar Paul has dabbled in the sweet science before (and his brother Jake even more so).

The “puncher’s chance” concept is also right at the heart of how Paul is being pushed as posing even the slightest threat to the most dominant WWE champion in years. It’s a smart move on the part of the creative team, though whether it will pull in people who wouldn’t otherwise watch Crown Jewel remains to be seen.

Even though Vince McMahon has been gone for months, it feels like he would enjoy the rest of the Crown Jewel card, seeing as it has multiple bouts pitting two large human beings against each other, including Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross, Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman vs Omos.

There’s also a bout that feels like it could be the show-stealer as Bianca Belair puts her Raw Women’s Championship on the line against Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match. And The Usos will tempt fate and history by defending their undisputed tag team titles as they approach the longest reign of all time.

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If you’re looking forward to Crown Jewel, the most important thing to remember is that because its being held in Saudi Arabia, the time difference means this is a daytime event for fans in North America, beginning at lunch time in the east and at morning coffee time in the west.

WWE Crown Jewel 2022

  • When: Saturday, November 5
  • Where: Mrsool Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Start time: 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 7

Keep scrolling for our complete WWE Crown Jewel preview, including the stories behind every match and what to expect.

If Ronda Rousey was booking Crown Jewel, she’d have Logan Paul beat Roman Reigns

Rowdy also thinks WWE should get Jake Paul involved.

Ronda Rousey has some interesting ideas for how she’d book one of the more high profile upcoming WWE matches.

Speaking during one of her recent gaming streams while playing God of War, the SmackDown Women’s Champion gave her hot take on the WWE Crown Jewel main event: She’d have Logan Paul defeat Roman Reigns.

The Baddest Woman on the Planet explained her reasoning, and it went well beyond shock value (h/t to Fightful for the transcription).

“Honestly, you know what, If I was booking it, I would have Logan Paul beat Roman Reigns,” Rousey said. “I would. For whatever plethora of reasons, he’s one of the biggest draws right now. You want to be able to put him over. You want to legitimize him. Roman Reigns doesn’t have anybody to feud with right now. That would give Roman Reigns something to do and would actually elevate Roman Reigns to be in a back-and-forth with Logan Paul.”

Her thinking also involved getting Paul’s brother Jake — arguably an even more natural heel than Logan — into the WWE scene as well. And it would eventually lead to a face turn for the Bloodline that would build all the way to WrestleMania 39.

“If I was booking it, Logan Paul looks great, Roman Reigns starts to cheat, the Bloodline gets involved and Jake Paul comes out to even the odds and Logan Paul goes over,” Rousey said. “It would get people all pissed off, it would get both the Paul brothers involved, it would get them heel. You have to get them heel as quickly as possible because that’s what they are great at. That’s how I would book it. Then I would make them tag champs. I would take all the gold from Bloodline and give it to the Paul brothers, then the Bloodline fights to get it back and build to Mania.”

Rousey went on to say that the best way to keep the Paul brothers interested in WWE would be to “put them over hardcore and make it so they want to make this their home,” as it pays less than they are making boxing. Both Logan and Jake have found lucrative matchups for themselves in boxing, mostly against somewhat questionable opposition — though Logan Paul did emerge mostly unscathed from an exhibition bout with Floyd Mayweather, considered by many to be the best boxer of his generation.

All this, of course, assumes WWE would be interested in the Paul brothers as long term members of the roster. But that’s not a huge leap given that Logan has already signed a multi-event deal with the company and has impressed during his first two official matches.

No one really expects Paul to end Reigns’ historic run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but you have to hand it to Rousey for giving some well thought out reasons for why WWE might at least consider shocking the world on Nov. 5.

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Report: Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul expected for Crown Jewel

Logan Paul vs. Roman Reigns was not on our pro wrestling bingo card to start 2022.

That was fast.

Just days after Roman Reigns appeared on the IMPAULSIVE podcast with Logan Paul, and Paul made comments about how he thought he’d beat Reigns, it appears a match between the two will headline WWE’s upcoming premium live event in Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel.

Wrestling Observer reports that WWE will have a press conference this Saturday, Sept. 17, that will confirm the show’s main event.

Dave Meltzer reports that WWE is holding a press conference in Las Vegas this Saturday to announce the main event for its November 5 Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia. Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul is planned to headline the PPV.

It’s an interesting spot to entrust to a relative wrestling newcomer like Paul, though the social media superstar and podcast host has impressed with his in-ring ability in his first few WWE appearances. Paul teamed with The Miz to defeat The Mysterios at WrestleMania in April, then emerged victorious in his first singles match by pinning Miz at SummerSlam.

But he’s undeniably a draw for some people who wouldn’t necessarily watch WWE at all, as well as fans who simply wouldn’t be invested in the Saudi show.

In that respect, Paul-Reigns is perfect for Crown Jewel in particular, since it doesn’t require either man to be on weekly TV on a regular basis to build it. Plus since no one would expect Paul to win, it pushes the question of who will finally be the one to topple Reigns a bit further down the road.

After being invited to this week’s episode of SmackDown by Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Paul has teased a “massive announcement.” A showdown with Reigns would certainly qualify, so don’t be surprised if their match is confirmed before Saturday’s press conference.

No Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules, next big match at Crown Jewel

Fans overseas have a better chance of seeing Roman Reigns at a premium live event at the moment than in the U.S.

For anyone hoping to see Roman Reigns loosen his grasp on his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, you’re going to be waiting at least another two months.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed that Reigns is not expected to be on the card for WWE’s next premium live event, which is Oct. 8 at Philadelphia for Extreme Rules. Instead, he should be back defending his titles at Crown Jewel on Nov. 5.

Reigns is not on Extreme Rules on 10/8 in Philadelphia, and his next major match is on the Saudi Arabia show.

Meltzer doesn’t list an opponent for Reigns, but does say it won’t be Seth Rollins or Kevin Owens, “even though both have teased it.” Owens, in particular, has become frequently entangled in the business of the Bloodline in recent weeks, remaining a thorn in the side of The Usos and testing the loyalty of “honorary” member Sami Zayn while talking about how Reigns owes him one.

If Reigns does sit out Extreme Rules, the next time fans in the U.S. might see him defend his titles live could be at Survivor Series on Nov. 26 in Boston. That would make it nearly four months between major shows for the Tribal Chief in the U.S., as he was part of SummerSlam, facing off against longtime nemesis Brock Lesnar, in late July.

Reigns also successfully fended off a challenge from Drew McIntyre in Wales at Clash at the Castle at the beginning of the month, emerging victorious thanks to the main roster introduction of another of his relatives, Solo Sikoa. It doesn’t appear Reigns’ program with McIntyre will continue, as the Scottish Warrior was attacked at the end of this week’s Raw by Karrion Kross and figured to be occupied with the former NXT Champion over the weeks to come.

In any case, if Meltzer is correct about Reigns’ upcoming schedule, it means that fans overseas have a better chance of seeing him live over the back half of 2022 than in the U.S., which is an interesting way indeed to book WWE’s top star. Here’s hoping the company has something truly monumental planned for him as the calendar changes and the buildup toward WrestleMania begins again.

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