Cody Rhodes Beats GUNTHER Clean to Win WWE Crown Jewel Championship

WWE Crown Jewel 2024 went down at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The night included a couple grudge matches, but all eyes were on the two Crown Jewel Championship matches, with GUNTHER and Cody Rhodes guaranteed to bring a war.

At Bad Blood 2024, Triple H announced that Crown Jewel would feature the reigning men’s and women’s world champions of Raw and SmackDown facing off, with the winners being crowned the Crown Jewel Champion and Women’s Crown Jewel Champion rather than defending their titles. He also revealed that this would become an annual event for Crown Jewel. This announcement set the stage for a clash between WWE World Champion GUNTHER and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in Saudi Arabia.

GUNTHER received a quiet reaction from the Saudi Arabian crowd, but Cody Rhodes’ Kingdom theme song was a loud sing-along. This contest also had a big match feel with the introductions.

Fans were cheering loudly and singing “Ole” before the two competitors even touched. This match got started slow like a traditional wrestling match, as both champions tried to size up their opponents. The GUNTHER established his dominance with a shoulder tackle before he went back into a side headlock on the mat.

Cody’s Bionic Elbow attempt was cut down by GUNTHER, and he gained control for a bit. Then GUNTHER was sent outside the ring, and Cody nailed a dive only to have GUNTHER catch Cody and drive him into the ring. GUNTHER maintained control for a bit after that, despite fans rooting Cody on.

Cody couldn’t even nail a slam without his back going out. GUNTHER pounced on that vulnerability, and then Cody started to fight back, only to eat another slam.

Fans filled the arena with “Ole” chants, and that threw GUNTHER off as well, causing the Ring General to stall his attack on Cody as chants carried on. They mentioned on commentary that Sami Zayn is the only man to give GUNTHER his last loss at WrestleMania. As GUNTHER’s assault on Cody Rhodes carried on, fans did the wave as well, but GUNTHER didn’t seem impressed.

Cody mounted some offense with a slam, but GUNTHER shook it off and climbed to the top rope. Then Cody joined GUNTHER and he hit a superplex, but the American Nightmare couldn’t pull off a pinfall. Then Cody rallied and hit his signature powerslam and a Bionic Elbow that finally connected as fans chanted “Dusty.”

Rhodes nailed a Cody Cutte, but GUNTHER kicked out at two. Then GUNTHER picked Rhodes out of the air when he went for a Disaster Kick. He locked on a sleeper hold on Cody and hit a German Suplex before locking in another sleeper hold on the mat as Cody started to lose life. Then Cody got to his feet and created separation with GUNTHER before he nailed a Crossroads, but he couldn’t get the pin.

GUNTHER nailed a dropkick to the corner and he hit his powerbomb finisher for a two count. Then GUNTHER backed Cody into the corner and started slapping him. That only woke Cody up as he rallied and ended up taking GUNTHER down, but GUNTHER returned fire with a clothesline, only to have Cody hit a Crossroads for a two count. This match was back-and-forth, as both champions brought it all in Saudi Arabia.

Cody tried to nail another Crossroads, but GUNTHER got out of it. Then GUNTHER caught Cody off a top rope Cody Cutter attempt, and he latches on a sleeper. Then Cody rolled back and got a pinfall for the win. This was a surprising win for Cody Rhodes in Saudi Arabia, and GUNTHER lost in clean fashion as well. After the match was over, GUNTHER shook Cody Rhodes’ hand, and then Triple H presented Cody with the brand-new Crown Jewel Championship.

The Crown Jewel Championships will stay in Saudi Arabia at the WWE World Event, but the champions will be given rings to wear. The night ended with Cody Rhodes raising his championship high as fireworks went off.