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Crown Jewel's kickoff show saw Shinsuke Nakamura defeat Rusev with the help of the low blow and retain the United States Championship. We were greeted by WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan and he said he was our host for the night. The first round of the WWE Championship was underway immediately after, starting with Mysterio vs. Orton.
WWE World Cup Quarterfinals
Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
Mysterio dominated early but Orton hit a huge dropkick to block a high flying move taking the momentum. Orton tried to unmask Rey but failed. Rey blocked a superplex with a headbutt and then hit a springboard move into a DDT. Orton dodged the 619 and hit a DDT. Mysterio reversed an RKO into a roll-up and got the early victory.
Randy hit the RKO after the match and then started to dismantle Rey Mysterio outside the ring. Orton then bounced Rey off the announce table and the officials had to help Mysterio back to the lockers.
Result: Rey Mysterio def. Randy Orton and advanced to the Semifinal
Backstage, the Miz was really happy about Mysterio's unfortunate condition as the A-Lister was about to face him in the next round.
The Miz vs. Jeff Hardy
The Miz was in control and hit a huge dropkick in the corner. The Miz knocked Jeff Hardy and showboated. Hardy got up unfazed and began a series of attacks on The Miz. Hardy went for the Twist of Fate but missed. He hit a quick Whisper in the Wind to get only a near fall. Hardy hit a huge move to the outside from the ropes and he looked to have hurt himself in the process.
Back in the ring, Jeff went for a roll-up but it was a 2 count. Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale and got the victory after dodging a Twist of Fate.
Result: The Miz def. Jeff Hardy and advanced to the next round
Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley
Lashley shoved Rollins down and showboated a bit. Rollins headbutted Lashley and fought back but The Dominator picked him up and slammed him down. Lashley had Rollins in his grip and slammed him from turnbuckle after turnbuckle before running into him. He then had him in a master lock position.
Rollins got a bit of momentum and sent Lashley outside the ring. He hit a suicide dive and his head hit the barricade. Rollins got into a brawl with Lashley and his agility and slickness led to him hitting the curb stomp and getting the pin.
Seth Rollins def. Bobby Lashley and advanced to the next round
Kurt Angle vs. Dolph Ziggler
Angle was caught in a headlock but hit a belly to belly suplex and then two German Suplexes to get the upper hand. Ziggler threw Angle off the apron and sent him crashing into the steel steps. Back in the ring Angle hit another German Suplex and got a near-fall. Dolph missed the Zig Zag and Angle his the Angleslam but only got a 2 count.
Ziggler hit a big move and got a near fall as well, so far a very even match. The anklelock was in and Ziggler struggled for a while before managing to escape. Dolph sent Angle into the ring post before hitting the ZigZag and getting the pin.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Kurt Angle and advanced to the next round
The first round of the World Cup ended with Rey Mysterio, The Miz, Seth Rollins, and Dolph Ziggler moving on to round 2.
The Bar (c) vs. The New Day - SmackDown Tag Team title match
The New Day made their entrance for the tag title match in a giant animatronic magic carpet; with its own smoke machine even. Big E and Sheamus kicked us off and Kofi joined in for a double team move after the tag. Cesaro was tagged in Kofi started showboating before hitting a dropkick.
Kofi hit a huge lateral press after from a crossbody but it was only a 2 count. Kofi was caught in the corner by Big Show while Sheamus distracted the referee. Sheamus and Cesaro then hit a big double team move and Sheamus got a near fall on Kofi.
Sheamus and Cesaro kept taking turns beating the crap out of Kofi and preventing him from making the tag to Big E. Kofi finally hit a boot to the face before making the tag. Big E and Cesaro were legal now and Big E took control fast. Sheamus took the tag and E and Kofi hit a big double team stomp to get a near fall.
The Big Show ran interference and took out Big E while Sheamus hit the Bruge kick for the win.
The Bar def. The New Day to retain SmackDown Tag Team titles
WWE World Cup Semi-Finals
The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
Miz went for a rollup early on but Mysterio replied with a knee to face. The Miz took a baseball slide and a suicide dive from Mysterio. The Miz sent Mysterio crashing into the canvas in the ring and then caught him with his shoulder in the corner. Mysterio slid on the canvas and crashed outside thanks to the Miz who followed up with an abdominal stretch.
Mysterio hit a big DDT but The Miz followed with his finisher. Rey got the shoulder up in time however and was still in the match. Rey hit the 619 and then the frog splash but Miz got his knees up. The A-Lister got the pin in and moved on to the finals.
Result: The Miz def. Rey Mysterio
Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler
Rollins caught Ziggler in mid-air after a crossbody and slammed him on the mat, sending Dolph outside. Mcintyre stared Dolph outside and Rollins dared him to take a hit. Dolph hit a big move in the ring and got a near-fall. Dolph focused on the injured neck of Seth Rollins with a submission hold but Seth managed to get free.
Rollins picked up Ziggler for a powerbomb after a little back and forth but Dolph rolled The Architect up instead. Mcintyre interfered and Seth hit both of them with a suicide dive on the outside. Ziggler hit the Famouser but it resulted in yet another near fall. McIntyre dropped Seth from the top rope and Ziggler hit the superkick for the win.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Seth Rollins
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe - WWE Championship Match
AJ focused on Samoa Joe's injured knee right off the bat, a ruthlessness we rarely see in Styles. Samoa Joe sent AJ outside and hit a huge Suicide Dive sending AJ crashing into the announce table. Joe went for a pin in the ring but AJ's foot found the bottom rope. Aj hit a step up Enzugiri and dropped Joe in the middle of the ring.
Joe hit a huge lariat and Styles did a backflip before going down. Styles recovered and locked in the calf crusher but Joe caught the ropes. Joe locked in the coquina clutch but AJ got out. Styles hit the Pele kick and the Phenomenal forearm for the win.
AJ Styles def. Samoa Joe to retain the WWE Championship
Baron Corbin came out to introduce the challengers for the vacant WWE Universal Championship after the unfortunate departure of Roman Reigns due to the sudden remission of Leukemia. Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman made their entrances before Paul Heyman got on the mic on behalf of his client. Corbin showed off the belt and hit Strowman in the head with it before asking for the bell to be rung.
Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman - Universal Championship match
Lesnar hit an F5 after Baron Corbin's shocking attack on Strowman, but he managed to kick out. Lesnar hit another F5 for yet another near fall. A third F5 and after Braun kicked out again, Lesnar sent him crashing outside the ring. Strowman dodged an F5 but managed to hit another one making the grand total of 6 F5s before getting the very early pin and winning the WWE Universal Championship.
Result: Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman to win the Universal Championship
The World Cup finals were about to begin before the official insisted that Drew McIntyre leave the ringside and go backstage. Miz attacked Ziggler before the bell rang and the fight went outside before Dolph was sent crashing into the steel steps. Dolph went back to the ring and Miz sat outside clutching his ankle. The referees were convinced that Miz was injured and were going to call the match in Dolph Ziggler's favour but Shane McMahon insisted that he take The Miz's place to defend SmackDown.
Shane McMahon vs Dolph Ziggler - WWE World Cup Final
Shane McMahon started with his trademark punches and Corbin was quick to interfere. The commentators pointed out that the referee was from SmackDown. They rightfully mentioned that he was trying to save his job as he sent Baron Corbin out.
Dolph Ziggler tried to get a zig zag but Shane McMahon kicked out. A back and forth lead to Shane hitting the coast to coast and he pinned Dolph to win the WWE World Cup even though he wasn't really a part of the tournament.
Result: Shane McMahon def. Dolph Ziggler to win the WWE World Cup
Shane McMahon was being positioned as the clear bad guy here. The commentators, including the neutral Corey Graves (though he backtracked a minute later) didn't seem to think Shane's actions were justified. It looks like a set up for team Shane vs team Corbin or Angle at Survivor Series!
D-GenerationX vs. The Brothers of Destruction
Kane and Triple H kicked off the match by taunting each other before Hunter slapped Kane. The Big Red Machine hit HHH with a forearm and he went down. Kane was caught by H and Shawn Michaels was tagged in. HBK hit a neckbreaker and dodged a chokeslam. He missed the Sweet Chin Music before The Undertaker was tagged in.
Shawn turned to Triple H but went on to do the DX Chop to Taker's face. The Deadman hit a big boot and had HBK by the arm but Triple H stopped him from hitting the Old School. Triple H and HBK were tossed outside by the Brothers of Destruction with great force.
DX returned to the ring and sent the Brothers outside but they landed feet first. Taker focused on HBK while Kane dismantled Triple H outside the ring. Taker returned to the ring for an Old School to HBK but missed the knee in the corner.
Triple H was tagged in and hit a big boot to Taker who no sold it. Kane took the tag and hit a slam but missed the elbow drop. Siff chops from HHH followed by a DDT before they both went down. Michaels came in and hit an atomic drop on Kane. Shawn hit the elbow drop but missed the Sweet Chin Music before Taker was tagged in.
Taker hit the snakeyes and a leg drop for a near fall. Triple H distracted Taker but took a right hook but HBK hit the Sweet Chin Music. The Phenom sat up and took Shawn to the announce table. Taker went for the finisher but HHH stopped it. Kane put Hunter through the announce table and Taker hit the leg drop on HBK.
Back in the ring, Kane and HBK were battling it out and Taker was tagged in for a near fall on Michaels. HBK fought back and sent Taker into the post outside. He hit a big moonsault to the outside on the Brothers of Destruction.
Triple and Kane were in the ring soon after and HHH took down both his opponents. Triple H hit the pedigree on Taker but he locked in the Hells Gate right after. Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music on Kane and Taker broke the hold.
Taker and Kane missed the double Tombstones and Shawn and Hunter both hit their finishers before HHH got the pin on Kane.
Result: D-GenerationX def. The Brothers of Destruction
DX stood tall and ended their night with the mission accomplished.
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