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WWE's highly anticipated Crown Jewel event, set to unfold in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 4, will proceed with notable absences from its roster of top-tier talent. This year marks the fifth installment of the annual Crown Jewel spectacle, which has become a cornerstone in WWE's decade long partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Major Absences for WWE Crown Jewel 2023
Traditionally, WWE's Saudi Arabian outings have been star-studded affairs, featuring a blend of current high profile Superstars and returning legends. This time, however, a concurrent WWE live event scheduled in Rochester, New York, means that several marquee names won't make the trip to the Middle East.
Blue Cross Arena has revealed a lineup for the New York event that includes matchups such as WWE Women's Champion IYO SKY versus Charlotte Flair, WWE NXT Women's Champion Becky Lynch taking on Tiffany Stratton, and a Triple Threat featuring Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, Ricochet, and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Also advertised are Carlito, Grayson Waller, The Street Profits, Omos, Kofi Kingston, and The Brawling Brutes, indicating their likely absence from Crown Jewel.
The Show Must Go On
Despite these notable omissions, WWE Crown Jewel 2023 promises an action-packed card.
The main event is set to feature WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth 'Freakin' Rollins defending his title against Drew McIntyre. The Women's World Championship will also be on the line in a fatal five-way featuring Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark.
In another intriguing development, a Universal Championship clash between Roman Reigns and LA Knight is expected to be added to the Crown Jewel card. The tension between the two escalated after LA Knight assaulted Roman Reigns during last week's episode of SmackDown, setting the stage for a potentially explosive showdown.