5 Top WWE Superstars Who Will Miss Crown Jewel 2023
The spectacle of World Wrestling Entertainment’s Crown Jewel has become a standout event in professional wrestling since its inception in 2018. As a result of WWE’s lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel has grown to rival the grandiosity of WrestleMania, featuring top-tier talent and unforgettable matchups. This year, the high-octane action is set to unfold on November 4, 2023 — this coming Saturday — with seven electrifying matches already slated to light up the card. Fans around the world are gearing up for what promises to be another chapter of breathtaking WWE history.
But as the wrestling community counts down to Crown Jewel 2023, there’s a palpable absence of some of WWE’s marquee superstars, who unfortunately will not be gracing the event. This year’s Crown Jewel will mark the next grand show in Saudi Arabia’s grand stadiums, underlining its significance with most of the roster’s top names typically set to perform. However, it’s become clear that this year’s show will be missing a handful of Raw’s elite superstars due to conflicting schedules. According to reports, the absence comes as a WWE house show coincides with Crown Jewel, taking place in Rochester, New York on the same date.
Interestingly, this scheduling conflict comes with a peculiar twist: while WWE is running house shows and a SmackDown event in the U.S. during the Crown Jewel weekend, there won’t be a SmackDown taping. It’s speculated that WWE will host two SmackDown episodes in Milwaukee, but even so, some of the top talents will not be making the trip to Saudi Arabia, a deviation from past practices where house shows were not scheduled against a Saudi event.
Starting with Brock Lesnar, a superstar whose presence has been almost synonymous with Crown Jewel, will be notably absent from the lineup. Since claiming the Universal Championship at the first Crown Jewel, Lesnar has showcased his dominance at each subsequent Saudi event, maintaining an impressive 3-1 win/loss record. His absence is particularly significant given that 2023 will be the first Crown Jewel without “The Beast.” Lesnar has not appeared since his SummerSlam defeat at the hands of Cody Rhodes, and rumors suggest he may be reserving his return for the WrestleMania season. Unless there’s a last-minute surprise, which could see Triple H orchestrating a shock appearance similar to tactics we’ve seen from Vince McMahon, it seems Lesnar will miss the spectacle in Riyadh.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther is another major name unlikely to compete at Crown Jewel. With a remarkable reign surpassing 500 days, Gunther has become a pivotal figure in WWE, raising the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship to new heights. His absence is particularly jarring as he’s brought a sense of gravitas to the title that often casts a shadow when he’s not featured at major events. Despite recent phenomenal matches against competitors like Bronson Reed and Chad Gable, which have had fans clamoring for more, WWE has decided not to feature him at Crown Jewel. Instead, Gunther is set to headline a house show in the U.S. on the same day, much to the dismay of his growing fanbase.
Becky Lynch’s status as the preeminent female superstar in WWE cannot be understated, and her absence at Crown Jewel will certainly be felt. “The Man” has been busy putting the spotlight on NXT talent recently and seems to be focused on elevating the NXT Women’s Championship. This detour from main-roster storylines has effectively counted her out of the Crown Jewel event. While her peers, such as Charlotte Flair and Bayley, are also not advertised for matches, they may still influence the event in other capacities. For Lynch, however, unless there’s an unexpected twist, it appears she will return to the main roster in time for Survivor Series.
Lastly, the duo of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, who have carved out their own legacies in WWE, are not scheduled for Crown Jewel despite making their Saudi Arabian debut earlier in the year. The two achieved a monumental victory at the Night of Champions 2023, receiving one of the night’s loudest ovations. But as Crown Jewel approaches, neither is booked to appear. Owens is currently re-establishing himself on SmackDown, and Zayn is embroiled in a complex feud with Judgment Day. It seems both superstars are setting their sights on the next major event, Survivor Series, for their potential return to WWE’s premium live event stage.
In summary, the absence of these five superstars from Crown Jewel 2023 speaks volumes about the current state of WWE’s dynamic and often unpredictable scheduling. While their presence will be missed, the event still promises to deliver the high-octane drama and entertainment that fans have come to expect from WWE’s illustrious pay-per-views. The intrigue now lies in how WWE will pivot and who will step into the spotlight to seize the opportunity at one of the year’s most anticipated events. As the countdown to Crown Jewel 2023 continues, the WWE Universe is left to wonder what surprises lie in wait and how the landscape of WWE will be reshaped in the wake of this groundbreaking event.
