The dirt sheets were buzzing for months, and then it actually happened. WWE packed up the whole circus—the rings, the pyro, and the championship belts—and hauled it across the planet to Western Australia. If you missed the chaos, WWE Crown Jewel: Perth wasn't just another show; it was a total pivot in how the company handles its global schedule.
Moving a legacy Saudi event to the RAC Arena was a massive gamble. Honestly, most fans didn't think TKO Group Holdings would actually pull the "Crown Jewel" branding away from Riyadh, even for a year. But with the 2026 Royal Rumble locked in for Saudi Arabia, the calendar shifted, and Perth became the lucky beneficiary of a triple-header weekend that felt like a mini-WrestleMania.
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The Night the Title Scene Fractured
Remember when people said the Crown Jewel Championship was just a "glorified trophy"? Tell that to Cody Rhodes. The main event between Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins was probably the most physical match we’ve seen from either man since their Hell in a Cell trilogy. Seth finally getting a win over Cody—even with "The Vision" goons causing a mess at ringside—completely reshuffled the deck for the road to Survivor Series.
It's kinda wild to think about.
Rhodes has been the "untouchable" champion for so long, but Perth proved that on any given night, the numbers game can actually catch up to him. The crowd at the RAC Arena was absolutely deafening during the closing stretch. When Rollins hit that final Curb Stomp, you could practically feel the air leave the room for a split second before the Perth fans realized they’d just seen a historic upset.
Match Highlights from the RAC Arena:
- Seth Rollins def. Cody Rhodes: A 30-minute clinic that ended in total chaos.
- John Cena def. AJ Styles: This was vintage stuff. Cena’s farewell tour is hitting its stride, and seeing these two go at it one last time felt like a gift.
- Stephanie Vaquer def. Tiffany Stratton: The "Tiffy Time" era hit a roadblock. Vaquer is legit, and this win cemented her as the primary force in the women’s division.
- Roman Reigns def. Bronson Reed: This Australian Street Fight was basically a car crash in the best way possible.
Why Perth? The 18-Month Strategy
You might be wondering why WWE keeps coming back to Western Australia. It’s basically a numbers game. After the massive success of Elimination Chamber 2024 at Optus Stadium, the WA Government didn't want to let the momentum die. They inked a deal with TKO for five major events through 2026.
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This weekend was the centerpiece.
By running SmackDown, Crown Jewel, and then Raw all in the same room, WWE basically turned Perth into the wrestling capital of the world for 72 hours. We saw Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky teaming up against the Kabuki Warriors, which was a nice nod to the local hero. Rhea is basically a god in Australia, and even in a tag match, the pop she got was arguably the loudest of the night.
The Cena Factor and the Farewell Tour
We have to talk about John Cena. He’s only got a few matches left, and choosing AJ Styles for the Perth card was a masterstroke. Most of the "farewell" matches lately have felt a bit... let's say "protected." But AJ and Cena didn't hold back. They traded finishers like it was 2016 all over again.
Cena winning was expected, sure, but the post-match respect was the real story. It’s weird seeing Cena in this "elder statesman" role where he isn't the guy holding the gold, but he’s still the biggest draw on the poster. If this was his final appearance in Australia, he went out on top.
Tactical Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning on following the fallout of this event, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Rise of The Vision: Rollins isn't just a champion; he’s building a faction that seems designed to dismantle Cody’s reign piece by piece.
- Stephanie Vaquer's Momentum: She is being positioned as the "Final Boss" of the women's division. Don't be surprised if she holds that title through next year's WrestleMania.
- The Saudi/Australia Rotation: Since the 2026 Royal Rumble is headed to Riyadh, expect more "exchanges" like this where traditional Saudi shows might pop up in London, Paris, or Melbourne.
The landscape of professional wrestling is changing. It's not just about what happens in the US anymore. WWE Crown Jewel: Perth proved that the "International PLE" isn't a novelty; it’s the new standard.
To keep up with the fallout, make sure you're watching the highlights of Roman Reigns’ "Street Fight" with Bronson Reed—it was significantly more brutal than the TV broadcast let on. Watch for the chair shots that the cameras missed; they tell the real story of how that rivalry is just getting started.