Valid
Validation is huge for humans. We practically crave it in everything we do. The need that begins in childhood seemingly never goes away. Some want it from their co-workers, their spouses, their bosses, and yeah, some people still clamor for it from their parents no matter how old they get. Sami Zayn and Chelsea Green walked different paths at Crown Jewel but both with validation on their minds. Sami wanted it from Roman
Reigns because he’s Roman Reigns, while Chelsea sought it from herself.
They’re on opposite ends of the face/heel paradigm, but their humanity makes them both easy to understand if not root for. Liv Morgan said it as a diss but it’s true: people see themselves in SmackDown’s Women’s champ. The same goes for Sami. He calls himself “the last real good guy” in part because “good guys” are the underdogs these days. Not just in WWE but outside of it. Want proof? Look around.
That’s a long buildup to say Crown Jewel took both stories to the next level. Sami got his respect from a man he’s always respected, while Chelsea finally believed she’s worth a damn.
Let’s start with Ms. Green. Chelsea admitted the reason she’s looked so out of it the past few weeks is because Liv’s words harped on her insecurities. This is a woman used to hearing how she’s nobody’s first choice. Naturally, given the circumstances in which she became champion, it makes sense for those insecurities to show themselves. Yes, she went toe-to-toe with GUNTHER and read him for filth. Yes, she makes everyone around her look better. That matters not when one is champion though. Chelsea has to make Chelsea look good while fending off everyone coming for her. It’s the lesson every champion learns. They also learn it’s a cutthroat world and friendship is a luxury. Unfortunately, Chelsea learned that lesson a tad too late.
After a grueling match with Liv, one that Chelsea won to her shock, she got on the mic and cut a hell of a promo. This one match justified 13 years. It proved everyone wrong who told her she wasn’t the one. Or who told her that she didn’t belong under the biggest and brightest lights. She was nobody’s pick for 13 years and now look at her.
This was her triumphant moment until it wasn’t.
This is why I said the thing about friendship in this game. It upset me in the moment but it was supposed to. Chelsea’s big win and catharsis became someone else’s story. The instant she gained confidence, Tiffany Stratton snatched all of it away from her. What made it worse, which is what makes Tiffany a great heel, is she had her choice between Chelsea and Liv. One could argue that Liv was the easier option because she lost. Yet Tiffany chose Chelsea because she’s an awful human but to reinforce the idea that even while standing tall, Chelsea is still the weakest link. Tiffany is a predator and there’s nothing more predators love than going after weaklings. She wanted that championship and now it’s hers. She even stole the Crown Jewel Championship! I’m sure we’ll hear more about this on the next SmackDown and even more headed into Survivor Series. Despite their weeks together as friends, Chelsea never earned Tiffany’s respect; she never validated her existence.
Which is an awesome segue to the main event.
Let me get this out of the way: This doesn’t hold a candle to Roman and Sami’s first encounter in Montreal three years ago (three years ago?!). That’s not to say they didn’t execute flawlessly here, but that was just a different night. The context of being in Canada and following Sami betraying Roman amidst all that Bloodline drama. It was lighting in a bottle. Now we find both men at different points in their careers but both champions. The Bloodline is knee-deep in some drama that doesn’t concern Sami, Roman is trying to work dolo after four years of needing cats like Sami to interfere on his behalf. Sami is still wondering why people don’t cheer him or give him his overdue props.
Sami wrestled like a man with a chip on his shoulder as big as the golden nugget in Vegas. He toyed with Roman at times, hoping to get under his skin and throw him off his game. He frustrated the champ by countering some moves and not giving in to others. Michael Cole talked about 2026 as a banner year for Roman, but I’d put Sami’s ‘26 up against anyone.
The one thing I don’t think the match needed? The ref bumps. I know, I know. Those bumps are customary to the “cinema” WWE produces when Roman is in the building. I just think these guys are too good for that and the finish showed it was unnecessary. I don’t know if showing Sami get a three-count with no one around to count matters when this is what happens post match:
Sami got his validation. He got more than Roman’s respect; he got his love. This wasn’t about defeating Roman like it is for Seth Rollins, LA Knight, or the long list of names who came for the throne. Sami just wanted props from the guy who sits on said throne. Real props, not the kind he got as honorary Uce.
Does that make Sami a valid contender to show up at War Games? If I didn’t know Jacob Fatu is on his way back, then yeah. I actually think that would be a great addition to this story. Especially when thinking about how Sami sat back while 946 ran roughshod over Jimmy Uso. His dawg! What better way to redeem himself? What better way to validate Roman’s words that Sami is no longer honorary; he’s an Uso. He’s family. He’s a brother.
B-Sides
- He did it. Cody Rhodes did the thing I didn’t think of which I didn’t think him capable: He punted Randy Orton’s head into a 10-count. Can you blame me though? They set this up as a heinous move, at least historically. The neutered the punt as of late for corporate reasons I’m sure, but the execution here brought back some of that danger. Baron Corbin is still on the back of a milk carton, which I appreciate. That said, Baron and Randy are not created equal. Not in status or in relationship to The American Dream’s nightmare of a son. Would all that history make Cody show mercy? He talked a good game before but I didn’t see it as anything more than just talk. The Last Man Standing match built to the moment though. Both men punished each other. They pushed to their respective limits and got extra violent. Last Man Standing matches are always hard to recap so it always boils down to whether I feel they justified the stipulation. Consider this one justified. In the end, Cody had Randy down after three Cross Rhodes’. Cody waved off the ref’s count, paced for a bit, then kicked a very bloody Randy square in the head. Cody didn’t look proud of himself either. I gotta say, his reaction after the match made me interested in what comes next. But this can’t be a situation where what happens in Riyadh stays in Riyadh; give me something new from this development and don’t let Cody revert back to asking people what they want to talk about while kissing babies. The live crowd clearly wanted Randy to win. Will audiences back home feel the same way?
- Ding dong, The Vision’s hold on Raw’s tag team championships is over. And it’s about time because the titles felt stagnant around their waists. Je’Von Evans & Penta though? Now we have some possibilities. Besides the potential for exciting stories with Penta holding that briefcase and Je’Von wanting his own solo run at the big belt, there’s the opportunity for more matches like this. Penta & Je’Von are nonstop, fast break offense. I’m not the world’s biggest Austin Theory fan in that I’m not a fan at all, but they made him look good! The biggest moment though came when, of course, The Vision got involved. Bronson Reed interfered, which prompted Oba Femi to peak from behind the sun and remind us all this is his kingdom. Saudi went crazy for this cat and I can’t blame them. Oba evened the odds, the challengers took advantage, and one three-count later gave us new champs. The Vision don’t need these titles and Bron Breakker needs to move on to something bigger. This hopefully frees him up to continue his path to making everyone miserable because of his insecurities.
This was a spectacular show. Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes set it off and the momentum never let up. The crowd deserves their own round of applause (especially the person yelling how much they love Liv Morgan and Chelsea Green). The matches worked, the storytelling was almost perfect, and there’s plenty of intrigue for the rest of the month. Survivor Series season is officially a thing.
Grade: A
What say you, Cagesiders?
