SmackDown fans were treated to a major announcement tonight as Triple H made an intense match official for Crown Jewel—Randy Orton will go head-to-head with “The Prizefighter” Kevin Owens on November 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This match has been building for weeks, and tonight’s SmackDown was the boiling point, as Orton pulled out all the stops to get the match approved, even calling out his former Evolution teammate Triple H.
After a tense promo and words exchanged backstage, Orton marched to the ring, claiming that Owens was being “protected” from him. Triple H, initially reluctant, tried to shut down the request, warning Orton that Owens wasn’t the same friend he’d known. The COO noted Orton’s recent return from injury, emphasizing his concern about keeping “The Viper” out of harm’s way. But Orton was undeterred, demanding that Triple H step down from his executive role and make the decision like the fighter he once was.
With the crowd buzzing, Triple H eventually conceded, giving Orton what he wanted and making the match official. In one epic showdown, fans will witness a clash of WWE titans who share a history, both as allies and adversaries. With the stakes set, Crown Jewel just got even more explosive.