Backstage Update On Current WWE Champion's Crown Jewel Status

More surprise appearance talk ahead of tonight's WWE Crown Jewel 2021 pay-per-view.

by Andy H Murray
Charlotte Flair silhouette
WWE

Speculation of Charlotte Flair being added to tonight's WWE Crown Jewel 2021 card appears to be wide of the mark.

Flair's recent interactions with SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Sasha Banks had led to talk amongst fans that the reigning Raw Women's Champion might be added to the trio's planned Triple Threat. That Charlotte was drafted to SmackDown earlier this month (despite holding the Raw belt) added to this, but it doesn't sound like she is in Saudi Arabia.

Per Fightful Select, Raw's 'Queen' hasn't been seen by those that travelled to the country ahead of the pay-per-view. Flair is also scheduled to appear at a signing session in Wichita, KS tomorrow morning, which is where that evening's SmackDown show is being held. Travelling back from Riyadh in time for that would be impossible.

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Fightful adds that WWE has left themselves a "huge crew" for tomorrow's SmackDown, seemingly doing so to prevent the show from being shorthanded following the infamous 2019 travel debacle.

Banks is the only SmackDown wrestler left in the blue brand's Women's Title match, with both Belair and Lynch drafted to Raw earlier this month. This makes the Triple Threat's outcome particularly interesting.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.