WWE Crown Jewel: 8 Things WWE Got Right

3. Installing Samoa Joe As Daniel Bryan’s Replacement

AJ Styles Samoa Joe
WWE.com

When Daniel Bryan informed WWE that he wasn't prepared to travel and didn't want to work in Saudi Arabia, they had to make a snap decision. Either AJ Styles sat the show out too, or they plugged the potential gap with yet another AJ vs. Samoa Joe title match. In the end, picking Joe worked.

At least for the opening few minutes of the thing, there was an intensity to the match that others on the card seemed to lack. Styles and Joe are experienced enough (and good enough) to elevate matches that look pointless on the surface, and they did that at Crown Jewel.

No, nobody will remember this one a few months from now, but it was enjoyable on the night. Given the circumstances and Bryan's late cancellation, that's acceptable.

Joe is a believable threat to AJ due to their recent feud, and everyone knew he'd bring the best out in the champ at short notice. There's natural chemistry there, a story WWE could step back into and the finish extended AJ's remarkable title reign.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.