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WWE Crown Jewel

Eight-Man World Cup Tournament to take place at WWE Crown Jewel

The historic WWE Crown Jewel pay-per-view will feature a monumental one-night World Cup Tournament, featuring eight of the top Superstars from Raw and SmackDown LIVE battling it out to determine the best in the world.

Acting Raw General Manager Baron Corbin designed an impromptu Global Battle Royal to select one of the Raw participants, made of unique (although completely unknown talent) from all over the world, setting himself up to represent the United States.

However, his scheme didn’t go according to plan, as a mysterious masked Conquistador stole the victory from The Lone Wolf before revealing himself to be none other than WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle, who was back from his “vacation.” Oh, it’s true. It’s damn true!

The first SmackDown LIVE Superstar to qualify for the competition is none other than Jeff Hardy. After the merciless beating he suffered at WWE Hell in a Cell at the hands of Randy Orton, The Charismatic Enigma reemerged with a new aggressive attitude. Capitalizing on the knee injury that Samoa Joe suffered at WWE Super Show-Down, Hardy unleashed a fierce assault on his dangerous opponent until Joe could no longer continue the match.

Speaking of Orton, The Viper became the next Superstar to qualify by besting the returning Big Show on the same night. The Apex Predator will set his serpentine sights on what is sure to be an incredible field of Superstars at WWE Crown Jewel.

Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins earned his place in the groundbreaking showdown by overcoming Raw Tag Team Champion Drew McIntyre after his then Shield brother-in-arms Dean Ambrose neutralized the disruptive Dolph Ziggler.

Unfortunately for The Lunatic Fringe, when McIntyre interrupted his match against Ziggler, Rollins’ assist misfired, and The Showoff earned his way into the World Cup showdown.

The Miz qualified for his opportunity to become the best in the world by defeating Rusev on SmackDown 1000, thanks in part to Aiden English.

Later that night, the incomparable Rey Mysterio scored a huge victory over Shinsuke Nakamura in his thrilling return to in-ring action. The Ultimate Underdog is back!

Though John Cena was originally slated to be a part of the matchup, that all changed on the Oct. 29 edition of Raw. After Bobby Lashley unleashed a vicious beatdown on Finn Bálor, General Manager Baron Corbin rewarded him by putting him into WWE’s World Cup, replacing Cena, the one Superstar who hadn’t won a qualifying match.

SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon gave Team Blue's entrants into the tournament an ultimatum: win the whole thing, or "you'll no longer have a home on SmackDown LIVE."

Don't miss the history being made on Friday, Nov. 2, when WWE Crown Jewel streams live on the award-winning WWE Network!

Check out the bracket below for first-round matchups this Friday! 

WWE.com