Predicting Every Participant in the WWE World Cup at Crown Jewel 2018

WWE announced a few weeks ago that they will be revisiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia again this year after the success of their last show, The Greatest Royal Rumble. This time, the event is called Crown Jewel. It will take place on November 2 at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

WWE has also announced that this show will have a one-night-only tournament which they are calling the "WWE World Cup". This will be an eight-man knockout tournament. This will have four superstars each from Smackdown Live & RAW. John Cena (RAW) was added as the first participant of this tournament.

Kurt Angle (RAW) qualified as the second one in an amazing fashion on RAW. He made his anonymous return in the Global Battle Royal and eliminated Baron Corbin to enter the World Cup.

In this article, I will be predicting the remaining participants who could possibly qualify for the WWE World Cup.

#1 Big Show (Smackdown Live)

WWE has already announced that on tomorrow's episode we will see The Big Show take on Randy Orton to decide the next participant for the World Cup. It has been a long time since we have seen The Big Show on TV.

It looks like Randy Orton is going to continue with his attacks on Smackdown. I believe that Randy Orton's individual run is better for him than this World Cup tournament, because let's be honest, he isn't going to win it either way.

Big Show is a part-time superstar and losing the World Cup won't matter much to him. So I think he will win this match and qualify for the Cup.

#2 Samoa Joe (Smackdown Live)

As we know, Samoa Joe lost to AJ Styles at WWE Super Show-Down and has now lost his chance to win the WWE Championship. Daniel Bryan has been crowned the new No.1 contender and he will face Styles at Crown Jewel. So now the question is, what is next for Samoa Joe?

I think that taking Joe to the mid-card would only do him more harm. Putting him in the World Cup tournament could be a way to make his heel character more relevant after losing a series of matches.

Samoa Joe will also add to the heel part of the World Cup as the two people who have already qualified are babyfaces. And also, Smackdown doesn't have too many good heels at the moment.

#3 Finn Balor (RAW)

Although WWE is calling this a World Cup, they haven't really told us if superstars in this should belong to various different countries. But I think that will certainly be an element of excitement if they were supposed to do that. Finn Balor is my prediction to fill the next spot for Monday Night RAW.

I think this could be the best thing he could do right now. WWE is clearly not involving him in any title picture and putting him in this cup could have a few advantages. He could provide some really good wrestling matches. If he represents his country of The Republic Of Ireland, he will be one of the foreign participants as well.

I think the Mixed Match Challenge isn't something that does any good to Balor. So it will be a good way of bringing him back to singles competition and restart his push (maybe).

#4 Andrade "Cien" Almas (Smackdown Live)

Andrade "Cien" Almas has had a very average run since his arrival on Smackdown Live. He has failed to make his way to the main event. The best thing he has done is a singles match with AJ Styles and a few mixed tag team matches.

I think it's time that WWE finally tries something different with him. The World Cup could be a way to start that off.

Obviously, he is not going to win it, but he can prove how dominant he could be. Like a semi-final appearance could be something that people don't expect from him.

Another thing is that WWE just can't fill this bracket entirely with winners, and they will need someone who doesn't get affected much from a loss.

I believe Andrade has been really underrated and he could be used in a much better way on Smackdown Live.

#5 The Miz (Smackdown Live)

The Miz lost to Daniel Bryan in just three minutes at WWE Super Show-Down. On Smackdown Live, we will surely see a response from the A-Lister. But he can't do much now as Bryan has already become the No.1 contender.

So it looks like this long-term feud between the two superstars is coming to a stall. It's time for both to take different paths and meet again sometime later.

I think The Miz has to be in the World Cup. He has been really great to see on Smackdown Live and his inclusion in the Cup will also result in some great matches. He could even be the one to win it if WWE wants to take it that way.

As of now, Miz can only get a rematch with Bryan on Smackdown. So maybe WWE will do that and The Miz can go on to qualify for the World Cup.

#6 Dean Ambrose (RAW)

Dean Ambrose walked out on The Shield last night. He was pinned in the main event and he couldn't come to terms with that. In an off-air interview, he said that maybe he doesn't fit in The Shield anymore.

Obviously, WWE is continuing with all the teases for a Dean Ambrose heel turn, but I don't think it's coming anytime soon.

I think WWE can really make use of this opportunity and put Dean Ambrose in the World Cup. He has no title to defend at the moment. So it will be a good way for him to prove that he's equal to his brothers.

Also, this will allow Seth Rollins to defend his Intercontinental Championship, which he hasn't done in a while.

I think it is the right idea to have Ambrose in the World Cup and have Reigns & Rollins defend their titles.

Leave a comment below and let us know who according to you should qualify for the WWE World Cup.