WWE Crown Jewel 2018: Analysing and grading each match

AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe - WWE Championship Match

Would we see a new WWE Champion?

Match: Well, yet again, it isn't a match we're unfamiliar with, as AJ Styles' previously booked opponent Daniel Bryan was switched with Samoa Joe on SmackDown Live this week.

AJ Styles, before tonight, had been WWE Champion for 360 days, the 10th longest reign in history. A win against Samoa Joe would put Styles into the position of 9th and confirm a one-year reign, putting The Phenomenal One alongside Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, John Cena and CM Punk.

AJ Styles dominated the match to start, sending Joe out of the ring and into the ringpost before Joe would get back into the ring and hit Styles on the outside with a huge Suicide Dive.

After weathering an early onslaught, Joe would take control and grind Styles down. AJ Styles went for a Styles Clash but would instead end up on the canvas himself. The crowd rallied Styles to a comeback but he got caught in the Coquina Clutch. Styles escaped and hit a Pele Kick before a short Phenomenal Forearm for the win.

When #WWEChampion @AJStylesOrg has a plan, he sticks to it! #WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/fcbkK6eBUM

— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2018

Verdict: Incredibly anticlimactic finish. This rivalry didn't need this match after its already anticlimactic finish and the match seemed to never really take off. Not terrible, but not incredible either.

Grade: B-