The WWE Raw Crown Jewel buildup intensified on Monday night as Roman Reigns officially accepted a challenge from Bronson Reed, setting the stage for a high-stakes Australian Street Fight at the upcoming Crown Jewel pay-per-view event. This confrontation was confirmed during WWE Raw at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, marking the final Raw episode before the October 11th event in Perth, Australia.
During the event, Roman Reigns opened the show with a commanding promo that quickly escalated when Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman interrupted. The ensuing verbal exchange set up their fiercely anticipated match for Crown Jewel, with Reigns agreeing to face Reed in an Australian Street Fight, adding a unique and personal flavor to their rivalry. This match follows their previous encounter at Clash in Paris, where Reed left Reigns stretchered out, fueling the tension between the two competitors and making this upcoming bout highly anticipated by fans.
Opening Promo and Confrontation Establish Crown Jewel Match
Roman Reigns, entering as the “Original Tribal Chief,” received an enthusiastic response from the Dallas crowd, with fans showing their support as he commanded the ring. Before long, Bronson Reed appeared alongside Paul Heyman, wearing his “Tribal Thief” shirt, challenging Reigns on both a personal and professional level. Heyman accused Reigns of fearing Reed, pointing to the staggering moment when Reed took Reigns out on a stretcher in Paris, a vulnerability Reigns had never displayed publicly before.
Reed invoked his family legacy to challenge Reigns, referencing his father, Sika, and uncle, Afa—legendary figures who never left the ring on a stretcher. The fans responded vocally, chanting “OTC” (Original Tribal Chief) as tensions mounted. Reigns retorted that Reed didn’t truly know his family but emphasized his dominance and asserted he remains the “Tribal Chief,” the leader above all.
Paul Heyman formalized the challenge, announcing the match for Crown Jewel as an Australian Street Fight, acknowledging Reed’s home country to add emotional weight. Reigns swiftly accepted the match, signaling the seriousness of the rivalry. The promo ended with a physical altercation as Reed attacked Reigns with eye gouges, leading to Reigns retaliating with Superman Punches, with WWE officials and security intervening to separate the two.
Backdrop of the Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed Rivalry
This storyline has been building steadily since Reigns’ recent return, where he aided his cousins, The Usos, in a Tornado Tag Team Match victory over Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. That moment marked a resurgence of Reigns’ involvement in ongoing feuds and increased scrutiny on his status as “Tribal Chief.” Bronson Reed, an Australian native, has positioned himself as a formidable challenger, claiming a sense of hometown pride ahead of the Perth event.
The Australian Street Fight stipulation makes their Crown Jewel meeting distinct from their previous clash at Clash in Paris, intensifying the stakes and providing both combatants the chance for a brutal, no-holds-barred confrontation. This setting also gives Reed a chance to perform in front of his home crowd on a major WWE stage, potentially heightening the match’s impact.
Supporting Matches and Key Moments on Monday Night Raw
Alongside the main narrative, several other notable segments unfolded during the show. Asuka confronted Raw General Manager Adam Pearce backstage, pushing to face Iyo Sky that night. When Kairi Sane expressed hesitation about the matchup, Asuka demanded compliance, even slapping Sane to emphasize her point.
Becky Lynch, appearing as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, competed against Maxxine Dupri in a non-title bout that captivated the audience. The match featured a hard-fought back-and-forth battle, with Lynch showcasing her veteran prowess and Dupri displaying significant improvement. The contest included near falls, submission attempts, and high-risk maneuvers, thrilling fans for over thirteen minutes.
Despite Lynch controlling much of the match, Dupri ultimately secured victory by countout after Lynch aggressively interfered with the referee, Jessika Carr, leading to a fast countout finish. This result leaves room for further storyline development involving Lynch’s frustration and Carr’s potential involvement as a trained wrestler with a new in-ring presence.
Interactions Among The Bloodline Members Highlight Internal Tensions
Roman Reigns was also seen backstage encountering The Usos. While Jey Uso insisted he stood firmly with Reigns heading into Crown Jewel, Reigns appeared cautious about relying on his cousin’s support, telling Jey to focus on his own business. This conversation hinted at underlying friction within the faction, particularly with Jimmy Uso, who seems concerned about Reigns’ influence on Jey.
Additional Backstage and Match Developments from Raw
Bayley encouraged Lyra Valkyria backstage to join her for a match, initially met with hesitation but eventually accepted by Valkyria. This interaction preceded their joint appearance at ringside during a match involving Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez.
Earlier in the night, CM Punk was also featured arriving at the arena along with Lyra Valkyria and Iyo Sky, indicating their continued prominence in WWE programming heading toward Crown Jewel.
Confirmed Crown Jewel Match Card Overview
The Crown Jewel pay-per-view, scheduled for October 11th in Perth, is building toward several high-profile matches. The current announced lineup includes:
1. Men’s Crown Jewel Championship: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes versus World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins
2. Women’s Crown Jewel Championship: WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton versus Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer
4. Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns versus Bronson Reed
5. Tag Match: Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky versus the Kabuki Warriors – AJ Styles & Kairi Sane
The event will stream live from Perth on October 11th at 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. PT, available via the ESPN App in the United States and Netflix worldwide.
Significance and Anticipated Impact of the Reigns-Reed Matchup
The official confirmation of Roman Reigns facing Bronson Reed in an Australian Street Fight solidifies one of the most personal rivalries on WWE’s current roster. Given their violent encounter in Paris and Reed’s hometown advantage, this match carries both emotional and competitive weight. The stipulation suggests a bout filled with physicality and unpredictability.
Furthermore, Roman Reigns continuing as the Tribal Chief reflects WWE’s focus on maintaining his dominant role at the top of the card. Meanwhile, Bronson Reed’s involvement in a pay-per-view match on home soil amplifies his growing profile within WWE. The match’s outcome will likely influence ongoing storylines and the dynamics within The Bloodline, especially with the noted tensions between Reigns and The Usos.
Overall, WWE Raw’s latest episode set the tone for a major weekend at Crown Jewel, delivering story progression, character development, and match announcements that are sure to intensify fans’ anticipation heading into the event.
