Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. “Big” Bronson Reed: Unsanctioned Showdown at Crown Jewel 2024

When Seth “Freakin” Rollins, WWE Superstar stepped onto the canvas at Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 2, 2024, the atmosphere crackled with something extra‑ordinary. He was there not for a title, but for a unsanctioned match against the towering “Big” Bronson Reed, a bout designed to let both men bypass the usual rulebook and let raw aggression run free.

Background: Crown Jewel’s Decade‑Long Saudi Partnership

The clash was a centerpiece of Crown Jewel 2024Mohammed Abdo Arena, the latest installment in WWE’s 10‑year strategic partnership with the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia. Crown Jewel started in 2018 and quickly became a marquee event, sitting alongside the now‑defunct Greatest Royal Rumble. Over the years, the show has traveled between Jeddah and Riyadh, drawing crowds ranging from 8,000 to 15,000 fans. This year’s edition featured seven matches, but the Rollins‑Reed bout was the only one billed as "unsanctioned," signaling a shift toward more narrative‑driven violence.

The Rollins–Reed Unsanctioned Showdown

Rollins, 38, came in with his trademark psychological warfare. In the weeks leading up to the event, he cut a series of vignettes where he whispered Reed’s name into mirrors, a subtle nod to the classic "mind‑games" angle that made him a household name after his 2014 "Architect" turn. Reed, 35, towered at 6 ft 7 in and tipped the scales at roughly 310 lb. His power‑based style had earned him the nickname "Big," but the match promised to test his composure as much as his brawn.

The opening minutes were a blur of steel chairs, a broken table, and a poured bucket of sand that Rollins used to blind Reed. At one point, Rollins slipped a taped‑up microphone into Reed’s hand, urging him to "talk about his fears." The crowd roared when Reed, usually stoic, let out a guttural grunt and smashed the mic over his knee. The bout lasted 12 minutes and 34 seconds, ending when Rollins snatched a steel chain from under the ring, wrapped it around Reed’s neck, and forced a tap‑out. Officially, WWE listed the result as a "no‑contest"—a typical placeholder for unsanctioned bouts—but the storyline implication was clear: Rollins had mentally and physically out‑lasted his giant opponent.

Key Moments and Mind Games

• Rollins’ entrance video featured him walking through a dark hallway lined with mirrors, each reflecting a distorted image of Reed.
• Mid‑match, Reed attempted a powerbomb but slipped on the sand, giving Rollins a perfect opening for a sudden‑death Curb Stomp.
• After the chain‑submission, Rollins knelt, whispered "You can’t hide behind size," and pointed to the camera—a direct jab at Reed’s recent promos about his dominance.

These moments were not just about spectacle; they reinforced a larger narrative arc that WWE has been building toward the upcoming Survivor Series: WarGamesRogers Place, Edmonton, Canada. Both men are slated to appear in the WarGames steel‑cage tag match, where their newfound rivalry could tip the balance for one of the factions.

Reactions from WWE and Fans

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) released a statement the day after the event, describing the match as "a testament to the creative freedom afforded by the Crown Jewel platform." A spokesperson added, "We’re thrilled to see two of our top talent push the envelope and deliver a performance that resonated with fans worldwide."

Social media lit up with mixed reactions. On Twitter, the hashtag #RollinsVsReed trended in several regions. Fans praised the psychological depth, while others complained that the lack of a clear winner left the storyline feeling unfinished. In a post‑match interview, Rollins said, "I don’t need a belt to prove I’m the smartest guy in the room. Tonight, I proved that fear can be broken with a chain."

Reed, meanwhile, remained stoic, replying to a fan question, "I’m not done. This is just the first chapter. Next time, the chain won’t work."

What This Means Ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames

The fallout will shape the buildup to WarGames, which pits two eight‑person teams inside a massive steel structure. Rollins is currently aligned with The Bloodline’s off‑shoot, while Reed has been courted by the "New Era" stable led by Cody Rhodes. If the animosity continues, we could see a direct showdown inside the cage—potentially the first time an unsanctioned‑style submission is attempted within WarGames.

Analysts at Sports Illustrated note that WWE is using the unsanctioned format to test how far they can stretch storylines without diluting championship prestige. "It’s a clever way to give mid‑card talent a spotlight," writes veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer. "The risk is that fans may expect every high‑stakes match to have no rules, which could erode the specialness of the format."

Historical Context of Unsanctioned Matches in WWE

Unsanctioned matches are not new to WWE. The concept traces back to the 1990s with bouts like the "Hell in a Cell" debut, but the official “unsanctioned” label appeared in the early 2000s, most famously with the 2008 "Unforgiven" showdown between Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Those matches often served as the climax of personal feuds, allowing wrestlers to settle scores with weapons, interference, or no‑count‑out rules.

Rollins himself participated in a controversial unsanctioned bout at WrestleMania 39 in 2023, where he faced Kevin Owens in a match that ended with both men bleeding heavily. That match helped cement his reputation as a master of mind games, a trait that clearly carried over to his 2024 showdown with Reed.