WWE is live in Las Vegas for a major announcement!

After the brawl between Cain Velasquez and Brock Lesnar on SmackDown, as well the brawl between Tyson Fury and Braun Strowman on Raw, all four men are here live at the T-Mobile Arena.

The World’s Most Unstoppable Forces come together.

The most decorated combat athlete, and the one man that made him go down. The Monster Among Men, and the UNDEFEATED Gypsy King. Truly superhuman heavyweights are converging on one location “to be let loose.”

Michael Cole is here to welcome the audience and press.

Boxing, MMA and WWE history will be made in one move. First, Cole introduces the Executive Vice-President of Talent, Events and Creative, Triple H! The Game is here and takes the podium to say hello and thank you to everyone. “IN less than three weeks, on October 31st,” the WWE returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to display the best of the best “in one of the biggest nights in global entertainment,” Crown Jewel 2019. HHH takes this moment to thank the Chairman of the General Entertainment Committee for allowing this event to happen. As part of the Riyadh Season, “one of the most diverse entertainment initiatives,” where over 100 events from across sports, theater and food, to say the least, over two months from now to the end of December, we will reinvent “sports entertainment” when the world sees a show like only the WWE can do. HHH cues up just a sample of what he means.

A video package plays to display the excitement of last year’s Greatest Royal Rumble and Crown Jewel events, as well as this year’s Super Showdown. So many incredible opportunities for fans in Saudi Arabia to meet the WWE Superstars they love, and the biggest moment of all was when one of their own, Mansoor, won the Super Showdown’s 50 Man Battle Royal. What more will the world see on Halloween day?

HHH promises WWE will showcasing “the most exciting card in WWE history.”

From Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair to the current stars like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins. This brings us all to the reason for today’s press conference. HHH is here to announce officially two matches that will “bring the worlds of UFC, boxing and WWE together in a way that only WWE can, truly exemplifying the words, ‘sports entertainment.'” As you can guess, the first of those two matches pits “one of the most decorated warriors in combat sports history,” from NCAA Division 1 to WWE and UFC, The Beast, Brock Lesnar, facing against a man who is very much his parallel: the NCAA Division 1 All American, two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion with the most knockouts in UFC history, Cain Velasquez.

Secondly, the Monster Among Men, winner of the Greatest Royal Rumble, Braun Strowman, going against the current and undefeated 30-0 lineal heavyweight boxing champion, the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury. Truly larger than life athletes sparked this fight on the Fox Friday Night SmackDown debut. HHH now cues up a video package to recap the encounter that went from jovial to personal, and that found its way to Monday Night Raw. Both men tore through security and superstars to get at each other, but nothing has been settled yet.

Michael Cole returns to the podium to take a moment to underline that this is NOT a typical press conference. Everyone has promised to keep the fighting for Crown Jewel. Without further ado, Cole introduces Braun Strowman. Strowman is even in a suit as he takes the stage.

Strowman thanks us for this opportunity to speak. he is getting goosebumps, and that doesn’t usually happen “on this meat castle” much. Strowman beat 49 of the best WWE superstars today, so Strowman promises to prove he is still “the toughest son of a bitch” when WWE returns to Riyadh. Tyson Fury is a bad, bad man, especially given what he’s overcome on his way to becoming a champion. But Strowman warns Fury, “we don’t wear gloves” and this is Strowman’s world. Fury is a household name, and Strowman promises that the world will remember who the Monster Among Men is! Strowman thanks us again for this time, and takes his leave.

Cole next introduces “a true legend of the fight game,” a man who has worked with boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The founder and CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum. Arum takes the stage now, and is honored to be here at this press conference. “You don’t know this, but I go back a long way with WWE.” He met a 29-year-old Vince McMahon to help promote Evil Kenevil’s Snake River Canyon jump. But since then, Arum is proud that Vince has built his own company to the level of worldwide branding, “the biggest sports entertainment company” that truly entertains a worldwide audience. Another remarkable thing is Tyson Fury’s career. A great fighter following in the footsteps of Ali and Foreman. He entertains in the ring, and is a tremendous personality, “a real showman.” Fans love him because he fights with his heart on his sleeve, even when he has a cut over his eye or blood pouring out. Arum officially introduces Tyson Fury to the press conference.

Fury walks on stage and thanks Arum with a handshake before taking the mic. Fury is living a dream right now, and this is a fantastic opportunity. He is excited to fight the Monster Among Men. And after seeing him in person, he sees why Strwoman has that nickname. But Fury fears no man as an undefeated champion. And he will be undefeated after Crown Jewel as he knocks Strowman out. Strowman talks about his good hands, but Fury has the best hands in boxing today! “He don’t want none of them hands, let me tell you that.” Fury thanks everyone for their time, and will see us all again at Crown Jewel. Cole reintroduces Strowman, so that we can get the classic face-to-face. They indeed do get face to face, but as promised, keep their hands to themselves before posing with dukes up. They do pat each other on the back a little hard, though. The two laugh it off and shake hands. But Strowman doesn’t let go. Things get heated again so HHH hurries out to keep them cool. No fighting here tonight, but what happens when the gloves literally and figuratively come off in Riyadh?

HHH returns to the podium.

HHH jokes how short he feels next to those two. But on to the next match. Friday last week had a shocking appearance from Cain Velasquez, and he went after Brock Lesnar with a vengeance. Between the two main event crossover stars, WWE has a match with “more athletic ability and technical fighting experience than maybe we’ve ever had inside one ring.” Both former NCAA Division 1 wrestlers, and Cain has a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu and is so naturally talented, he has reinvented himself in this last year alone. What can HHH say about Brock Lesnar that Paul Heyman hasn’t shouted at the top of his lungs a million times over. Lesnar has become a household name, and HHH is still in awe 20 years later. Lesnar went to UFC, helped boost that brand into the stratosphere, and is doing that again in the WWE. This match has it all: two once in a lifetime talents, with the athleticism to overpower anyone on the planet, but have a story to tell. This story starts all the way back in the ring in 2010. HHH personally cannot wait for this next chapter in Riyadh. HHH cues up the tape to get everyone up to speed.

The Friday Night SmackDown debut saw Lesnar once again battle for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. And despite Kofi Kingston having all the hopes and dreams riding on his back, he only lasted NINE seconds against The Beast. But as part of revenge for his son, Dominick, Rey Mysterio brought Cain Velasquez to the WWE. For once, the WWE Universe saw Lesnar worried. Velasquez got Lesnar down, threw hands, and ran the Beast out of the arena.

Cole introduces the King of Lucha Libre, Rey Mysterio! Mysterio takes the podium, and isn’t sure where to begin. His son, Dominick, has dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps for his entire life. That dream has intensified these last few years, as he dreams now of fighting alongside Mysterio. But then that dream was crushed. Dominick pushed Mysterio to keep going when he was doubting himself, so it breaks Mysterio’s heart that they shared the ring when being attacked by Lesnar. Lesnar crossed a line no man should ever cross. Lesnar dragged Dominick into the ring to brutalize him. Mysterio is proud to announce “mi familia,” the person who has been by his side since that moment, the person that has dominated Lesnar in the octagon, will do it again in a WWE ring. Mysterio officially introduces Cain Velasquez to the stage.

Velasquez is excited to be joining the WWE, and keeps his cool when talking about Lesnar. “Brock Lesnar crossed the wrong familia.” For that reason, Lesnar will pay. Velasquez takes a moment to say that Lesnar is the biggest, but he ain’t the baddest. Velasquez beat Lesnar in the UFC, and now he’ll do it in the WWE at Crown Jewel. Velasquez warns Lesnar in Spanish that on behalf of Rey Mysterio and Dominick, he will beat him down again. Muchos gracias for this time.

Cole returns to welcome The Advocate, Paul Heyman.

Heyman makes his way out and takes the podium to “inject some personality” into the room. Heyman goes through his usual introduction, making sure they spell his name right. He is the Advocate for “The Baddest Dude” on the planet. Not to correct anyone, but while Velasquez is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, Lesnar is a once-EVER. NCAA Division 1 Heavyweight Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, and multiple time TOP champion in the WWE, Lesnar will beat Cain Velasquez. “That’s not a prediction, ladies and gentlemen, that is a spoiler.” Now it is Heyman’s honor, duty and pleasure to officially introduce “the Cain Conqueror, the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World, Brrrock. Lesnarrr.”

And Lesnar does appear on stage, title in hand. Lesnar places the title down on the podium before saying, “I don’t really feel the need to say anything when I’ve got Paul Heyman,” but he does want to say this: “Words can’t describe the feelings that I had in the ring when Cain Velasquez came walking down this ramp.” This is Lesnar’s world, his house, his kingdom. To Lesnar, this isn’t a show. For 10 long years, Lesnar was waiting for this moment. Lesnar gets up and looks at the scar Cain put on his face. “I can’t wait to get my hands on you again, because it will be a different story.” Lesnar now gets to be face-to-face with Cain Velasquez. They put up their dukes for the photo op, both men willing to wait a few more weeks for the fight of their careers.

My Thoughts:

First, I want to say this style of partial-kayfabe press conference will probably be done more often now that WWE is with Fox and is using at least SmackDown for a more sports entertainment feel. They already took away the fun of a possible press conference scuffle by saying the many different “fight camps” promised to keep the peace, so there wasn’t going to be anything necessarily to write home to casual fans about. The audience was of course calm, because this was still meant to be treated as a serious press conference. But there was also no question round because this is still kayfabe. The only person to speak today to really stumble on their promo-speech was Bob Arum, but you have to give him the fact that he’s up there in age. Not really a bad idea, but still needs ironing out of they want this to be something the normal fan cares about.