Ever since 2018, when WWE signed its 10-year, $1M deal with the KSA, the company has had a Saudi Arabia problem. WWE’s relationship with the KSA has no doubt been profitable for both entities but at what cost?
Fans have turned on WWE for dealing with a country that disregards human rights, wrestlers have refused to take part in the KSA’s super shows or were reportedly kept home based on their ethnicity, and in the early years of the deal, women weren’t even allowed to be on the card let alone attend the events without a male chaperone. There have been lawsuits, accusations of WWE being party to KSA’s sportswashing, issues with talent getting stuck overseas, and so much more. WWE getting into bed with Saudi Arabia has created an image and reputation problem that the company will get in bed with bad actors if it means increasing their bottom line. It’s one that good public relations and media spins have tried to distance itself from but every year when the shows come along, the issue rears its ugly head. But now, this relationship is going beyond just bad PR as its creating a potential safety problem and that is not something a positive news spin can make go away.
WWE Monitoring Situation in the Middle East is Not Strong Enough Response
Photo Credit: WWE
This past weekend, the United States government escalated a conflict between Iran and Israel by deciding to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. This followed Israel attacking Iran in what was seen to be a retaliatory measure to Hamas’ attack on the country in October 2023. Ever since then, Israel and Iran have been at odds with missiles flying back-and-forth and countless civilians being killed. This latest conflict only adds to ever-worsening conditions in the entire Middle East, which is very much a powder keg at the moment.
The bombing by the U.S. now puts Americans in the region at risk as Iran has essentially put a bounty out on any U.S. citizen living in the entire Middle East, not just Israel. That brings us to Monday, June 23rd when Iran retaliated by attacking a U.S. military base in Qatar. No casualties were reported but the attack left several WWE personnel who had traveled in advance of the Friday and Saturday shows, stranded at the country’s airport as airspaces were closed. Those spaces have now re-opened and it is believed those production crews will travel to Riyadh as planned. Talent are expected to arrive later this week.
For WWE, which can only be judged at the moment for what the company has said publicly, it appears things are moving ahead in Saudi Arabia, business as usual. The company will likely use its TV tonight to continue building the feud between John Cena and CM Punk, and focus on the King of the Ring semifinal that will take place between Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso on Friday, all the while not publicly acknowledging the threat hanging over this weekend’s events. If this is the case and things truly do proceed according to plan, it is the worst possible decision the company could make as they are potentially endangering their performers and fans attending this weekend’s events.
The United States State Department, which has addressed a heightened terror alert globally, issued the following:
“The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the State Department said. “There is potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.”
Many are expecting that WWE has received some sort of guarantee from Saudi Arabia that their events and performers won’t be targeted, however, this is not enough. WWE is an American-based company. Any guarantees provided to them should be taken with an incredible grain of salt. WWE would be wise not to risk lives on any such guarantees.
Deal with Saudi Arabia Ends in 2027…It’s Time for WWE to Move On
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In 2019, WWE expanded its relationship with Saudi Arabia to include the hosting of two major events per year. 2026 will see WWE travel to Saudi Arabia for three events including bringing the Royal Rumble – and over 60 wrestlers – to the country. It is being said that this PLE relationship ends in 2027 and while it’s expected WWE will renew what has been a financially lucrative deal, the right move ethically would be to cut ties entirely.
Let SmackDown and Night of Champions serve as an example for WWE and its Saudi Arabia relationship. Saudi Arabia is far from an ideal country but even with its many flaws, it is a far cry from Iran in the region. Yet even still, the country is not immune from the tensions that have been escalating and destabilizing around them. What role Saudi Arabia has to play in all of that remains to be seen as thus far, the KSA has strongly condemned the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them a direct hit on the country’s sovereignty. The KSA’s condemnation of the attack likely has nothing to do with its other ventures, namely its sporting relationships with the United States including LIV Golf and of course, the WWE shows. But bad actors exist everywhere and what’s to say one of those doesn’t take an opportunity to attack a U.S. based business that is all but being handed to them on a silver platter.
Obviously, that is worst case scenario and a very unlikely scenario at that. But when it comes to WWE needing to protect its talent, they should operate as if the least likely scenario is the most likely one in Saudi Arabia. And if not this year, the Middle East tensions that seem unlikely to ever fully end, should be all that WWE needs to take the financial hit and extract itself from doing further business with the KSA.
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