Tag: wwe saudi arabia

TKO says WWE’s Nick Khan has sustained ‘strong’ partnership with Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though Vince McMahon is no longer involved, WWE’s business relationship with Saudi Arabia remains strong.

As part of a deal with the Saudi government, WWE has held PPVs/PLEs in the country since 2018. The long-term deal calls for WWE to hold two events in Saudi Arabia per year, receiving an estimated $50 million for each show. The next of those events will be King & Queen of the Ring on May 25.

Saudi official Turki Alsheikh recently told ESPN that an “enhancement” to WWE’s deal with Saudi Arabia will be announced later this month. Alsheikh said Saudi Arabia is hoping to host a future Royal Rumble or WrestleMania.

During TKO Group’s first quarter earnings call, TKO executive Mark Shapiro was asked about WWE potentially expanding its Saudi relationship. Shapiro said WWE could potentially look to increase the amount of shows it holds in the country, but nothing is planned right now beyond the two annual events.

Shapiro noted that, while there was speculation the WWE-Saudi partnership could be negatively impacted by McMahon being gone, WWE President Nick Khan has maintained a “very, very strong relationship” with Saudi Arabia.

What I would say there is, let’s remember, we have a strong and healthy relationship with the Kingdom through WWE and doing two annual events a year. And I’ll just remind folks… those deals were primarily and highly tied to Vince McMahon. And there was a lot of speculation with Vince being gone, ‘Would that impact the relationship in a negative way? Would they be looking to get out of it?’ And I would say proudly that Nick Khan, in particular, has developed and sustained, cultivated, nurtured a very, very strong relationship in a handoff from Vince.

They [Nick Khan and Saudi Arabia] have a lot of trust in each other. They have a lot of faith. We’ve been delivering on those events. Potentially we could look to do more events, but nothing is planned beyond those two events at this time. And we will continue to look at eventizing or festivalizing those WWE events more than we already do.

The UFC, which is also owned by TKO, announced an extension to its partnership with Saudi Arabia this week.

Saudi Arabia to host SmackDown, new WWE PLE on back-to-back nights

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Next month, WWE will be presenting shows from Saudi Arabia on back-to-back nights.

A video aired during WrestleMania 40 night two confirming that a WWE King & Queen of the Ring premium live event will be held in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 25. The video also included the announcement that SmackDown will emanate from Saudi Arabia on Friday, May 24.

The city of Jeddah is hosting both shows.

This marks a change for WWE. In the past, SmackDown aired episodes that were taped a week in advance before the Saudi PLEs.

King & Queen of the Ring is a new WWE PLE name. The first King & Queen of the Ring event was originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2023 before WWE changed its plans.

The King of the Ring tournament is returning for the first time since 2021. This will be the first-ever Queen of the Ring, though a Queen’s Crown tournament did happen alongside King of the Ring in 2021. Xavier Woods and Zelina Vega were the winners of those tournaments.

Since 2018, WWE has regularly held events in Saudi Arabia as part of a deal with the Saudi government.

Here’s a look at WWE’s post-WrestleMania PLE schedule:

  • Saturday, May 4: Backlash (Lyon, France)
  • Saturday, May 25: King & Queen of the Ring (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
  • Saturday, June 15: Clash at the Castle (Glasgow, Scotland)
  • Saturday, July 6: Money in the Bank (Toronto, Canada)
  • Saturday, August 3: SummerSlam (Cleveland, Ohio)
  • Saturday, August 31: Bash in Berlin (Berlin, Germany)

Update on The Rock’s post-WrestleMania WWE schedule

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It doesn’t look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be wrestling at WWE’s next show in Saudi Arabia.

WWE is scheduled to make its return to Saudi Arabia for a premium live event on Saturday, May 25. Dave Meltzer reported last week that, while a lot of variables and factors were in play, WWE would obviously like to have The Rock on that event. Meltzer noted that there had definitely been a push to get The Rock to work at least one of WWE’s Saudi events this year.

In an update in the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer writes that Rock’s movie filming schedule rules him out of the May 25 show in Saudi Arabia:

Johnson starts filming ‘The Smashing Machine’ on 5/1. This rules him out of the May Saudi Arabia show and makes SummerSlam tough depending on the schedule. It could mean the earliest he could do another match would be the second Saudi Arabia show. And I could see him waiting for WrestleMania.

“The Smashing Machine” is a biopic with The Rock playing MMA legend Mark Kerr. The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions is partnering with A24 Films for the movie.

With WrestleMania 40 just three weeks away, The Rock is set to appear on SmackDown from Memphis tonight (March 15). WWE will follow up on Cody Rhodes slapping The Rock at the end of last Friday’s show.

The Rock & Roman Reigns are facing Rhodes & Seth Rollins at night one of WrestleMania. It has implications for Reigns and Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match at night two. If Rhodes & Rollins win the tag team match, The Bloodline will be barred from ringside for Reigns vs. Rhodes. If Rock & Reigns win, Reigns vs. Rhodes will be a Bloodline Rules (anything goes) match.

WrestleMania may not be The Rock’s only WWE match of 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WrestleMania 40 may not be the only match that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson works in 2024.

In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that, while nothing is set in stone, the belief right now is that WrestleMania won’t be the only time The Rock wrestles in 2024. There’s a push to get The Rock to work at least one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows this year.

Meltzer writes that WWE’s next Saudi show is scheduled for Saturday, May 25. There are a lot of variables and factors in play, but WWE would obviously like it if The Rock worked that event:

The next Saudi Arabia PPV is 5/25, which will be the day before AEW’s Double or Nothing show. When there was an attempt by some to get Rock to move to a later date with Reigns and keep Cody Rhodes in the spot (while Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel had made the deal, there were people who felt that since the spot was promised to Rhodes last year and they’d been building it, have it be Rhodes at Mania and Reigns-Rock in Saudi with the idea of garnering more money, this would have been that date. When asking if Rock will be working that show, we’re told there are a lot of variables in play and a variety of factors but obviously the company would like it if he would. But while nothing is set in stone, the belief as of right now is that Mania won’t be his only match in 2024 and there is definitely a push to get him to work at least one Saudi Arabia event this year.

A tag team match with The Rock & Roman Reigns facing Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins is set to headline WrestleMania 40 night one on Saturday, April 6. That should be made official when The Rock, Reigns, Rhodes, and Rollins all appear on SmackDown tonight.

The Rock & Reigns issued a challenge for the WrestleMania tag match on SmackDown last Friday. It will have implications for Reigns and Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 40 night two. If Rhodes & Rollins win, The Bloodline will be barred from Reigns vs. Rhodes. If The Rock & Reigns win, Reigns vs. Rhodes will be a Bloodline Rules match, meaning that anything goes.

The Rock was named to TKO Group Holding’s Board of Directors this January. TKO is the parent company of WWE and UFC.

Roman Reigns vs. John Cena not planned for WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though both are scheduled for WWE Crown Jewel, it doesn’t look like Roman Reigns vs. John Cena will be happening at the event.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Reigns vs. Cena is not planned for Crown Jewel. The show is taking place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 4.

Meltzer wrote:

Although the promos where the Bloodline and Heyman talk of Cena as ‘the second greatest wrestler of all-time,’ with the idea Reigns is the greatest and a play off Cena’s WWE tag line of being the greatest, and Cena also at this point scheduled for Crown Jewel, it was confirmed to us that Reigns vs. Cena is not the match planned for the show.

Reigns and Cena have already faced each other during Reigns’ historic title reign. Reigns defeated Cena at SummerSlam 2021.

At Fastlane this Saturday, Cena is teaming with LA Knight against The Bloodline’s Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa.

Reigns is expected to make his return to WWE television on SmackDown next Friday (October 13). He’s been away from WWE TV since shortly after SummerSlam.

With Hollywood on strike, Cena has made an extended return to WWE this fall. He’s been announced for every SmackDown episode through the end of October. It was announced last month that Cena would also be participating in Crown Jewel.

Cena is set to appear on NXT next Tuesday as well. Cena will be in Carmelo Hayes’ corner for Hayes vs. Bron Breakker. Paul Heyman will be in Breakker’s corner.

John Cena advertised for WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

John Cena is being advertised for WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia.

The social media accounts for Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season posted a video on Saturday promoting this year’s state-sponsored festival. In the video, it was said that WWE Crown Jewel will include “the participation of John Cena.”

Crown Jewel is taking place on Saturday, November 4 and will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.

Cena made his return to WWE at the beginning of this month. He’s set to appear on every SmackDown from now through the end of October.

Cena’s return to WWE coincides with the Hollywood writers and actors strike, which has halted most film and television production.

On Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, Cena was a guest on The Grayson Waller Effect. After Jimmy Uso crashed the segment, the show ended with AJ Styles saving Cena from Uso and Solo Sikoa. Cena and Styles joined together to fight off the attack.

Cena also reunited with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a backstage segment on Friday’s SmackDown.

There is still one WWE PPV left before Crown Jewel. Indianapolis will host Fastlane on Saturday, October 7.

Roman Reigns’ next match expected to take place at WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Roman Reigns’ next match is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed that Reigns’ next match will be at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 4. Reigns will be back on WWE television leading into the event.

As expected, the next Reigns match will be 11/4 in Saudi Arabia. He will be back on television in the time leading to that show to promote the match.

It will be three months between Reigns’ matches at SummerSlam and Crown Jewel. Reigns wasn’t on WWE’s Payback pay-per-view this month and also isn’t advertised for October’s Fastlane event.

Reigns retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Jey Uso in a Tribal Combat match in the main event of SummerSlam. Jey was on the verge of winning until his twin brother Jimmy cost him the match.

Since then, Jey “quit” SmackDown and joined the Raw roster. WWE has said that SmackDown will receive “trade compensation” for Jey going to Raw.

Jimmy Uso has been trying to get back into The Bloodline in recent weeks. AJ Styles defeated Jimmy on SmackDown last Friday. Following the match, The Judgment Day attacked Styles and threw him back in the ring so Solo Sikoa could give Styles a Samoan Spike. Judgment Day, who have also been trying to recruit Jey Uso, may have been trying to lure Sikoa away from The Bloodline.

Date reportedly set for next WWE pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE is returning to Saudi Arabia this November, according to a report. 

As noted in Sunday’s Daily Update by Dave Meltzer, Wrestlenomics is reporting that WWE will return to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 4. 

While not officially announced by the company, the event will likely be the annual Crown Jewel pay-per-view. Last year’s Crown Jewel was held on November 5 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

WWE and Saudi Arabia announced a ten-year agreement in 2018 that called for the country to host two pay-per-view events annually. Only one show was held in Saudi Arabia in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After not holding a pay-per-view event in December 2022, it is possible that WWE has rounded out their pay-per-view calendar for the rest of the year with the news of this second Saudi show.

 A look at the WWE pay-per-view calendar for the next several months:

  • Saturday, August 5: SummerSlam at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
  • Saturday, September 2: Payback at PPG Paints Arena In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Saturday, October 7: Fastlane at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Saturday, November 4: Pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia
  • Saturday, November 25: Survivor Series at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois

Wrestling Observer Radio: Stephanie McMahon resigns, WWE sale rumors

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

It’s an emergency edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Dave and I talk about Stephanie McMahon resigning from her position at WWE, Vince McMahon getting elected back into his Executive Chairman role, and all the WWE sale rumors and the implications.

We also talk about the Jay White situation as well as the passing of Black Warrior.

Click Here to Listen

Two matches added to WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two new matches have been announced for WWE Crown Jewel.

A steel cage match between Karrion Kross and Drew McIntyre has been set for November 5 in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Braun Strowman will battle Omos.

On Friday’s SmackDown, McIntyre told Kayla Braxton that eventually, this has to end between himself and Kross and made the match. McIntyre lost to Kross in a strap match at Extreme Rules, but the two have continued to feud, with McIntyre attacking Kross after Kross and Scarlett were involved in a car accident on last week’s SmackDown.

MVP confronted Braun Strowman on SmackDown, with Strowman eventually issuing a challenge to Omos. MVP accepted on behalf of Omos, bringing him out. Omos and Strowman had a staredown before Omos pushed Strowman out of the ring.

Here is the updated lineup for Crown Jewel:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns defends against Logan Paul
  • The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Pries, and Dominik Mysterio)
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
  • Omos vs. Braun Strowman
  • Steel cage: Karrion Kross vs. Drew McIntyre

WWE’s Lita explains decision to wrestle in Saudi Arabia despite previous criticisms

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In an interview with Ring The Belle, WWE Hall of Famer Lita explained why she’s wrestling in Saudi Arabia despite previously criticizing WWE’s relationship with the country.

Lita will challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship at WWE’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 19. Lita told Ring the Belle that women now being able to wrestle in Saudi Arabia, along with positive experiences she’s heard from other talent, made wrestling there an opportunity she wanted to take.

So I will say I was outspoken on the early relationship between WWE and Saudi. ‘Oh, they say they want women to wrestle over there, but like, I don’t know if I believe it. There’s no women on this card.’ There’s women on the card [now] — and I’ve talked to the women personally that have been over there. And they’re like, ‘It’s unbelievable. There are women crying, never thinking they would get to see two women be so strong in the ring.’ They’re like, ‘It’s really powerful. You’re gonna enjoy that.’ And so, sure, do they have a long way to go? Do we as a society have a long way to go? Absolutely, but you’ve got to take the opportunities when they’re there.

Lita had said in a 2018 interview with WrestleZone that she thought WWE’s relationship with the Saudi government was a “direct conflict of interest” with the promotion’s efforts to push forward women’s wrestling.

“I understand that they are a business, a global business and they are always looking to expand their global presence. However, I do feel this was a direct conflict of interest with them maintaining any integrity or truth to the fact that they say they would like to push forward women, their roles and their reputations in this business as anything resembling equal to a male,” Lita said in the May 2018 interview.

“Make the money, that’s fine, but don’t try to cover it up. Don’t say, ‘No, we are doing this because in the future we would like to help progress their culture forward!’ No, you want the money, you’re a business and businesses make money. That’s okay. From my perspective over here, I don’t own your business so that’s your call. From a PR perspective don’t say you are doing it because, ‘We want to help progress that culture forward.’ No, it’s a direct conflict of interest, in my opinion.”

This year’s Elimination Chamber will be WWE’s seventh event in Saudi Arabia since the company’s 10-year deal with the Saudi government began in 2018. WWE’s first women’s match in Saudi Arabia took place in October 2019.

Lynch vs. Lita was set up for the Elimination Chamber when Lita confronted Lynch on the post-Royal Rumble episode of Raw. Lita was also an entrant in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match.

Lita told Ring The Belle that she was initially supposed to go home after the Royal Rumble, but WWE asked her if she wanted to wrestle Lynch.

Lita was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.

Lita’s full interview with Ring The Belle can be seen below:

WWE announces Elimination Chamber PPV for Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has officially confirmed next month’s return to Saudi Arabia.

This year’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 19. The show will be held at the Jeddah Super Dome, which is “the world’s largest pillarless superdome.”

“The General Entertainment Authority, in cooperation with WWE, has announced that the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event will be held at the world’s largest pillarless superdome in Jeddah, on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. More details of the event will be announced in the coming weeks,” WWE wrote.

“The Elimination Chamber show complements the commitment of the General Entertainment Authority to provide the most famous international events and entertainment shows. This show was preceded by several previous partnerships with WWE to present international shows in the kingdom, which achieved remarkable local and international success, including the recent WWE Crown Jewel show in Riyadh Season 2021 and WWE Super ShowDown in the previous Riyadh Season in early 2020.”

Elimination Chamber will be WWE’s only PPV between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 38. There will be no WWE PPV in March.

The show taking place on a Saturday is a departure from recent Saudi events, which have been held on Thursdays.

This will be the seventh WWE event to be held in Saudi Arabia since the company’s 10-year deal with the Saudi government began in 2018. It’s the second time WWE has been back to Saudi Arabia since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Here’s WWE’s updated PPV schedule for the rest of the year:

  • Saturday, January 29: Royal Rumble at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Saturday, February 19: Elimination Chamber at Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3: WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas
  • Sunday, May 8: Pay-per-view at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island
  • Sunday, June 5: Pay-per-view at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
  • Saturday, July 2: Money In The Bank at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Saturday, July 30: SummerSlam at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Sunday, September 4: Pay-per-view at TBD location
  • October: TBA Saudi PPV
  • Saturday, November 26: Survivor Series at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts

WWE Elimination Chamber match reportedly part of February Saudi Arabia event

Posted on by Josh Nason

WWE is reportedly looking at bringing the Elimination Chamber to Saudi Arabia for their Saturday, February 19th event.

The news was reported by Fightful on Thursday and previously discussed by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston last Sunday.

It’s unknown if the event will be branded as Elimination Chamber as has been the case since 2010 for those specific WWE pay-per-views.

The report stated there have been plans for the massive structure to be part of the February show since WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia last November.

News of the February show broke last week — the first-such Saturday show WWE will hold in the country since their partnership began.

First created in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match was part of that year’s Survivor Series and eventually was part of other PPVs until it got its own named PPV in 2010.

Since then, the event has been a yearly tradition held in February or March, save for 2016. When WWE released its PPV slate for 2022, the event wasn’t listed on the schedule but there was a TBA placeholder for February.

There has been 28 Chamber matches in WWE history with the first such-women’s match happening in February 2018.

WWE planning February 19 return to Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A date appears to have been set for WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia next month.

Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast reported on Wednesday that WWE is planning to hold its next show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 19. It will be the first time WWE has been to Saudi Arabia since last October’s Crown Jewel event.

The Saudi show taking place on Saturday is a change for WWE. The company’s recent Saudi events have been held on Thursdays.

When WWE’s pay-per-view schedule for 2022 was revealed, there were shows in February and October that were listed as “to be announced.” Those were placeholders for WWE’s two annual Saudi PPVs.

October’s Crown Jewel was the first WWE show to take place in Saudi Arabia since the COVID-19 pandemic began. WWE has held six shows in the country since announcing its 10-year agreement with the Saudi government in 2018.

Here’s the updated WWE PPV schedule for the rest of 2022:

  • Saturday, January 29: Royal Rumble at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Saturday, February 19: Saudi Arabia PPV
  • Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3: WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas
  • Sunday, May 8: Pay-per-view at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island
  • Sunday, June 5: Pay-per-view at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
  • Saturday, July 2: Money In The Bank at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Saturday, July 30: SummerSlam at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Sunday, September 4: Pay-per-view at TBD location
  • October: TBA Saudi PPV
  • Saturday, November 26: Survivor Series at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts