“You do realize that one missile strike wipes out the entire company?”
That’s what someone inside WWE reportedly told Bryan Alvarez this week about the company’s plans to hold Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on November 7.
It’s a hell of a thing to hear from someone whose employer is preparing to send its wrestlers and production staff into a city where missiles have repeatedly struck the international airport.
On October 10, an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 13 people, including an American, and wounded more than 300. The airport had already been hit earlier that week. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have demonstrated they can reach the Saudi capital with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions on American-made air defenses. Those defenses didn’t stop the attack, and Saudi officials are investigating why. Flights have also been disrupted, with the airport’s operations severely affected by the repeated strikes.
The attacks come amid the U.S. war with Iran, which began with American and Israeli strikes on February 28. The Houthis have fought Saudi Arabia for years, and the wider regional conflict has added another dimension to the danger.
The U.S. State Department advises Americans to reconsider traveling to Saudi Arabia. Its October 12 advisory warns of missile and drone attacks, including threats to American interests. Hotels, transportation hubs, and entertainment venues are among the potential terrorist targets it identifies.
U.S. government employees need special authorization to use Saudi airports.
WWE apparently expects its employees to make the trip anyway.
Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Live that wrestlers privately don’t want to go, although none have publicly objected. According to an October 15 Ringside News report, he also said production workers had posted concerns on Instagram and management wasn’t happy about it.
No disciplinary action has been confirmed. But imagine being a production employee who needs the job, hearing about missile attacks at the airport you’ll be flying into, and then finding out the bosses reportedly don’t appreciate people talking about their concerns.
Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes might have the leverage to refuse such an assignment. The people hauling equipment and putting together the television production probably don’t have that luxury.
Other sports organizations have already acted. Riyadh Season postponed its Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition until December. The international cycling federation canceled its world championships scheduled for Riyadh after Australia withdrew over safety concerns. Golf and esports events have also been postponed.
WWE also has an alternative. WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that a backup venue in the United States is ready if Crown Jewel has to move.
WWE is still planning to go.
There’s an obvious financial reason the company might be reluctant to change course.
According to reporting summarized by Wrestling Inc., postponing Crown Jewel reportedly wouldn’t cost WWE money under its current Saudi agreement. The bigger concern may be what happens when that contract expires in 2028, particularly with TKO’s growing boxing interests in Saudi Arabia. The contractual provision has not been independently confirmed.
The same reporting suggests any relocation decision would likely involve TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and President Mark Shapiro, with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, potentially exercising considerable influence because of the kingdom’s financial relationship with TKO.
Saudi Arabia has poured billions into sports and entertainment under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 program. The kingdom wants to diversify its economy and become a destination for international events. Human rights groups have another term for its efforts to buy influence and improve its reputation through sports.
Sportswashing.
LIV Golf was a spectacularly expensive example. The Saudi Public Investment Fund spent more than $5 billion building a rival to the PGA Tour and offering enormous contracts to established stars. LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September after the fund decided to end its long-term financial support. The Saudis still provided a bankruptcy loan.
WWE has been collecting Saudi money since 2018. That same year, Saudi agents murdered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Khashoggi went there on October 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. He never came out.
In 2021, a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that bin Salman approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi. The crown prince denied ordering the murder.
WWE continued doing business with his government.
Riyadh Season is overseen by Alalshikh, one of the principal figures behind the kingdom’s international entertainment deals. He has worked directly with WWE, which announced last year that WrestleMania 43 would be held in Riyadh in 2027.
The Saudi relationship has become an important part of WWE’s business, and the kingdom has an equally strong interest in keeping major American entertainment companies coming to Riyadh.
Having Crown Jewel move because of repeated missile attacks would be embarrassing for Saudi officials. It might also create financial complications for WWE.
Those are problems the company can afford to deal with.
The safety of its employees is another matter.
WWE may have received assurances from Saudi officials that Crown Jewel can proceed safely. Private security arrangements may protect wrestlers and employees from certain threats. But Saudi Arabia’s own military has been unable to intercept every incoming missile. Another strike could happen with little warning.
There’s no evidence WWE wants anyone hurt. There is, however, a legitimate question about why the company remains committed to Riyadh when other sporting organizations have decided to stay away and its own employees are reportedly afraid to go.
WWE overlooked the Khashoggi murder when deciding to maintain its lucrative Saudi relationship. Now it faces a decision that could directly affect the lives of people working for the company.
WWE can always reschedule a wrestling show. It can find another arena, another city, or another country.
What it can’t do is bring someone back if the decision to protect a payday costs an employee their life.