What Happened With WWE in Saudi Arabia?By Coder| September 29, 2023 Wrestling Blogs What Happened With WWE in Saudi Arabia? On October 31, 2019, WWE held its highly anticipated Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, the event was marred by controversy and unforeseen circumstances that left fans and wrestlers alike bewildered. Let’s take a closer look at what happened. The Travel Delays Days leading up to Crown Jewel, reports started to emerge about travel delays faced by several WWE Superstars and crew members. Some flights were grounded due to mechanical issues, while others experienced fueling problems. This resulted in a significant number of talent being stranded for hours at various airports around the world. Superstars Stranded: Roman Reigns Seth Rollins Braun Strowman Brock Lesnar The Mechanical Issues As if the travel delays weren’t enough, some Superstars faced additional challenges when their chartered plane was grounded due to mechanical issues. Despite attempts to fix the problem, it became clear that they wouldn’t make it to Saudi Arabia in time for the event. Affected Superstars: Daniel Bryan The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods) Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair (who were scheduled for special appearances) The Last-Minute Changes With several top talents unable to make it to Crown Jewel due to the travel delays and mechanical issues, WWE had no choice but to make last-minute changes to the card. Matches were rearranged, and replacement Superstars were brought in to ensure the show went on. The Fallout The events surrounding Crown Jewel raised questions about WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. This wasn’t the first time travel issues had affected their shows in the country. It led to speculation about contractual obligations and the financial impact it could have on WWE. Furthermore, the absence of key Superstars affected storylines and left fans disappointed. The sudden changes disrupted planned rivalries and left some matches feeling improvised. Lasting Effects While WWE managed to salvage Crown Jewel, the fallout from the travel delays and last-minute changes has had lasting effects. It highlighted logistical challenges associated with hosting events in distant locations and raised concerns among fans about future shows in Saudi Arabia. WWE has since taken steps to address these issues, implementing new protocols to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. Only time will tell if these measures are enough to ensure smooth operations for future events. In conclusion, what happened with WWE in Saudi Arabia was a series of unfortunate events that led to travel delays, mechanical issues, last-minute changes, and lasting effects on both talent and fan experience. It serves as a reminder that even the biggest sports entertainment company can face unexpected challenges when venturing into new territories.
