WWE is reportedly moving closer to holding Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia despite recent attacks and security alerts from the U.S. government.
Dave Meltzer believes a boxing event set for Saturday will be one of the main factors in WWE’s decision.
On Tuesday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said WWE will go ahead with the trip as planned unless something serious happens by November 3. He pointed to Saturday’s fight between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli in Riyadh as a way to gauge security in the country.
“Unless something catastrophic happens between now and next Tuesday, they’re going [to Saudi Arabia],” Meltzer said.
“There’s a boxing match on Saturday with Canelo Alvarez,” Meltzer said. “One of the boxers, Lindolfo Delgado, he pulled out. He said he’s not going, but everybody else went.”
Meltzer also described how the rest of the fighters got to Riyadh.
“A lot of them flew into Bahrain airport to avoid the Riyadh airport, and then driven five hours to get to Riyadh,” Meltzer said. “There’s been no incidents today. Everyone’s saying it’s great, the security is great, that everything is fine.”
Meltzer finished by explaining what could change WWE’s plans.
“If something bad happens to the boxing show, yeah, they probably won’t go,” Meltzer said. “But if nothing happens, they’re going.”
As previously reported, construction for Crown Jewel has begun.
Crown Jewel is set for November 7 at Riyadh Season Stadium at KAFD, four days after the cutoff Meltzer gave.