There is reportedly internal pressure on WWE wrestlers to travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel, despite concerns about safety in the country.
In Friday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that one of the top stars said turning down the trip is “very much not being encouraged” within WWE. Meltzer did not name the star, and he hasn’t heard of any wrestlers who have pulled out of the show. He wasn’t able to find out if WWE ever formally gave the roster that option.
The potential consequences of turning it down came up earlier in a Q&A with WrestleVotes. According to WrestleVotes, talent could stay home, but it may cost them their place in WWE once they come back.
“They could say they’re not going, and they won’t get paid, and the rest of their career will be reflective of that,” WrestleVotes said. The issue is “not the pay, but the stigma,” along with a spot they may no longer have. “They can say, ‘I’m staying home. I’m watching it on my couch. You can figure it out,’ but things may be different when they go back to work.”
Jonathan Coachman named Kevin Owens, Danhausen, and Sami Zayn among the wrestlers who are unhappy about the trip. On Two Count Tuesday, Coachman singled out Owens and said:
“Correct. Kevin Owens was one of the names that was told to me yesterday. So I respect that he’s saying something backstage.”
Owens is set to face CM Punk on the November 6 SmackDown. Their match will be taped on Monday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. But Coachman’s comments do not show that Owens formally turned down the trip, or that WWE changed anything about that match because of it.
Fightful Select spoke with staff and wrestlers who are concerned about safety. But people Fightful talked to in Saudi Arabia said the situation there wasn’t as bad as it has been portrayed in the media.
The U.S. State Department has Saudi Arabia at Level 3, which means Americans are advised to reconsider travel. On October 23, the U.S. government ordered non-emergency employees and their family members out of the country due to the risk of drone and missile attacks.
In a company meeting on Wednesday, TKO’s Mark Shapiro said everyone’s safety is a priority for the upcoming shows in the Middle East.
Crown Jewel is still scheduled for Saturday, November 7.