5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (Oct 19)

Blood money is still green.

Vince McMahon NXT
WWE

WWE this week found itself dragged across the mainstream media in the tailspin of a grisly, shocking international incident.

Dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered his country's consulate in Turkey on October 2. Despite initial counter-claims from the Kingdom, he never left. Reports vary (and intensify by the hour) as to what became of him. The latest reports in a constantly mutating diplomatic nightmare cite that Khashoggi was murdered, and then dismembered, or even dismembered while he was still alive. This is a harrowing story, one that utterly damns any thin, disintegrating notion of human rights, and it isn't going anywhere; the U.S. has thus far refused to demonise their Saudi benefactors, despite the mounting evidence. Trump has even compared the incident to the recent 1980s party monster Brett Kavanaugh furore. "Guilty until proven innocent," were the words used, when it seems increasingly unlikely that Khashoggi is simply too buzzed from a BEER bender to find his way home.

Decidedly clear is WWE's position: unless "something drastic happens" (what, another gruesome disseverance?), the Crown Jewel pay-per-view scheduled for Saudi on November 2 is going ahead.

And so it bloody well should, according to one former WWE Heavyweight Champion...

5. JBL's Take On Saudi Arabia

Vince McMahon NXT
wwe.com

JBL was asked for his take on how WWE should react to the furore on the Fox Business Network by Stuart Varney. With a certain confidence, he took a breath, and said the following:

"WWE, f*ck yeah! Coming again to save the motherf*cking day yeah!"

That's barely a joke; Layfield actually said that:

"My personal opinion is that they should go. You isolate a country, all you do is impoverish that country."

It's Saudi Arabia, John. They will be fine.

"WWE went to Abu Dhabi. They did the first women's match that ever happened in the middle east."

TNA beat WWE to that by seven years, but WWE did go purely for the good of mankind, so we'll let him off.

"I have spent seven Christmases in Iraq and Afghanistan with the WWE."

The Afghanistan conflict is still ongoing. After 17 years. John Cena did not go over the Taliban.

"You wanna change Saudi Arabia? Send WWE."

Why stop there? Why can't WWE cure all the world's ills?

Nia Jax has already put an end to body shaming. Maybe Drew Gulak could meet with diplomatic officials and explain what's happened with a Powerpoint presentation.

And why not task Finn Bálor with solving the worldwide mental health crisis? One look at that smile, and you too can learn just how to have fun out there.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!