Report: WWE Happy With Women's Wrestling Progress In Saudi Arabia
One week removed from "influencing the world" with a billboard for Lita vs. Becky Lynch...
Just over one week removed from having its propagandised independent contractors actively participate in its insipid Saudi Arabian sportswashing campaign by touting posters advertising a wrestling match as evidence of "influencing the world", WWE personnel are pleased with how women's wrestling has evolved in the promotion.
Per PWInsider's Mike Johnson, several within the promotion "marvelled" at the progress made following Elimination Chamber 2022, which featured three women's bouts.
Numerically, things have moved forward. WWE has gone from not being able to book women's bouts in Saudi Arabia, to being limited to one per card (featuring the participants competing in oversized t-shirts), to having three on one night. At Elimination Chamber, the wrestlers worked in bodysuits that adhered to local laws while still bearing resemblance to their usual attire.
Women were forbidden from competing in WWE's first run of Saudi Arabian pay-per-views. In June 2019, the country's government rejected the promotion adding an Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya bout to Super ShowDown, before relenting in October. Lacey Evans and Natalya competed in what WWE touted as a "groundbreaking" contest at Crown Jewel that month - and women have occupied spots on every Saudi show since.
WWE's Saudi Arabian activities are part of the Saudi Vision 2030 campaign, which aims to reform the image of a government possessing one of the worst human rights records in the world. Vince McMahon's promotion earns a reported $50 million for every show held in the Kingdom.