WWE Crown Jewel: Daniel Bryan Reportedly Off Show
Bryan set to sit out trip to Saudi Arabia.
According to PWInsider, Daniel Bryan will not participate in WWE's Crown Jewel event in Riyadh this Friday. Bryan, who had been scheduled to square off with AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, has apparently made clear to management that he will not be travelling to Saudi Arabia.
WWE have yet to officially confirm Bryan's withdrawal, news of which was first reported by Barstool Sport's Robbie Fox. Supposedly, the original plan was to keep both Bryan and AJ at home, and instead film their match at the Performance Center to be broadcast remotely on Friday night. Those plans have since been nixed.
Assuming reports turn out to be accurate, Bryan follows in the footsteps of John Cena in objecting to WWE's latest jaunt to the desert. Cena, with one eye on his burgeoning Hollywood career, was officially removed from Crown Jewel during last night's episode of Monday Night Raw.
WWE have faced immense criticism for going ahead with the Riyadh show in the wake of the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite calls from the US Senate, the company have decided the money is worth more than moral integrity.
Expect a hastily thrown together angle on SmackDown tonight explaining Bryan's impending absence.