10 Moments That Will Shape Wrestling During The Next Decade

2. WWE's Ten Year Saudi Arabia Deal Will Be Cut Short

vince mcmahon
WWE.com

Ever since The Greatest Royal Rumble, in April 2018 - WWE's first pay-per-view event at the King Abdullah International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - the world's biggest wrestling promotion has dealt with criticism from fans, wrestlers and the media. The lack of women on the card, the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the travel issues following the most recent Crown Jewel event; not a single pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia has gone by without some form of controversy.

There are many fans and wrestlers who cannot wait to see the deal between WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia come to an end. They won't have to wait as long as they think. Whether the cause is pressure from sponsors, wrestlers refusing to participate, increased media scrutiny, or a volatile political climate, the WWE-Saudi Arabia deal is not going to last until 2028.

When this deal comes to an early end, it will affect the entire wrestling industry. WWE currently make, an estimated $50 million per show from this deal. While WWE would not be in serious financial trouble should this deal end early, it would put a sizeable dent in their wallet. WWE may cut costs by releasing some of the talent they've signed but never really used - seriously, has anyone seen The Colons? This would allow wrestlers the opportunity to head elsewhere to perform their craft and make a living, improving the indies and expanding the industry.

When this deal gets cut short, expect a ripple-effect well beyond WWE.

Contributor
Contributor

Brady Coyle is a board game enthusiast, an outdoor enthusiast, a crossword enthusiast and doesn't understand the concept of synonyms. He saw a button that said "Contribute" and, presented with the opportunity to share his opinion, he will never say no. He lives in Toronto, Canada, a place where nothing ever gets done because everyone is too busy saying "sorry" to each other.