10 Reasons To Be Nervous For WWE In 2020

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Saudi Arabian Specials Steal The Big Matches

WWE Crown Jewel 2019 Brock Lesnar Cain Velasquez
WWE.com

News that WWE has "extended" its deal with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority was greeted with typical murmurs of discontent amongst wrestling fans. Shows like Greatest Royal Rumble, Super Show-Down and Crown Jewel haven't been popular additions to the supershow calendar, and not only because of location.

They're stealing WWE's attention away from more traditional events.

As much as Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez was an auxiliary attraction that mixed MMA history with current WWE Title dominance, it was still a big marquee match that had crossover appeal outside the pro wrestling bubble. The fact it happened to appease a bloated deal with Saudi Vision 2030 shouldn't be lost on anyone.

Lesnar vs. Velasquez was a WrestleMania calibre showpiece that surely would've taken place in Tampa had WWE not needed to fill the Saudi card. Here's the kicker: WWE's approach to the Saudi specials isn't sustainable. They'll run out of celebrity-infused, legend-style bouts sooner or later, and then they'll start leeching big matches that'd be reserved for other pay-per-views to fill those gaps.

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Are you nervous about WWE's prospects in 2020? For more wrestling content, check out 10 Wrestling Facts We Didn’t Know Last Week (1 Nov)!

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.