10 Reasons Why WWE's Problems Aren't Going Away
8. The Saudi Arabia Deal Has Gone Spectacularly Awry
The Saudi Arabia deal isn't crucial to WWE's bottom line - TV income is the rising tide somehow lifting the Titanic - but it's a huge revenue stream that is rather handy, given WWE's continued inability to monetise the core fanbase. And, after the spectacular disaster that was SaudiGate, the Plane Ride from Purgatory may have scuppered the whole thing.
Isn't it funny that the one plane under the power of $227.8 billion-rich Saudi Arabia suffered a mechanical fault for 30 hours?
This is a regime that murders and dismembers journalists with a "Who? Us?" shrug. Quietly "requesting" an airline to fudge some information is hardly beyond their influence - nor nonexistent scruples.
Come on.
Both parties involved in the standoff are very much capable of a cover-up. Every indication from the talent strongly suggests that they were detained in a d*ck-waving contest. And much of that talent was so pissed off that they are, for now, flatly refusing to return for the next, grim propaganda exercise. At this rate, given its proclivity for 'Greatest' matches, next spring's event will feature a 'Greatest' four-hour Iron Man match between Mansoor and Mr. McMahon. It's untenable long-term, even if this matter is resolved - and the nature of the relationship feels very much fractured, even if the talent were willing.
WWE's domestic TV ratings have declined, traceably, from the Greatest Royal Rumble. The PR will not improve. The big hitters, the Rock and John Cena, will not associate their names with the regime. The older Legends can't wrestle forever; it's getting dangerous, taking Super ShowDown into consideration.
It's f*cked, in every meaning of the word.