10 Reasons WWE Should Never Return To Saudi Arabia
3. Sami Zayn
When Sami Zayn was excluded from The Greatest Royal Rumble it was reportedly an attempt by WWE, “to respect the local culture of Saudi Arabia.”
Subsequent reports suggested Zayn, a Canadian with Syrian heritage, is banned by the Saudi Kingdom from appearing because of his Syrian roots.
Whoever is making the call, the idea that a full time roster member is excluded from certain events because of his ethnicity should be unacceptable in 2019.
Given his charitable work for Syria, it seems unlikely Sami would want to get on the plane to Saudi Arabia anyway but there’s more to it than a biannual bumper payday. This exclusion has the potential to shape Zayn’s career over the next decade. It could already be happening.
Its a shame to see such a talented wrestler and talker reduced to what is essentially jobber status at this point. The guy was a champion in NXT and it would be great to see him pushing for main roster gold. Still it’s hard to see him being inserted into the title picture ever now, not when WWE know they can’t use him for their two most lucrative shows every year...