10 Times WWE Went Too Far
2. The Greatest Propaganda Machine
The argument that politics shouldn't be brought into the discussion surrounding WWE's ongoing business in Saudi Arabia is invalid. The company made this political, not wrestling media, the fans, or anyone else. It's impossible to remove politics from the debate because this is a political debate.
Shows like Crown Jewel are part of an initiative commissioned by the Saudi royal family designed to rehabilitate the country's global image through big, attention-grabbing events. Saudi Vision 2030 is, in a nutshell, a transparent PR job engineered to paint a brutal regime in a positive light. That's why WWE are there. It has nothing to do with bringing Sports Entertainment to wrestling-deprived crowds and everything to do with propaganda.
Said propaganda was everywhere on the Greatest Royal Rumble broadcast, turning the event into what was effectively a five-hour Saudi infomercial. Vignettes on Mohammad bin Salman's supposed social progress, appeal as a tourist destination, and anti-Iran sentiment were spliced between every other match or segment. There were impossible to miss, making the anti-political argument untenable.
WWE fortunately dialled back on this at Crown Jewel 2018, but that they were so blatant in airing this propaganda was almost unbelievable.