8 Things You Didn't Know About WWE's Mansoor
2. The Difficult 'Women' Question
Every single one of WWE's trips to Saudi Arabia since the GSA deal commenced have quite rightly brought a whole frigate full of criticism to the company's door (if that's not a logistical metaphoric nightmare) and quite rightly so. Aside from the insidious propaganda and context of state-sponsored murder in the name of censorship, not a single women has been allowed to wrestle at any of the shows owing to the regime's backwards attitude towards them.
For the briefest period, this looked like it might change at Super ShowDown - only for the ruling authority to put the foot down on their constitutional misogyny. And this despite WWE's presence supposedly helping bring about change in the country.
After the first show, Mansoor was asked a difficult question about the scenario, and knowing full well his newly privileged albeit precarious position - seven other hopefuls were waiting in the wings to be the next face of Saudi Arabia - he echoed the company line:
"I believe if WWE never put on the GRR, the chance of female wrestlers performing in Saudi Arabia would be [zero]. I think some people hold the idea that unless a developing market shares the standards and principles of a Western country, a company like WWE shouldn’t do business with that market. But why can’t the business itself be the thing that ultimately makes that change? [...] Of course, I understand the important of positive and powerful female role models. I have two little sisters who adored wrestling for a long time, and the women in WWE were very important to them. But in my opinion, an opportunity for those female role models to perform will not be presented unless WWE is accepted into the larger popular Saudi culture."
Well, it hasn't happened so far. Maybe next time?