Saudi Arabia To Lift WWE Women's Wrestling Ban In 2019?

Massive change coming to WWE's controversial Saudi shows?

WWE Women Saudi Arabia
WWE

WWE's next Saudi Arabian pay-per-view is set to take place on Friday 3 May. The event doesn't even have a name yet, but a huge, groundbreaking step in the right direction may be coming.

There's a lot of speculation going around at the moment, suggesting that women may be allowed to wrestle on the next Saudi Arabian show for the very first time.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported last week that WWE had no plans to host an Evolution pay-per-view this year, and Cageside Seats have followed up by stating that there's a hope that the company would instead market this breakthrough as a landmark similar to last year's first all-women pay-per-view, though they acknowledge that the odds remain slim.

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Longstanding Saudi government regulations have prevented WWE's multi-talented women's roster from competing in the country since last year's Greatest Royal Rumble kickstarted a 10-year deal. Renee Young worked commentary for November 2018's Crown Jewel event; a small step in the right direction, though women wrestling on these big-money events remains the end goal for many.

Whether or not this big leap actually takes place remains to be seen, but that it's even being talked about as a realistic development is encouraging.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.