The Truth Behind Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Wrestling In Saudi Arabia
An update on Owens, Zayn, and WWE Night Of Champions 2023.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are set to wrestle in Saudi Arabia this month, defending their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa at Night Of Champions 2023, marking a major change in circumstances for Zayn in particular.
WWE has been running shows paid for by the Saudi administration in the nation since 2018. In 2019, it was reported that the Kingdom had requested Zayn be omitted from these cards due to his Syrian heritage. Owens, meanwhile, elected against wrestling on these events outside of 2018's Greatest Royal Rumble.
Zayn and Owens' addition to the Night of Champions card sparked understandable intrigue. And, according to the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, the move is a consequence of Saudi Arabia and Syria renewing diplomatic relations.
Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Saudi Arabia allowing Syrians to enter the nation means Zayn is now free to appear on these shows. Sami made the choice to go to Night of Champions and when he did, Owens decided he wanted to do the same.
The Associated Press reported last week Saudi Arabia and Syria had reopened diplomatic missions, with relations between the two nations seemingly improving in the 11 years since these had ceased.