US Travel Advisory to Saudi Arabia Raises New Questions About WWE Crown Jewel (WWE News)
US government urges "reconsider travel" to kingdom amid ongoing Middle East conflict; WWE discussing situation.
WWE is full steam ahead for Money in the Bank in less than three weeks, but their subsequent PLE has been called into question amid global concerns.
WWE is scheduled to hold Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 7 November, but the United States' ongoing war in Iran -- which is situated across the Persian Gulf -- could complicate those plans.
Last week, the U.S Department of State issued a travel advisory for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amid ongoing conflict. The Level 3 travel advisory urges people to "reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity." Areas along the Saudi southern border with Yemen are listed as Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") due to threat of terrorism.
WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select recently spoke to a source about whether WWE would alter its plans for Crown Jewel:
While our source made it clear that a decision of that magnitude is well above their pay grade, they did note that the situation is a topic of discussion within the walls of WWE... the source confirmed that the November 7 date is expected to remain in place and the event is expected to take place regardless of location, as WWE is committed to ESPN for that date... the real question now is whether WWE can still send its talent and personnel to Saudi Arabia on November 7 given the current travel advisory.
Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer also opined on the subject, noting, “It’s an advisory. They’re afraid of attacks from Iran... it’s basically a warning that it is unsafe for Americans to travel there."
The possibility of WWE scrubbing a planned Saudi show is not unprecedented. The war in Iran created similar questions about WWE's Night of Champions in June, but that PLE went off as planned.
Most notoriously, there were calls for WWE to cancel Crown Jewel 2018 in the wake of the Saudi government kidnapping and killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but the company ultimately (and predictably) proceeded with the show.
A lot can change between now and November, but history indicates that it would take something drastic for WWE to alter its plans and call off Crown Jewel.