Why Pat McAfee ISN'T Invited To Saudi Arabia With WWE

The SmackDown announcer on why he won't be at WWE Crown Jewel 2021.

by Andy H Murray
Pat McAfee WWE SmackDown
WWE.com

WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for the first time in well over a year later this month, with Crown Jewel 2021 set to go down in Riyadh on Thursday 21 October.

The promotion is currently piecing together a card full of big names with the goal of changing the perception that its Saudi events are no more than glorified house shows with no long-term repercussions. Amongst the names already announced are Goldberg, Universal Champion Roman Reigns, WWE Champion Big E, Bobby Lashley, and more.

One person who won't be travelling to the Kingdom, however, is Pat McAfee, who explained why he wasn't invited to Crown Jewel 2021 on his radio show earlier this week (h/t Fightful):-

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"They're heading over there. I wasn't invited. Good luck. I'm not supposed to be part of that, I'm happy I'm not going or whatever. The show, everyone says it's insane over there. It's awesome. Until they get stuck there and then I gotta call Buffalo SmackDown."

As mentioned, a SmackDown show takes place in Buffalo, New York the day after Crown Jewel. McAfee makes direct reference to the delayed flight that prevented WWE from leaving Saudi Arabia on time after Crown Jewel 2019, leading to 175 wrestlers and other staff members being stranded for over six hours, with all of them missing SmackDown the next day.

WWE is yet to confirm its Crown Jewel 2021 announce teams. McAfee, however, won't be on the lineup.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.