WWE's Next Saudi Arabian PLE Is In SERIOUS Doubt... (WWE News)

Night Of Champions 2026 is slated for June in Riyadh, but WWE might have to change course.

WWE Night Of Champions 2023
WWE.com

POST Wrestling's sources within the company tell them that WWE has major concerns about whether or not Night Of Champions 2026 will go ahead over in Saudi Arabia this coming June. At time of writing, the PLE is pencilled in for 27 June, but ongoing war with Iran in the region means there's a huge question mark over the entire show.

Riyadh is slated to be the host city for NOC. It has been home to the last 3 company jaunts over to Saudi. Meanwhile, Jeddah (which hosted the first ever WWE PLE in the country - 2018's Greatest Royal Rumble) hasn't hosted an event since King And Queen Of The Ring in May 2024.

Of course, Riyadh also held this past January's Royal Rumble card too.

Advertisement

The city has experienced attacks ever since hostilities with Iran kicked into high gear in February, so everything is a little up in the air on WWE's end right now. Naturally, the safety of the crew, roster and fanbase must be taken into account. There's a high chance the decision will ultimately be taken out of TKO/WWE's hands entirely.

POST Wrestling also reiterated a previous report they'd made about TKO telling staff in the area to leave Saudi and other countries in the Middle East. This followed guidance from the United States government that war would continue in the region. In that memo, TKO said: "We encourage all employees to please make note of this advisory when determining travel plans".

Advertisement

So, there you have it. Currently, there are zero guarantees that WWE will be able to visit Saudi Arabia this June.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.