Earlier this year, the WWE were met with immediate backlash for their decision to hold their ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ event in Saudi Arabia, this as part of a ten year deal between the WWE and the Saudi General Sports Authority for a reported $450 million.
WWE’s Women’s division were not allowed to partipate at the show due to Saudi law restricting women’s rights. On top of this, the Saudi General Sports Authority went as far to issuing an apology for ‘indecent scene involving women’ when a commercial featuring women aired at the venue.
Other controversies include Saudi’s anti-LGBT views and WWE Superstar Sami Zayn’s absence from the Greatest Royal Rumble show because of his Syrian descent and the growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
The WWE are now facing even more backlash surrounding the dissapearance of Saudi national and United States resident Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist for the Washington Post.
According to Intelligence reports, Khashoggi, critical of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul earlier this month after entering the consulate to obtain documents. It is now believed that Khashoggi was murdered by a Saudi security team in what was possibly a state-ordered kidnapping gone wrong.
The WWE have commented on the nationwide story with the following statement to the media:
We are currently monitoring the situation.
WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel, is set for November 2nd, less than a week following the company’s first-ever all Women’s PPV Evolution.
What are your thoughts on this latest news?
