Crown Jewel 2026: WWE unhappy with staff concerns about travelling to Saudi Arabia
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WWE Staff concerned about travelling to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel 2026
It is already confirmed that there will be champion vs champion matches pitting Roman Reigns against Sami Zayn and Liv Morgan against Chelsea Green at Crown Jewel in 2026. The upcoming PLE has been confirmed to be held in Riyadh on November 7, according to the latest updates; however, the Stanford-based company has yet another problem to face before the Premier Live Event.
According to the latest report, WWE is not happy with its employees expressing their doubts regarding travelling to Saudi Arabia due to security issues in the area. Despite all these internal problems, the event in Riyadh has still been advertised by the company.
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WWE wants employees to maintain a united front
In a discussion with the host of Wrestling Observer Radio, journalist Dave Meltzer reported that WWE executives were disappointed that some of its non-wrestling employees spoke out in public about their unwillingness to make the journey to Saudi Arabia. On the show, Dave Meltzer indicated that WWE wanted to have a unified front when it came to this particular event.
Rumors spread on social media websites indicating that some employees of WWE were hesitant to make this journey. At the moment, these rumors cannot be independently verified because WWE never made any statements about such concerns of its employees.
Dave Meltzer also mentioned that there were no wrestlers from WWE who openly expressed their disagreement with traveling to Saudi Arabia. These remarks were personal assumptions of the journalist.
Why are WWE employees concerned about travelling to Saudi Arabia?
The fears are arising from a worsening security situation in the region. There was a travel warning by the US Department of State which stated that Saudi Arabia should be considered under a “Reconsider Travel” level three advisory due to armed conflict, terrorist activities, and threats of drone and missile attacks. The travel advisory also pointed out risks to commercial flights.
The recent missile attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport have further complicated the issue. It is reported by Reuters that these attacks led to many casualties and new questions about security preparedness in the country. All these issues have put into consideration the safety of travel for the staff and performers coming for the event.
Nevertheless, WWE has not changed the venue for Crown Jewel. The organization announced that the event will be held at Riyadh Season Stadium located in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Is WWE considering a backup venue?
He further talks about the rumors of WWE having an alternative US venue if it had to make any changes. However, the fact that there is any such alternative venue or any formal arrangement on this issue hasn’t been made official by WWE at all.
The company apparently finds itself in a tricky position – to talk about having a contingency plan might lead to some uncertainty about their collaboration with Saudi Arabia, but proceeding without reconsidering the conditions might leave some very serious issues with traveling to be resolved.
When and where will Crown Jewel 2026 take place?
As per updates on October 16, Crown Jewel 2026 is scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 7.
Is WWE considering a backup venue for Crown Jewel 2026?
While there is no official statement from WWE about a possible backup for Crown Jewel 2026, rumors hint at the possibility of selecting a location within the US is possible.
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