Kevin Owens unhappy with Crown Jewel Saudi Arabia situation, claims former WWE personality
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Kevin Owens’ stance on Crown Jewel 2026
The plans for the 2026 Crown Jewel event have been in question because of security issues in Saudi Arabia, with speculation of the premium live event being relocated to somewhere else. But the company has still been working on the event set for November 7 in Riyadh despite the doubts regarding its realization.
There were people in the firm feeling frustrated over the issue as there were concerns regarding the safety of traveling to the Kingdom. Former WWE broadcaster Jonathan Coachman stated that Kevin Owens was one of those wrestlers feeling dissatisfied with the choice.
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Kevin Owens reportedly furious over Crown Jewel plans
On the latest episode of ‘The Two Count Tuesday’, Coachman said he had received information from a source about backstage frustration surrounding the decision to continue with the upcoming PLE in Saudi Arabia. He acknowledged that the wrestlers concerned had not publicly addressed the matter.
“I got one of my connections yesterday, and I rarely put over the dirt sheets, but they’re correct. Because the names that have been given to me that are backstage furious over this — but we haven’t seen one talent, not one, talk about this or address this.”
During the discussion, JDfromNY pointed to the scheduled match between KO and CM Punk on the November 6 episode of SmackDown, which will be taped in Brooklyn, New York.
He suggested that the contest might originally have been planned for Crown Jewel but was moved because the wrestlers did not want to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“They booked Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk in a taped match for the Barclays Center next week. So I think that was gonna happen at Crown Jewel, but it’s not happening because they don’t wanna go to Saudi”
Coachman then confirmed that Owens was among the names he had been given who are unhappy with the Crown Jewel situation.
“Correct. Kevin Owens was one of the names that was told to me yesterday. So I respect that he’s saying something backstage”
The report has added another layer to the discussion around the Saudi Arabia plans for the PLE. However, Owens has not publicly confirmed the claim, and WWE has not announced that his reported concerns influenced the booking of his match against Punk.
The same report also referenced earlier claims that some employees were concerned about travelling amid regional security developments. Rumours also showed that the promotion was unhappy that non-wrestling employees had publicly expressed concerns, as the company wanted to present a united front.
There is no confirmation of the individual wrestlers’ reported positions from the firm, so the claims about Owens should be treated as allegations rather than fact.
Why is WWE pre-taping SmackDown?
Missing out on a PLE appearance and also having to play a match against CM Punk in a pre-taped show is certainly frustrating. But the Stamford-based promotion is planning to tape the November 6 episode of SmackDown on November 2 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The same night is expected to feature a double taping, with Raw starting earlier than usual, and John Cena also making a special appearance for the show.
The change in time is also connected with accommodation for the additional production. This arrangement allows the production to prepare its final television build towards the mega event before travelling to Riyadh.
Unlike some previous Saudi events, the SmackDown immediately before Crown Jewel was not initially announced as a show taking place in the Kingdom. Instead, the firm reportedly intends to tape the episode in the United States and air it on November 6, one day before the Premium Live Event.
TKO CEO Ari Emanuel has said the situation is being monitored. For now, the PLE remains scheduled for November 7, 2026, at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Whether the reported backstage concerns lead to any changes remains to be seen.
Is Kevin Owens competing at Crown Jewel?
Owens has not been announced for a match at Crown Jewel. He is scheduled to face CM Punk on the November 6 episode of SmackDown. Reports have claimed that Owens does not want to travel to Saudi Arabia, but neither he nor the promotion has publicly confirmed that this is the reason for the booking.
When and where is Crown Jewel 2026?
The PLE is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.