WWE Rumor Roundup - Stephanie Vaquer's return; Hazard pay for Crown Jewel crew, WrestleMania 43 date; The Rock’s anniversary plans & more
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
WWE Crown Jewel leads multiple rumors.
The 2026 edition of Crown Jewel is only a day away; however, there are safety concerns and production issues that have surrounded the promotion of the Riyadh event. As per reports, it is believed that the promotion has increased the compensation for some of the crew traveling to Saudi Arabia, while most of the production of the event will take place from the offices in the United States.
Other than the Crown Jewel news, several other news stories related to the promotion have cropped up recently, such as an announcement window for WrestleMania 43, the introduction of the Iron Survivor Challenge on the main roster, Stephanie Vaquer making a comeback into the ring, and even celebrating 30 years of The Rock in the promotion. Let’s take a look at the latest WWE rumours.
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WWE offered hazard pay to Crown Jewel crew members
It has been reported that the company is offering $3,000 as hazard pay for the crew traveling to Riyadh for Crown Jewel 2026. According to the Wrestling Votes report via Fightful Select, the offer has been made to production crew and not to wrestlers or office personnel.
This was an odd offer in the sense that hazard pay does not usually come into the picture for crew work. Even with the extra pay, there were several crew members who opted out of making the trip to Saudi Arabia.
This has occurred in the wake of security threats to Riyadh’s airport and other parts of Saudi Arabia. The TKO president, Mark Shapiro, has said that the danger of holding this event is very low.
A major part of the Crown Jewel broadcast is to be produced remotely in the US
Further details have emerged about WWE’s production plans for Crown Jewel 2026. According to PWInsider Select, a major portion of the event’s broadcast will reportedly be remotely engineered from the headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
As reported by PWInsider, production and satellite trucks will be stationed at the company’s headquarters to manage certain elements of the broadcast. The on-site crew in Riyadh will handle equipment, cameras, sound, and other production requirements before transmitting the material back to the United States. The team at the headquarters will then manage the relevant broadcast operations remotely.
The report also suggests that the company will have fewer staff members in Saudi Arabia than usual, although a sizeable production crew will still be present at the venue. This arrangement is particularly notable given the reported concerns surrounding travel to the region.
WWE expected to announce WrestleMania 43 dates at Crown Jewel
Dates for WrestleMania 43 could finally be officially announced by the firm when it tours Riyadh for Crown Jewel. Based on information revealed by WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE insiders are looking at an announcement this week, which could happen during the telecast of the PLE on November 7.
WrestleMania 43 will take place on April 10 and 11, 2027. These dates have already been mentioned in earlier reports, but the promotion hasn’t confirmed them officially yet. The event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with it being the first time ever that WrestleMania takes place outside of North America.
The postponement of the date announcement has drawn interest, especially because the company is known for its early announcement of its WrestleMania schedule. An unusual situation surrounding WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, such as ticketing, was cited in earlier reports for the delay.
WWE has discussed bringing Iron Survivor Challenge to Raw or SmackDown
The creative team could be considering expanding one of NXT’s signature match concepts to its main roster. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, the company has previously discussed bringing the Iron Survivor Challenge to either Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown.
The update comes after the promotion replaced NXT Deadline with NXT TLC for December, raising questions about the future of the Iron Survivor format. The match has traditionally been a major attraction at Deadline, featuring five competitors, timed entrances, and a points-based scoring system.
Although the company has reportedly explored the possibility of using the stipulation on the main roster, there is no confirmation that the company has approved or scheduled its debut on Raw or SmackDown.
Stephanie Vaquer returns to in-ring action at live event
Stephanie Vaquer has reportedly returned to the ring after being absent from in-ring competition due to an illness. The former Women’s World Champion competed at a live event in Portland, Maine, on November 5.
Vaquer teamed up with IYO Sky and Lola Vice in a six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence. The trio emerged victorious, marking Vaquer’s return to in-ring action after she was pulled from a match on the October 26 episode of Raw.
Vaquer’s absence had raised questions about her availability, with reports suggesting that she had been dealing with an illness. Her return at the live event is encouraging news, particularly after she had been missing from WWE’s recent programming.
However, the promotion has not yet announced when Vaquer will return to television. Her appearance at the house show confirms that she is back in action, but it does not establish a date for her next televised match. It’s important to note that the star is one of the possible ‘potential returns’ at the Crown Jewel 2026.
Special celebrations for 30 years of The Rock
WWE is reportedly preparing special plans to celebrate 30 years of The Rock in the company. According to WrestleVotes Radio, the promotion is planning a commemorative championship belt, special merchandise, and social media campaigns to honour the legendary star’s career.
The milestone traces back to Survivor Series 1996, where Rocky Maivia made his WWF pay-per-view debut. He later reinvented himself as The Rock and went on to become one of the biggest names in professional wrestling.
With Survivor Series 2026 approaching, WWE reportedly intends to mark the occasion with special tributes throughout the month. The commemorative title belt is expected to be one of the highlights of the celebrations, alongside merchandise recognising his contributions to the industry.
However, there is no confirmation that The Rock himself will appear on the programming as part of the celebrations. The report focuses on the company’s planned tribute and does not establish whether the former Champion will make an on-screen return.
With John Cena Classic already gaining some attention, The Rock’s 30-year milestone arrives at an interesting time. Whether the celebrations lead to a television appearance remains to be seen.
How much hazard pay did WWE reportedly offer crew members for Crown Jewel 2026?
WWE reportedly offered $3,000 in hazard pay to crew members travelling to Riyadh for Crown Jewel 2026. The report stated that the offer was made to production crew members.
When is WrestleMania 43 reportedly scheduled to take place?
WrestleMania 43 is reportedly expected to take place on April 10 and 11, 2027, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company is expected to announce the official dates around Crown Jewel 2026, but the dates have not yet been formally confirmed.
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