WWE Rumor Roundup – TKO President Mark Shapiro addresses Saudi Arabia concerns; Gunther vs Finn Balor at Crown Jewel & more
(Courtesy : WWE)
Crown Jewel remains the highlight of WWE news.
News around the Stamford-based promotion continues to attract attention as the company prepares for Crown Jewel 2026 amid heightened security concerns surrounding its Saudi Arabia events. While the November 7 Premium Live Event remains on the schedule, TKO executives have reportedly addressed the situation with employees, balancing business commitments against the safety of their personnel.
On the same line, there are updates on staff’s views on travel to Saudi Arabia and even changes to the original match plans for Crown Jewel. Meanwhile, fresh backstage updates have emerged about AJ Styles’ growing involvement with NXT. Here is a closer look at the latest WWE rumors and backstage developments.
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TKO president Mark Shapiro addresses staff over Saudi Arabia events
It has been reported that TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro spoke to the staff members during a town hall meeting held on October 28 about the upcoming WWE and UFC events in Saudi Arabia and how these events raise some security issues.
As reported by POST Wrestling, Shapiro said how crucial it is to complete the events scheduled by the company in order to fulfill the business goals for the year 2026. Also, he mentioned that canceling the events would be quite expensive for the company. As per his reports, investors had concerns about whether the company would be able to complete its business year without any interruptions.
However, it seems Shapiro gave precedence to the safety of the employees over business commitments. It has been reported that he told the employees that if the company finds any kind of risk or escalation in the region, then it wouldn’t think twice to cancel its Middle East events.
Gunther vs Finn Balor at Crown Jewel
After the images from the under-construction venue for Crown Jewel showcased posters of Finn Balor and Gunther, fans started speculating that the promotion will soon announce the match.
However, Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated that Gunther vs Balor was initially scheduled for Crown Jewel. If the match is no longer taking place, it suggests the card was altered without those handling the event setup in Saudi Arabia being informed.
No wrestler has reportedly declined to travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel
Following the speculation surrounding the possible refusal of Superstars to participate in Crown Jewel by travelling to Saudi Arabia, a new report has been issued.
Dave Meltzer wrote on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there is no case of WWE talent backing out of attending the show. There had been speculation regarding top wrestlers like Kevin Owens and CM Punk not wanting to travel to Saudi Arabia, but there is nothing to confirm that either of the wrestlers refused the trip.
Dave Meltzer further added that the company did not officially offer the choice of staying at home to its talent. As per an unnamed superstar, the company was not in favor of not going for the Riyadh trip.
The report refutes the rumors of some staff members refusing to attend the Crown Jewel scheduled for November 7, but does not give insight into the personal views of all staff members.
Original plans for The Vision at Crown Jewel reportedly involved a six-man tag match
The creative team reportedly had a different plan for The Vision’s involvement at Crown Jewel before finalising the World Tag Team Championship match.
According to Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the original idea was a six-man tag team contest. Bron Breakker, Austin Theory and Bronson Reed were expected to face Penta, Je’Von Evans and Oba Femi.
However, the creative team eventually changed the plan to a standard tag team championship match. The reported reasoning was that booking a six-man tag match before a separate tag team title contest would not make much sense.
Consequently, Breakker and Theory will defend their World Tag Team Championship against Penta and Evans at Crown Jewel. This will also mark their first televised title defence since winning the championships from The Street Profits in July.
AJ Styles has reportedly been working closely with NXT for months
With Shawn Michaels’ rumored move to a main roster role, AJ Styles could already be preparing for a bigger backstage role in developmental program NXT, with a new report suggesting that he has been heavily involved at the Performance Center for several months.
According to Andrew Baydala, Styles has quietly been running things at the WWE Performance Center for months, amid speculation that he could eventually take over some of Shawn Michaels’ responsibilities. The update was shared by the outlet on social media, with Andrew Bydala also reporting that Styles has been taking on greater responsibilities behind the scenes.
The development adds weight to the possibility of Styles becoming more involved with the developmental brand if Michaels moves to the main roster after WrestleMania 43. Styles has previously gained experience working with younger talent, producing matches and filling in as a coach.
Is AJ Styles already working backstage with WWE NXT?
AJ Styles has been heavily involved at the WWE Performance Center for months. However, there is no official announcement about either appointment.
Have any WWE Superstars refused to travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel 2026?
According to reports, no WWE Superstars have been reported to have withdrawn from Crown Jewel. Online speculation involving Kevin Owens and CM Punk has not been substantiated.
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