WWE and Saudi Arabia: a controversial relationship that may not survive the pandemic

WWE and the return to Saudi Arabia. Photo: Disclosure

WWE is a global brand with fans all over the world. In recent years, the Middle East has established itself as a popular destination for world-class international sports and entertainment. So it was inevitable that WWE would not branch out into the region, taking its shows and stars to a part of the world with a lot of fans and a lot more money.

The first showing in the Middle East market took place in 2012, when the Raw World Tour stopped in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Since then, three more shows have been held in Abu Dhabi and one in neighboring Dubai in 2016.

However, WWE's presence in the region has been strongest in Saudi Arabia, with a total of eight shows so far in the country. After three shows on the Smackdown program, WWE and Saudi Arabia signed a 10-year partnership in March 2018, committing the company long-term to the most populous and richest nation in the Arab world. The contract states that two shows will be held per year in Saudi Arabia.

Although the UAE has a questionable record on human rights and receives its fair share of criticism, it is still a modern and progressive country, with a sizable expatriate community and a long history of hosting global events. Therefore, bringing WWE to the Emirates was never considered a controversial move.

Saudi Arabia's strict censorship

Saudi Arabia, however, has many controversies. The country has some of the strictest censorship and lifestyle laws in the world. Media, news, and entertainment are strictly censored to adhere to Islamic government regulations, and Internet searches are blocked when trying to visit sites the government deems “immoral.”

For certain content on the sites, such as adult entertainment, this is not a surprise, however, there are also blocks on news services in certain countries that are seen as enemies by Saudi Arabia, such as Israel, Iran and Qatar. As for playing in online casinos or watch foreign broadcasters, forget it: virtual private networks are illegal and cannot connect. Saudi Arabia even censored Netflix.

It is not surprising, therefore, that any international event that decides to come to the country is accused of taking money and helping the State use sport to clean up its image, thus using sports and entertainment programs to provide a facade of modernity, when in reality, many Saudi laws and ways of life remain extremely oppressive.

Thus, it proved to WWE, that it found itself exposed and involved in many of the problems through which Saudi Arabia gained its status as one of the worst countries in the world for human rights.

Women's rights in Saudi Arabia – or rather, lack of rights – have received criticism across the world, with a series of barbaric laws aimed at repressing the country's women. To give you an idea, only in June 2018, women were legally allowed to drive.

The Khashoggi case

WWE soon found itself at the center of a storm when Saudi Arabia banned female wrestlers from participating in its shows. Although this was very bad, when Triple H, executive vice president of WWE, stood up to defend Saudi Arabia, caused dissatisfaction and only increased accusations that WWE was prioritizing money over morals.

After trying to add a women's match – Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya – to the Super ShowDown card in June 2019, which was rejected by the Saudi government, WWE finally got approval four months later at Crown Jewel, where Natalya faced Lacey Evans. But even so, conditions needed to be followed, as the two fighters wore bodysuits and t-shirts instead of their typical attire.

Although there was some negative feedback regarding the nature of the first women's match in Saudi Arabia, it was still widely praised as a breakthrough moment for WWE and the country itself.

However, no amount of positive publicity generated by the match could offset Crown Jewel's expectations, with Saudi Arabia in the midst of a diplomatic crisis following the murder of Saudi national and prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul just a month before the show. .

US politicians called on WWE to cancel the event and several high-profile wrestlers, including Daniel Bryan and John Cena withdrew in protest. But in another move that didn't pan out, Stephanie McMahon insisted the show would go ahead as a "business decision." Another moral moment about WWE.

Time to close?

The controversy surrounding the Crown Jewel event continued after the show when a chartered plane, staffed by WWE wrestlers and employees, was denied takeoff and was left stranded on the tarmac for six hours. Although the official line from Saudi authorities explained that it was due to mechanical issues with the plane, this was easily refuted. Instead, it was reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the plane grounded in response to Vince McMahon demanding that the pay-per-view's live feed be cut off due to Saudi Arabia's inability to pay its fees.

WWE's most recent event in Saudi Arabia, February's Super ShowDown, took place without any of the previous controversies and scandals, but the show itself was universally criticized for being subpar.

Then, just two weeks later, WWE and Saudi Arabia found themselves in the middle of lawsuits over their failure to disclose payments worth millions of dollars.

So what awaits WWE in Saudi Arabia? With the coronavirus pandemic bringing international events to a halt, it is unlikely the company will return to the country for its second show in 2020.

However, with tension rising among Saudi authorities, an increasing number of wrestlers walking away and controversy at every turn, an extended break before deciding WWE's future relationship with the country could be welcome.

The partnership with Saudi Arabia was, without a doubt, a financial success for the company. But at what price?

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