WWE doubles down on Saudi Arabia
The WWE (WWE) is doubling down on Saudi Arabia: Not only are they going ahead with its November 2nd Crown Jewel pay-per-view event in Riyadh, but the wrestling empire is also bringing back disgraced WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan to host the event.
The WWE has received pushback from fans and others over its refusal to cancel the event in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey. Some of this pushback has even come from within the WWE’s locker room: Superstars John Cena and Daniel Bryan refused to participate at Crown Jewel, despite both having a prominent role in the event.
Hogan is not without his own controversy. Friday will be the first time that the Hulkster will be a part of the company since his exile in 2015 for making racially insensitive remarks on tape which were posted on now-defunct celebrity website Gawker.
WWE in Saudi Arabia is about business
The WWE recently signed a 10-year business contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Since signing the deal in March, the American organization has been criticized for omitting female wrestlers from all it’s Saudi Arabian events, in accordance with the country’s strict laws, in addition to following through with the Crown Jewel event after Khashoggi’s death. At the same time, WWE stock is up more than 130% this year.
Many companies and high profile CEO’s and business leaders have such as Bill and Melinda Gates, and Virgin founder Richard Branson suspended business ties with the country until further notice. The Trump Administration recently took heat for allowing U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to meet with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in early October.
Trump and the WWE also have some history. Trump participated in Wrestlemania 23 in 2007 (and other publicity stunts). And his current Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Linda McMahon, is the former CEO of WWE and the wife of WWE’s current chairman Vince McMahon.
Hogan will undoubtedly be tasked to use his astounding charisma to make sure that the evening’s focus is on the events in the ring and not the geopolitical events happening outside of it.
READ MORE: WWE gets slammed for its upcoming Saudi Arabia event
