The global show hosting aspect of WWE hit a new level with the kick-off of the WWE Saudi Arabia shows, four years ago. Since then a number of such shows were hosted in that middle-east country and WWE has certainly traveled a long way since then. Even the recent change in power is making headlines all around the professional wrestling industry. But the norm of hosting bigger PPVs outside the US will continue.
With Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon acting as the company’s new co-CEOs, those global business deals that were originally set up by Vince McMahon will continue. The one-decade-long partnership in Saudi Arabia will also progress with another show being planned, around two months from now. It will apparently take place in its usual timeslot, that’s the Fall of 2022.
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During the recent second quarter 2022 investors call, it was revealed by the WWE head-honchos that the company will be back in Saudi Arabia. Primarily, this return to the Middle East is set to happen as soon as the first weekend of November. It should fall on a Saturday, just a day after a Friday night SmackDown,
“Khan revealed that they will be back in Saudi Arabia during the first weekend of November.”
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WWE’s deal with Saudi Arabia Sports Authority started back in 2018
WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia has been under the spotlight for several negative reasons. For a long time, the company was accused of using blood money for such programs. However, they never put an end to going to the country despite all the controversies. That being said, the sports authority of the country will keep pouring in money to the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world as long as they’re happy with the entertainment aspect.
A report back in April from PWInsider noted that a deal was finalized for WWE to make their return to the Saudi Kingdom. It was during the May 23 episode of WWE Raw that Corey Graves and his fellow announcer noted that WWE will return to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on November 5, 2022. It’s been an annual trip in the WWE for the past 4 years and things will remain that way. Crown Jewel should be the second last Premium Live Event to be hosted by the WWE prior to Survivor Series in late November.
It was back in 2018 that WWE and the Saudi General Sports Authority announced that they will be moving with a 10-year strategic partnership to support the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, the Kingdom’s social and economic reform program. That deal confirmed two events each year and that norm continued through 2019 until the COVID-19 pandemic scrapped a couple of events in 2020 and 2021. These canceled shows are likely to be added to the due list in the future.
