WWE Planning On Going Ahead With Crown Jewel Despite Security Risk
Crown Jewel is just three days away, and there's a very real chance the upcoming premium live event won't go ahead. Reports on Tuesday revealed the US has been informed of imminent planned attacks by Iran on Saudi Arabia, naturally leading to discussions regarding whether it will be safe for Crown Jewel to go ahead in Riyadh this Saturday.
The Show Must Go On
According to PWInsider, despite the alleged threat from Iran, the current plan is for Crown Jewel to go ahead as intended. WWE reportedly has security protocols and emergency contingencies in place should there be any risks at an event like this, so it doesn't feel the need to pull out and cancel everything with just days to go.
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The headline here, of course, is that Superstars, staff, and fans in attendance at Crown Jewel on Saturday will be at risk. If there's a genuine belief that will not be the case, then other factors that come into play if the event doesn't happen have to be considered. Not only the angles and matches WWE has built to that will culminate this weekend, but also the deal the promotion has in place with Saudi Arabia.
WWE's Deal With Saudi Arabia
WWE's decade-long deal with Saudi Arabia requires the company to hold major shows in the Middle East twice a year. That deal has presumably already been extended due to events that would have happened in 2020 and 2021 having to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the apparently imminent threat from Iran, if Saudi Arabian officials believe there's no risk to the show, WWE pulling out could throw that deal into jeopardy.
The decision whether to head to Saudi Arabia and for Crown Jewel to go ahead as planned is one of the biggest decisions WWE's new regime has been faced with since the departure of Vince McMahon. It's impossible to know how the ex-chairman would have handled the situation, but it's probably safe to assume he would have done all he could to make sure the show happened. McMahon was always an advocate for a show going on regardless of the circumstances, even joking about work carrying on around him should he drop dead backstage.
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