WWE Crown Jewel Update, Political Pressure To Cancel Show Mounts

The controversial Saudi Arabia deal is becoming a major problem for WWE. Numerous politicians are urging the company to rethink their business dealings with the country, including Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The politician voiced his opinion on WWE’s partnership with the Saudi Arabian government and the upcoming Crown Jewel pay-per-view, calling on the company to do the right thing and cancel the event.

“All major private interests should review and relook their relationship with the Saudi Kingdom in light of its continuing pattern of abuse of civil rights and civil liberties, contempt for the rule of law, and bombing in Yemen using the United States military equipment and possible intelligence.

I would hope that WWE will recognise on its own a conscience and conviction if there is proof that Saudi officials approved and ordered this kind of killing, and I would lean first on the United States government to do its duty so that it can lead private interests like WWE, and the first place to look is to the United States of America.”

WWE suffered a backlash from within the wrestling industry for the Greatest Royal Rumble event, due to its female athletes being banned from performing in the country. The apparent assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has all eyes on the promotion once again, only this time it is the mainstream media and high ranking government officials criticising their involvement with the Saudis.

It is far from an ideal situation for the PR conscious WWE, especially when Vince McMahon’s wife Linda works in the Cabinet of the Trump Administration.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey have also spoken out about the company’s relationship with Saudi Arabian, with Menendez calling on Linda McMahon step in and stop the show:

“Private enterprise is private enterprise, different than a governmental entity, but because Linda is part of the president’s cabinet, it falls into the grey area where the administration really should give it some thought and maybe even prevail upon them not doing it.”

Increasingly hostile rhetoric

The Saudi government is under investigation for the disappearance of the journalist, with many major companies distancing themselves from Saudi government. WWE’s only response so far is that they are monitoring the situation closely.

The latest on the situation politically, beyond WWE, is that Trump has threatened to “punish” Saudi Arabia if they are found to have murdered the journalist. Saudi Arabia deny the charges, dismissing them as “lies” but warning that they will respond to any action “with a bigger one”.

Although the political world moves fast and the situation may well have blown over by the time Crown Jewel rolls around, WWE will need to make a decision about whether they are still running the show much sooner than that.

Should tensions escalate much further, they will be left without a choice.

Do you think that the WWE should cancel their Crown Jewel show? Let us know your comments below or Twitter or on Discord!

• Jamal Khashoggi
• Crown Jewel
• saudi arabia
• wwe

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