WWE: The Pressure To Leave Saudi Arabia Partnership Continues To Build

The WWE is headed back to Saudi Arabia two times in 2019 as yet another company in a similar industry has walked away from the contentious government.

Money is a big driver for many decisions that are made in entertainment. Often, we see financial impact take precedence over justice and morals. WWE has found itself in such a position as it continues its partnership with leadership in Saudi Arabia. Kate Kelly and Ben Hubbard of the New York Times reported last week that Endeavor, the ownership group of the UFC, has returned a fund worth $400 million dollars and cancelled its contract with the country. It’s time for the WWE to do the same.

One may wonder what’s the point in comparing Endeavor’s decision to what is going on in the WWE. Well, Endeavor is yet another company that has elected to distance itself from the crown family. Uber and Goldman Sachs are two other examples of US organizations that have decided to make the same decision.

As the ownership group of the UFC, Endeavor understands the need for capital in the sports entertainment industry, but still elected to make the choice to return the fund based on the news that has come to light about the death of Washington Post writer, Jamal Khashoggi.

So here is the WWE, in a similar situation, but making a starkly different decision. According to multiple outlets, the WWE is returning to Saudi Arabia for two shows in 2019. The first show is scheduled to occur in May, while the second is currently scheduled for November. This comes after the company received mounds of criticism by mainstream media outlets throughout 2018. These shows are a part of the ten-year partnership in support of Vision 2030; what many calls a propaganda play on social and economic reform.

But the two shows for the WWE have been controversial at best. First, the women were excluded from The Greatest Royal Rumble, then the fresh details of Khashoggi’s marred WWE Crown Jewel. Amid calls for the company to pull out of the deal that some believe is worth nearly $40 million; the decision to do the opposite won out. Even though some have elected to boycott the company by cancelling their subscriptions to the WWE Network, it’s clear that the positive financial impact has won the debate as far as leadership within the WWE is concerned.

This is an interesting contrast between two companies. Two companies that are similar and both leaders in their respective industries. Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey, the two biggest stars on the WWE roster, were once the two biggest stars on the UFC roster. Both companies have direct links to United States President, Donald Trump. Even with all these similarities, it’s hard to not hear the news of Endeavor returning such a large amount of money and wish that the WWE would do the same thing.

While there are few examples, the WWE has been pressured to make changes to plans due to social outcry. Take what happened when the WWE tried to honor the Fabulous Moolah with a match named after her. The outcry and petitions across social media impacted sponsors which eventually caused the WWE to make a change.

The pressure must be massive, but there’s a chance that the WWE can be forced to make a change; that same pressure should be applied when it comes to the continuing partnership with Saudi Arabia. It’s hard to call for fans to boycott or cancel their network plans – but at the end of the day, hitting the WWE in the pocket is the only method that will force the issue

With nine years left in this partnership between Saudi Arabia and the WWE, its hard to believe that the controversy around this matter will ever go away. Every time a show is announced a light will shine one the various complications and questions surrounding this deal. Those issues were enough to cause companies like Endeavor to return the funds and walk away – leadership within the WWE should do the same.