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WWE Roundtable: Examining the Saudi Arabia situation

By Joe Anthony Myrick

John Cena (C) celebrates defeating Triple H (R) during the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Greatest Royal Rumble event in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on April 27, 2018. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
John Cena (C) celebrates defeating Triple H (R) during the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Greatest Royal Rumble event in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on April 27, 2018. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images) /
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This is when I popped back into the Roundtable just to pose another question. Well, a hypothetical. The hypothetical was as follows:

“Let’s say WWE did get Saudi Arabia to agree to let women wrestle there as soon as June 7. Should we rejoice on grounds of equality or are the other issues of this WWE / Saudi Arabia deal too problematic to make up for?”

Tom was the first to answer.

Tom: I think even if that were to happen it’s still far too early for any rejoicing. If anything, I think we’ll be judging the Saudi Arabia deal based on the whole 10 years once they’ve passed us by rather than on particular steps along the way. That’s not to say one wrong step and it won’t all fall down, of course, and WWE aren’t exactly reliable for making the right steps with their women’s divisions.

Phil: It’s really a catch-22, isn’t it? If women were allowed to wrestle, that would be great for whoever gets the opportunity, but I still wouldn’t agree with doing shows in Saudi Arabia for other reasons. I didn’t watch Crown Jewel and I don’t plan to watch the show in June. I did watch Greatest Royal Royal Rumble though, and I’m still very uncomfortable with stuff like the propaganda and the spot with the Daivaris.

Laura: It would be a sign, to me, that WWE are at least somewhat there for the right reasons. It would be a modicum of proof towards the idea that they are there to extend a hand and encourage change for the people of Saudi Arabia. But it doesn’t take away all the other issues present. I really struggle to support a company who would tell one of their employees he can’t perform at the shows because he is Syrian. I mean, I’d guess Sami wouldn’t want to anyway, but that’s beside the point.

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