WWE’s upcoming Night of Champions event in Saudi Arabia is still on the calendar—despite major global tension after the United States reportedly bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. Iran has since vowed what it described as “everlasting consequences,” which immediately raised concerns over WWE’s scheduled trip to Riyadh.
According to a new report, WWE has not issued an official public statement regarding the status of Night of Champions. Fightful reached out to WWE representatives, but there has been no formal response. However, one company higher-up said privately that the “situation was being monitored accordingly.”
The current plan is for WWE talent to fly out mid-week via a chartered flight. Initially, the flight would’ve only included about ten wrestlers booked for Night of Champions, but things escalated after WWE added a special three-hour episode of SmackDown to take place in Riyadh that same week.
On the ground in Saudi Arabia, production and event staff are still preparing for everything to proceed as planned. One source close to the setup said preparations are “full steam ahead” as of Sunday afternoon in Riyadh. That same source added—strictly as opinion—that they didn’t believe the event would be canceled or delayed, citing the financial stakes with the upcoming Royal Rumble also scheduled to be held there.
“Saudi is one of the safest places in the world,” one source close to the situation said in regard to the tension in the region.
Another noted that WWE would be given proper assurances regarding security. The venue for Night of Champions is in full build mode, with fan events in Riyadh also expected to be announced later this week.
With WWE’s Saudi relationship being one of its most lucrative, it’s clear the company is cautiously pushing forward—but that could change quickly depending on how things unfold globally.
Do you think WWE should go through with Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia given the current tension, or play it safe and postpone? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.