Triple H Confirms WWE Has Landed in Riyadh Despite Global Tensions

Despite global uncertainty leading up to WWE’s upcoming Saudi Arabia shows, the company’s top stars have officially touched down in Riyadh.

Triple H confirmed the arrival himself on June 26, posting a photo of the WWE charter jet on the tarmac with the caption:

“Touched down in Riyadh. #SmackDown tomorrow…#WWENOC Saturday…Are you ready?”

The update comes after days of concern surrounding the trip. Earlier this week, a report revealed that WWE talent expected to travel to Riyadh for SmackDown and Night of Champions had “not been updated on any changes” to the trip as of Monday afternoon. The uncertainty only grew after reports surfaced of “US Jets scrambling over Saudi Arabia” due to increased international tension in the region.

WWE, however, has continued with its scheduled plans. Stars boarded a private, chartered flight mid-week to make the journey overseas, with Triple H providing the first official confirmation that they landed safely.

There’s also been a shift behind the scenes regarding how these Saudi shows are handled for the roster. It was later confirmed that “talent that we’ve spoken to are no longer bonused for the Saudi shows, as those types of things are baked into their contracts now.” The days of massive extra payouts for these trips are reportedly over.

WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia has always been met with controversy, but this weekend’s shows come with added tension. While the company appears to be pushing forward with SmackDown and Night of Champions, even the talent involved admits they’ve been “figuring things out like everyone else is right now.”