WWE Fights Through Middle East Chaos to Keep Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia

WWE isn’t letting global tensions stop business. Despite a tense ceasefire between Iran and Israel and restricted airspace across the Persian Gulf, the company is pushing ahead with Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The recent conflict, which saw Iran launching strikes on U.S. military targets in Qatar, left several WWE employees stranded in the country as flight paths shut down. After days of uncertainty, those employees finally made it to Saudi Arabia — just in time for WWE’s loaded schedule.

The situation forced WWE to shake up its usual travel plans. Instead of flying the roster in together, talent is now taking separate flights from different cities to ensure they all make it to Riyadh.

Despite the obvious challenges, WWE never wavered on keeping the event in Saudi Arabia. The company believed there was simply too much at stake to consider relocating. With next year’s Royal Rumble also set to emanate from the kingdom, WWE sees Night of Champions as its last major opportunity to promote the iconic pay-per-view with the full roster present.

The card is stacked, with Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena set to defend his title against longtime rival CM Punk. The show will also feature the finals of both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Fans will see Cody Rhodes collide with Randy Orton in the men’s finals, while Asuka goes head-to-head with Jade Cargill to crown the first-ever Queen of the Ring under Triple H’s full creative regime.

WWE is also bringing SmackDown to Saudi Arabia for the week. The show will air live internationally but be shown on tape delay in the U.S. during its usual 8 PM Eastern slot on the USA Network.

WWE’s decision to power through the political drama shows their determination to maintain their massive partnership with Saudi Arabia — no matter how complicated the global situation gets.