Mark Shapiro Says TKO Won't Hesitate To Cancel Events If Danger Escalates

Amidst rising conflict in the Middle East, with several attacks and bombings at airports in Saudi Arabia, questions have been raised about the status of WWE’s Crown Jewel event on November 7, which is set to take place in Riyadh. With travel recommendations suggesting that US citizens stay away due to potential threats on US interests, there has been talk from within WWE from employees and roster members alike on the show being canceled. 

Any report from WWE’s end has stated that the promotion is going full steam ahead on Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, with even some negativity and frustration directed at those who have vocalised their disapproval of plans. This week, it was revealed that Crown Jewel was changing locations… to another venue in Riyadh. Speaking at Town Hall, TKO’s Mark Shapiro made it clear that there would be no hesitation in canceling events if dangers were escalated;

“We have a lot of investors and analysts out there across the Wall Street community that are nervous that we’ll be able to pull off the year without any of our events being canceled… We’ve had investors dubious that we could close out this year without any hiccups, meaning events being canceled. You saw F1 and many events canceled given the global nature of our business. Well, so far, we’ve been lucky enough to not have any interruption.… it will certainly have an impact on our year in a very negative way.”

Speaking further, he touched upon the prospect of conflict escalating in the region. 

“I don’t want to talk out of both sides of my mouth here. We want to have the year we all envision we’ve all worked hard for. But if there is danger or further escalation of any of these conflicts that are going on, we will not hesitate to cancel those events, damned be our budget. So it’s certainly a balancing act. But the people part of it does come first in that… I know we’ve got a lot of big events coming up in the Middle East. We’re never putting anybody in harm’s way.”

Given the current and constant escalations, it would be interesting to know what level of escalation Shapiro would consider as dangerous enough to cancel Crown Jewel. 

H/T POST Wrestling