Report: No WWE Talents Refusing To Travel To Saudi Arabia For Crown Jewel 2026

No WWE wrestlers have refused to travel to Saudi Arabia amidst instability in the region and WWE forging ahead with plans to hold the Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Riyadh on Saturday, November 7.

That is according to Dave Meltzer, who reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that nobody in WWE had declined to go to Saudi Arabia for the event. One top WWE star noted that, "in the nicest of terms, declining to go is something very much not being encouraged."

Previous reports have noted that WWE employees expressed their opposition to travelling to the Middle East for Crown Jewel, something which the company weren't thrilled about due to wishing to present a united front.

Such are the safety concerns in Saudi Arabia, though, that the KSA General Entertainment Authority decided to move Crown Jewel from the outdoor Riyadh Season Arena to an indoor venue elsewhere in the capital city. The feeling within the organisation was that it would be easier to control who enters the building for Crown Jewel if the event was held indoors.

Safety concerns have been raised about Crown Jewel being held in Saudi Arabia due to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launching airstrikes in recent weeks against Saudi airports, oil and gas facilities, and military bases. This has included airstrikes against Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, with one strike on October 10 killing 13 people and leaving over 300 wounded.

WWE and the Saudi Arabia GEA have worked together since 2018 to hold two major events in the country per year. WWE make around $55 million per event but the company receive a larger amount for Big Five pay-per-views like the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania.