Roman Reigns Says WWE "Helps Promote Change" By Performing In Saudi Arabia

"The Big Dog" speaks ahead of Super ShowDown...

Justin Henry smiling while wearing a black hat

May 28, 2019

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is slated to be a part of WWE Super ShowDown next Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he will go one on one with Shane McMahon. Ahead of the event,

Reigns spoke with Newsweek

, where he was asked about the negative perception of WWE's ten-year deal to perform bi-annual events within the country.

Said Reigns, in part, of the unfavorable reactions to the Saudi events, "The bottom line for me is, if we’re going to help promote change, if we’re going to set out to make an impact, then I have to be a part of it. I’m not going to sit on the sideline and talk about how we can get there. I want to be a part of the action. I look at it as being a part of the solution while still respecting cultures, but it’s a big world and I want to experience all of it. So if we can help make a positive impact that’s what we’re here to do."

Reigns wrestled Brock Lesnar in a steel cage match for the Universal title last year at Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah. He bowed out of a triple threat match with Lesnar and Braun Strowman at last November's Crown Jewel in Riyadh,

reportedly ahead of his announcement

that he had been diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia.