WWEs upcoming Night of Champions event in Saudi Arabia remains in limbo, and now, part of the production crew is stuck at the airport as global tensions continue to escalate.
According to Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com, several WWE production employees who flew in early for Night of Champions are currently stranded at an airport in Qatar. The situation unfolded after multiple news outlets reported on Monday that civilian flights through Qatari airspace were temporarily suspended. The closure comes after Iran launched attacks on the Al Udeid U.S. military base near Doha.
The uncertainty surrounding WWEs Night of Champions has been building for days. Over the weekend, the United States carried out airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Iranian officials to vow everlasting consequences. Iran has since fired at a U.S. airbase in Qatar, with the fallout directly impacting WWEs travel plans.
WWE talent scheduled for the event were still awaiting official updates as of Monday afternoon. Fightful Select reported that wrestlers had not been updated on any changes and were still slated to fly out mid-week on a charter plane. However, the suspension of airspace in Qatar adds another layer of uncertainty to an already tense situation.
Bryan Alvarez also confirmed that while the show has not been canceled yet, WWE has a narrow window to make a final decision.
Its also been confirmed that talent are no longer receiving additional bonuses for Saudi Arabia shows, as those incentives have been built into their contracts. The upcoming Night of Champions and SmackDown in Riyadh were expected to feature additional fan events, but all of that now hangs in the balance.
For now, WWE is still moving forward with preparations in Saudi Arabia. But with tensions rising and production staff stuck overseas, the clock is ticking. Ringside News will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Do you think WWE should cancel Night of Champions for safety, or should they ride it out and proceed? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
