Despite global uncertainty leading up to WWEs upcoming Saudi Arabia shows, the companys top stars have officially touched down in Riyadh.
Triple H confirmed the arrival himself on June 26, posting a photo of the WWE charter jet on the tarmac with the caption:
The update comes after days of concern surrounding the trip. Earlier this week, a report revealed that WWE talent expected to travel to Riyadh for SmackDown and Night of Champions had not been updated on any changes to the trip as of Monday afternoon. The uncertainty only grew after reports surfaced of US Jets scrambling over Saudi Arabia due to increased international tension in the region.
WWE, however, has continued with its scheduled plans. Stars boarded a private, chartered flight mid-week to make the journey overseas, with Triple H providing the first official confirmation that they landed safely.
Theres also been a shift behind the scenes regarding how these Saudi shows are handled for the roster. It was later confirmed that talent that weve spoken to are no longer bonused for the Saudi shows, as those types of things are baked into their contracts now. The days of massive extra payouts for these trips are reportedly over.
WWEs partnership with Saudi Arabia has always been met with controversy, but this weekends shows come with added tension. While the company appears to be pushing forward with SmackDown and Night of Champions, even the talent involved admits theyve been figuring things out like everyone else is right now.
Do you think WWE made the right call by sticking to the Saudi trip, or should they have postponed given the situation? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
