WWE is on a stellar run of success. Bravo!
Key indicators of both fan and business interest in the company are at the highest of highs with ticket sales and gates for Raw, Smackdown, and house shows sizzling, while the TKO board room secures record fees and a 40% increase for the Smackdown television product. Boom. They’re rolling in the dough.
With that type of momentum and a major PLE like Crown Jewel on the horizon Saturday afternoon in Saudi Arabia, it’s easy to bask in the glory of interest and intrigue, kick back, and enjoy a few hours of hot WWE style wrestling. That’s certainly what WWE wants you to do.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t do that, but do it while remembering what the Crown Jewel event is all about. Enjoy the show if you decide to do so, but don’t forget what it is — hypocrisy in it’s worst, ugly form.
The show is a shameful money grab
This show is a money grab on the part of WWE in the worst way possible. WWE is serving a soulless regime in Saudi Arabia in the name of earning billions of dollars for the company. Saudi Arabia is using WWE and it’s product as an avenue to present their country in a shining bright light. It’s propaganda dressed up with elbow drops, spears, and championship belts.
Saudi Arabia’s views on women’s rights and LGBTQ rights run counter to initiatives that WWE supports in the United States. That women’s revolution that WWE touted and carried the flag for on television? Would never have happened in Saudi Arabia. Just this year, WWE ran a photo gallery on their website with Superstars posing in front of the LGBTQ flag and talking about their support of Pride Month. Under the Saudi regime, all of those stars could have been subject to harsh punishment for that type of messaging. How about all the 9/11 remembrance the company takes part in each year? Yikes, don’t look in that drawer. Right?
Obviously, it’s wonderful that WWE supports those initiatives, but by doing business with the Saudi government, “supports” those initiatives becomes “uses and takes advantage of” those initiatives very quickly. Sickeningly quick.
Does WWE actually care about them? Or do they only care about them because of the residual corporate pat on the back they get when they do. By doing business with Saudi Arabia, it’s without question the latter and that sucks.
WWE distraction
WWE’s strong shows, critical acclaim, and overall momentum since returning from the pandemic in 2021 has distracted from this gargantuan level of hypocrisy on the part of the company. Vince McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Nick Khan, Triple H, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge. Taking the Saudi money soaked in blood should come along with ridicule, shame, and disappointment. Let’s give it them.
So, remember this reality when you watch the show on Saturday afternoon. Remember this when the women wrestlers of WWE walk to the ring in gear that covers their entire body. Remember this when Shayna Baszler, who came out as bisexual in 2013, walks to the ring to wrestle for the world championship. Remember this when WWE attempts to frame the country of Saudi Arabia with bells, whistles, and roses on the air and in-between matches.
Remember. It’s important. Enjoy the show.