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'{{short description|Series of professional wrestling events in Saudi Arabia by American promotion WWE}} {{Infobox professional wrestling event series |name = WWE in Saudi Arabia |image = [[File:WWE Logo.svg|100px]][[File:Emblem of Saudi Arabia.svg|100px]] |image_size = 125px |caption = |alt = |othernames = |nicknames = |createdby = [[Vince McMahon]]<br>[[Turki Al-Sheikh]] |promotions = [[WWE]]<br>[[General Sports Authority]] |brands = [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]]<br>[[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]]<br>[[205 Live (WWE brand)|205 Live]] |firstevent = April 2014 tour |lastevent = |gimmick = |featuredmatches = }} [[WWE]], an American [[professional wrestling]] promotion based in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]], [[United States]], has been promoting events in the [[Middle East]]ern country of [[Saudi Arabia]] since 2014. In contrast to regular WWE events, [[Women in WWE|women]] are banned from appearing in events held in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.givemesport.com/643439-wwe-divas-ruled-out-of-saudi-arabia-tour-due-to-nations-laws|title=WWE Divas ruled out of Saudi Arabia tour due to nation's laws|date=2015-10-07|website=GiveMeSport|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> Many events in the country promoted by the WWE have been subjected to criticism due to curtailing [[LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia|homosexual equality]], a state [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|accused of severe human rights abuses]], leading a [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|war of attrition in Yemen]], [[Terrorism in Saudi Arabia|allegations of funding terrorism]], and [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia|suppressing women's rights]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Ian|title=WWE's Saudi Arabia Nightmare|url=https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/evw7va/wwes-saudi-arabia-nightmare|work=Vice|date=October 16, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Uproxx">{{cite web | url =https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/john-cena-triple-h-greatest-royal-rumble-no-womens-matches/ | title =WWE Reveals New Matches For The Greatest Royal Rumble, But No Women’s Wrestling Allowed | last =Collins | first =Elle | date =March 26, 2018 | website =[[Uproxx]] | access-date =April 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/26/wwe-greatest-royal-rumble-saudi-arabia-women-lgbt-rights/amp/|title=WWE is hosting Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia and LGBT+ fans are not happy about it – PinkNews|website=www.pinknews.co.uk|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref> ==History== In December 2013, it was announced that WWE would begin holding shows in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.netnewsledger.com/2013/12/15/wwe-to-slam-dunk-saudi-arabia/|title=NetNewsLedger - WWE To Slam Dunk Saudi Arabia|last=Sports|first=N. N. L.|date=2013-12-15|website=NetNewsLedger|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> In April 2014, WWE held their first house shows in [[Riyadh]], their first event ever in Saudi Arabia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/sports/2014/04/17/WWE-wrestlers-in-Saudi-Arabia-for-live-matches.html|title=WWE wrestlers in Saudi Arabia for live matches|website=english.alarabiya.net|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/live-event-riyadh-saudi-arabia-april-2014-day-1-photos|title=WWE Live Event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 2014: photos|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=WWE|title=First-ever WWE Live Event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia|date=2014-04-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QJhGmLBE74|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> which were three separate shows at the [[Green Halls Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/greatest-royal-rumble/gallery/wwe-past-visits-to-saudi-arabia-photos|title=Photos: WWE's past visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> In October 2015, WWE did three house shows from [[Jeddah]], at the [[King Abdullah Sports City|King Abdullah Sports City Sports Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/wwe-live-tour-middle-east/wwe-live-returns-to-saudi-arabia|title=WWE LIVE returns to Saudi Arabia|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/sports/2015/09/08/John-Cena-and-WWE-stars-return-to-Saudi-Arabia.html|title=John Cena and WWE stars return to Saudi Arabia|website=english.alarabiya.net|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> In November 2016, the WWE again returned to Green Halls Stadium in Riyadh, for two additional live events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/article/wwe-live-events-riyadh-saudi-arabia-november-2016|title=WWE Live action returns to Riyadh this November|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> The 2016 events were exclusive to the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown brand]].<ref name=pfdb1416>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/locations/kingdom-of-saudi-arabia/riyadh-province/riyadh/green-halls-stadium-3057.html|title=Green Halls Stadium, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.profightdb.com|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> In 2017, [[WWE Wal3ooha]] began broadcasting throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, on [[OSN Sports]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/wwe-new-arabic-tv-show-saudi-arabia/|title=WWE Is Launching A Localized Weekly TV Show In Saudi Arabia|date=2017-05-01|website=UPROXX|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> The show ended when OSN discontinued the channel it broadcast on in March 2019, along with the majority of its sports programming.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/sport/413192-osn-to-drop-all-sports-channels-except-for-cricket|title=OSN to drop all sports channels except for cricket|first=Shayan|last=Shakeel|date=February 13, 2019|work=[[Arabian Business]]}}</ref> On March 5, 2018, WWE and the [[General Sports Authority|Saudi General Sports Authority]] advertised the [[Greatest Royal Rumble]], a live event to be held on April 27, 2018, at [[King Abdullah Sports City|King Abdullah International Stadium]], part of the King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=WWE news, rumors: 'Greatest Royal Rumble,' NXT injury, Jericho-NJPW done?|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-news-rumors-greatest-royal-rumble-nxt-injury-jericho-njpw-done/|author= Adam Silverstein|work=[[CBS Sports]]|date=March 5, 2018|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/wwe/news/14203/11279526/wwe-saudi-arabia-to-host-50-man-royal-rumble|title=WWE: Saudi Arabia to host 50-man Royal Rumble|author=Jefferson Lake|work=[[Sky Sports]]|date=March 5, 2018|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> The event was the first in a 10-year strategic multi-platform partnership between WWE and the Saudi General Sports Authority in support of [[Saudi Vision 2030]], Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/article/saudi-arabia-to-host-greatest-royal-rumble-april-2018|title=Saudi Arabia to host the Greatest Royal Rumble|work=[[WWE]]|author=WWE.com staff|date=March 5, 2018|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|title=National Transformation Program 2020|url=http://vision2030.gov.sa/sites/default/files/NTP_En.pdf|access-date=}}</ref> ==Controversy== ===Women's rights=== {{see also|Women in WWE}} WWE had been criticized for holding the events without female wrestlers, who were unable to perform at the event due to the [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia|limited rights women have in Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="Independent"/><ref name="Uproxx"/> [[Triple H]], WWE's Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, responded to the criticism: "I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture...You can’t dictate to a country or a religion about how they handle things but, having said that, WWE is at the forefront of a women’s evolution in the world and what you can’t do is effect change anywhere by staying away from it....While women are not competing in the event, we have had discussions about that and hope that, in the next few years they will be".<ref name="Independent">{{cite web | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/wwe-greatest-royal-rumble-saudi-arabia-triple-h-interview-defends-no-women-wrestlers-a8319446.html | title =WWE Greatest Royal Rumble: Triple H defends hosting event in Saudi Arabia without any women wrestlers | last =Paddock | first =Matty | date =April 24, 2018 | website = [[The Independent]] | access-date =April 24, 2018}}</ref> Consistent with the change in law for sporting events in 2017,<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/10/30/saudi-arabia-will-allow-women-to-attend-sporting-events-in-stadiums/</ref> women are in attendance for the events, though only if [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia#Male guardians|accompanied by a male guardian]].<ref name="Independent" /> This was a major change from previous events, which were only open to men. [[Associated Press]] noted that this is due to "a series of social changes" by Crown Prince [[Mohammad bin Salman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/a05bf0eea74b4a9a9a776ae5039c7066|title=Women, children attend wrestling event in Saudi Arabia|website=APNews.com|access-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> During the [[WWE Greatest Royal Rumble|Greatest Royal Rumble]], WWE aired a promotional video, which included female wrestlers in their ring gear. The Saudi General Sports Authority issued an apology for "indecent material" that aired at the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/117156/apology-issued-for-indecent-material-aired-during-greatest-royal-rumble.html?p=1|title=APOLOGY ISSUED FOR 'INDECENT' MATERIAL AIRED DURING GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE - PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref> During the second show, [[WWE Crown Jewel|Crown Jewel]], [[Renee Young]] provided commentary at the show,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/renee-young-be-part-wwe-crown-jewel-announce-team-269096|title=Renee Young to be part of WWE Crown Jewel announce team|date=30 October 2018|publisher=|access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref> broadcasting from ringside with her hair and face uncovered, while wearing long sleeves and full body coverage. After [[Super ShowDown (2019)|2019's Super Showdown]], [[Dave Meltzer]] of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' wrote that WWE "came for $40 million in cash, and overlooked their espoused public views on women, diversity and bigotry to collect the cash. They cloaked it with their own propaganda, the idea they were there to put smiles on kids faces."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meltzer |first1=Dave |authorlink1=Dave Meltzer |title=June 17, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Scary incidents in the ring, NJPW Dominion review |url=https://members.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/june-17-2019-observer-newsletter-scary-incidents-ring-njpw-dominion |website=f4wonline.com |accessdate=June 17, 2019}}</ref> ===Wrestlers refusing to work=== During Crown Jewel, [[Daniel Bryan]] was scheduled to face [[A.J. Styles|AJ Styles]] for the [[WWE Championship]], but he reportedly refused to work the show. == Live events == === House shows === {|class="wikitable" style="margin: auto" |- |style="background:#BBF; width:2em"| |[[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]]-branded event |} {| class="wikitable" !# !Date !City !Venue |- ! style="text-align:center" |1 |April 17–19, 2014<ref name=pfdb1416 /> |[[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[Green Halls Stadium]] |- ! style="text-align:center" |2 |October 8–10, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/locations/kingdom-of-saudi-arabia/makkah/jeddah/king-abdullah-sports-city-sports-hall-3251.html|title=King Abdullah Sports City Sports Hall, Jeddah, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.profightdb.com|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> |[[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[King Abdullah Sports City|King Abdullah Sports City Sports Hall]] |-style="background:#BBF; ! style="text-align:center" |3 |November 3–4, 2016<ref name=pfdb1416 /> |[[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[Green Halls Stadium]] |} ===Pay-per-view events=== {| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" width="100%" !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:3%"|# !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:13%" class="unsortable"|Event !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:10%" class="unsortable"|Date !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:17%"|City !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:15%"|Venue !style="background-color: #e3e3e3; width:40%" class="unsortable"|Main Event |- !style="text-align:center"|1 |[[WWE Greatest Royal Rumble|Greatest Royal Rumble]] |April 27, 2018 |[[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[King Abdullah Sports City Stadium]] |{{small|50-man [[Royal Rumble match]] for the Greatest Royal Rumble Trophy and Championship<ref>{{cite web|last1=Melok|first1=Bobby|title=Brock Lesnar def. Roman Reigns in a Steel Cage Match to retain the Universal Championship|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/greatest-royal-rumble/2018/brock-lesnar-roman-reigns-results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=April 27, 2018}}</ref>}} |- !style="text-align:center"|2 |[[WWE Crown Jewel|Crown Jewel]] |November 2, 2018 |[[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[King Saud University Stadium]] |{{small| [[D-Generation X]] ([[Triple H]] and [[Shawn Michaels]]) vs. [[The Brothers of Destruction]] ([[The Undertaker]] and [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]])<ref>{{cite web|last1=Benigno|first1=Anthony|title=D-Generation X def. The Brothers of Destruction|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-crown-jewel/2018/triple-h-shawn-michaels-the-undertaker-kane-results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=November 2, 2018}}</ref>}} |- !style="text-align:center"|3 |[[Super ShowDown (2019)|Super ShowDown]]<ref name="JeddahJune2019">{{cite web |title= Undertaker, Goldberg to clash for first time ever at WWE Super ShowDown|url=https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/article/wwe-super-showdown-undertaker-vs-goldberg-june-2019?sf212604216=1 |website=WWE.com |publisher=WWE |accessdate=13 May 2019}}</ref> |June 7, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/report-wwe-moving-saudi-arabia-show-may-3-june-7|title=Report: WWE Moving Saudi Arabia Show From May 3 To June 7|date=3 April 2019|publisher=Fightful Wrestling|accessdate=3 April 2019}}</ref> |[[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[King Abdullah International Stadium]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/article/wwe-superstars-return-to-jeddah-june-2019|title=WWE Superstars return to Jeddah|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-01}}</ref> |{{small|[[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] vs. [[The Undertaker]]}} |- !4 |TBA |November 1, 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-schedule-list-of-ppvs-for-2019-money-in-the-bank-backlash-date-location/|title=WWE schedule, list of PPVs for 2019: Money in the Bank, Backlash date, location|website=CBSSports.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> |TBD, [[Saudi Arabia]] |[[Crown Jewel (2019)]] |TBA |} ==References== {{reflist}} {{WWE}} {{WWEPPV|WWE in Saudi Arabia}} {{portalbar|Professional wrestling|2010s|Saudi Arabia|United States}} [[Category:Entertainment events in Saudi Arabia]] [[Category:Saudi Arabia–United States relations]] [[Category:Professional wrestling controversies]] [[Category:WWE in Saudi Arabia| ]]'