WWE Says Saudi Crown Jewel Show Is Very Unlikely to Be Cancelled
WWE's parent company says the risk of cancelling its Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia is "extremely minimal," even with a war under way in nearby Iran. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO Group Holdings, made the comment on the company's third-quarter earnings call. The show is scheduled for Saturday, 7 November, in Riyadh.
The event has already changed shape. It was first planned for an outdoor stadium, but a war-related adjustment moved it indoors, to the Mohammed Abdo Arena. Fans with tickets are being asked to keep an eye on the event's official channels for any further updates.
Shapiro pointed to WWE's recent record in the kingdom. Neither of its two previous 2026 events in Saudi Arabia was interrupted, and he said both went ahead "flawlessly." WWE's partnership with the Saudi government began in 2018. The Crown Jewel card includes Roman Reigns against Sami Zayn.
Not everything around the region is calm. The Red Sea Film Festival was cancelled last month, along with other cultural and entertainment events, after bombings targeted Saudi sites. Earlier this week, Shapiro also acknowledged to Yahoo Sports that Crown Jewel could still be cancelled if security concerns grow in Saudi Arabia.
The bigger question sits further down the calendar. WrestleMania is slated to be held in Saudi Arabia next April. It would be the first time in the event's four-decade history that it takes place outside North America. Shapiro said WrestleMania is at no more risk than it has ever been. He added that TKO has already received half of the payment from its Saudi partners, and will receive the other half regardless of events.
He was also clear that plans can shift. WrestleMania could be moved, Shapiro said, but he said it would not be cancelled.
For a general reader, the scale of TKO helps explain why a single event matters. The company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TKO, runs UFC, WWE, PBR and its Zuffa Boxing joint venture. It says its properties reach more than 1 billion households in 210 countries and territories. It also says it organises more than 500 live events a year, attracting more than three million fans.
For the people who build these shows, the decisions are practical. Each event means arena crews, production teams and performers travelling and working on a fixed date. Whether Crown Jewel takes place as planned on Saturday will only be settled when the night arrives.
