The recent airstrikes by the US on Iran have stirred up some questions regarding the upcoming WWE Night of Champions event.
With events planned for Friday and Saturday in Saudi Arabia, the Night of Champions Premium Live Event is set to take place over two consecutive days in Smackdown and Riyadh.
WWE officials are actively reviewing future events in light of the US’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as reported by Fightful Select.
While neither event has been officially canceled or relocated, a WWE insider mentioned to Fightful that they are monitoring the situation closely.
Concerns arise mainly from warnings broadcasted on Iranian state television, which stated that “All American citizens or military personnel in the Middle East are currently targeted by Tehran.” A senior adviser to Iran’s leadership echoed these sentiments.
Meanwhile, construction continues at Kingdom Arena, with production reportedly moving ahead smoothly. There are heavy investments planned for Saudi Arabia in January, along with an upcoming royal rumble taping, so hopes for no cancellations seem strong.
The talent is expected to fly mid-week on a charter from the US to Riyadh. Only around ten wrestlers have confirmed their participation so far, which seems a bit light.
As for the Night of Champions card, it looks like John Cena’s defense of the WWE Championship against CM Punk will be a standout match. Jacob Fatu is lined up to defend the US title against Solo Cicero, while Dominique Mysterio will protect the Intercontinental Championship from AJ Styles. There will also be finals for the King and Queen of the Ring.
Randy Orton is matched against either Cody Rhodes or Jay Uso, depending on who comes out on top in the King of the Rings Final. Asuka is set to face the winner from a match between Jade Cargill and Roxanne Perez on Monday, and the winners will get a shot at the World Championship at Summer Slam in MetLife Stadium on August 2-3.
The decisions about safety measures and emergency plans are still under wraps, but WWE is looking for guarantees, according to Fightful.
It’s worth noting that WWE has a 10-year contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that’s valued at about $50 million per show, totaling around $100 million annually, as highlighted by Wrestlenomics.
WWE didn’t respond immediately to requests for comments about this situation.
