Dave Meltzer Believes WWE Crown Jewel Will Move Forward As Planned

Despite ongoing attacks from Iran and Houthi forces from Yemen, and memos from the US State Department suggesting that Americans could be targeted in the weeks to come, WWE appears to be full speed ahead when it comes to holding WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 7. And it's becoming apparent to those like Dave Meltzer that there will be no change to where the show takes place. On Sunday morning's "Wrestling Observer Radio," Meltzer didn't hold back while discussing Crown Jewel with co-hosts Garrett Gonzalez and Paul Fontaine.

"It's a terrible look...for WWE to go to Saudi Arabia right now," Meltzer said. "It's basically...it's like, we know what they are. We know they are. But it's like, not everyone knows what they are, and now it's harder to deny, you know what I mean? You can't deny it."

Perhaps the only thing Meltzer was willing to give WWE/TKO higher ups was the idea that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon would've refused to go to Saudi Arabia in this situation, emphatically saying McMahon would've done the same. More importantly, for perhaps the first time, Meltzer seemed to resign himself to Crown Jewel taking place in Riyadh, and that the show wouldn't be moved elsewhere, as Meltzer previously suggested/hoped would be the case.

"The people who run the company, the way they're wired, they always want to make money," Meltzer said. "Money is in front of everything, okay, so they're going to make that decision. I mean, they could bomb the airport the day before, they're still going to go. That's just how it is." 

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Wrestling Observer Radio" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

This is one where I think even the most ardent Dave Meltzer hater would say he's right on the money; WWE Crown Jewel is going to take place in Riyadh and there's no one, no fan nor media member, who can do anything to stop it. Well, almost no one. The truth is there is one group of individuals who could possibly put a halt to this insane idea of holding Crown Jewel in a warzone, and that's the WWE roster. It wouldn't be without risk; we've all seen how petty WWE can be towards its talents that don't do what they want. But in a world where there's now another major wrestling promotion out there that can offer work, and where two of the top stars booked for Crown Jewel (Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns) are getting acting roles in Hollywood films (albeit ones facing steep declines at the box office), I dare say the talent has options if they want to put their foot down and go 'Hey, our lives aren't worth the money this show will generate, money that won't go to most of us anyway."

Sadly, this isn't going to happen; the only thing that would be more surprising than the WWE roster taking a stand or some wrestlers even walking out would be if WWE reversed course and postponed/moved Crown Jewel. We know this because this isn't the first time talent has been put in a position to take a stand and didn't do so. Perhaps the most notable one was the 2019 fiasco where over 200 WWE talents and crew members were left behind in Saudi Arabia (either due to mechanical failure or more nefarious means, depending on who you believe), while Vince McMahon and several higher ups got out of there on a private jet. Did any talent revolt/stand up for themselves? Seemingly, the answer was no. Did anything happen when mass roster cuts occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? No. It may be a new regime, but it doesn't change the fact that talent appears either too scared to lose their jobs or too loyal to the company (one that's repaying that loyalty by sending them into a hostile situation) to speak against this. And it's a shame because they really should. Short of the US government stepping in, the only ones who can force WWE to make the right decision about moving/postponing Crown Jewel is WWE's workforce. I'd like to see them prove me wrong and take a stand, but until it happens, I remain skeptical.