WWE News: WWE cancels high-profile shows due to Saudi Arabia scheduling conflict, bad news for UK fans
What's the story?
Saudi Arabia has a lucrative deal with WWE that will see them return to The Middle East twice a year for the next eight and a half years. This means that any shows that were planned to take place in November have to be changed. [H/T Heel By Nature]
In case you didn't know...
WWE's deal with Saudi Arabia is worth around $45 million a year and the company signed a 10-year deal back in 2018 which will see them present two shows a year over on Saudi Arabian soil. The issue now is the fact that Saudi Arabia wants all future shows to happen on a Friday night, the same night that FOX has rights to air live episode of SmackDown Live from October 4th.
This has become a problem for WWE since they now have to find a way to air both SmackDown and the upcoming Saudi Arabia show on the same day.
The heart of the matter
WWE only travels to the United Kingdom twice a year, in April and November and usually presents around 10 days of live events as well as Raw and SmackDown Live on British soil. The upcoming European Tour in November has recently seen four of its live events canceled including November 5th in Nottingham, 6th in Birmingham, 8th in London and 9th in Minehead.
These changes were made because the company has rescheduled the show in Saudi Arabia from November 1st and will now fly out the roster the following week, but there is no update on when these shows will be rescheduled for. WWE fans in the UK will still have Raw and SmackDown Live in the UK that week, but they are now limited to just three live events. November 7th will be in Brighton, 9th in Leeds and 10th in Aberdeen.
What's next?
Tickets for these live events went on sale back in May, so it will be interesting to see if WWE refunds fans or updates them on when the show will be rescheduled for in the coming weeks.
Do you think WWE will move the Saudi Arabia show to a Saturday? Have your say in the comments section below...