WWE talent refusing to go back to Saudi Arabia with some wanting to leave the company

[GD]

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From /r/SC



A very interesting WOR, and an even more scary situation involving Saudi/WWE, here are some notes:


Dave says WWE had not been paid for the previous Saudi show, as of September 30th. WWE then reported hours being Crown Jewel that they got an unspecified 60 million dollar payment.



Dave calls it a really bad situation and doesn't know what WWE is going to do going forward. He had talent tell him they were never going back to Saudi Arabia, and others saying they couldn't wait TO LEAVE THE COMPANY.



Dave continually reiterates the two major points: WWE wasn't paid for the previous Saudi show as of September 30th & they got a mysterious 60 million dollar payment a couple hours before Crown Jewel.



Dave confirms that Crown Jewel was supposed to air live in Saudi Arabia but instead it ending up airing there on a 40 minute delay. Basically sounds like Vince pulled the plug until he and the Saudis came to an agreement, which they did mid-show.



None of the talent was harmed but there was talent there that felt like they were hostages, even though they were allowed to leave.



Dave just keeps saying over and over that it's a really bad, really tense situation. He says the talent needs to unionize, but then points out that Smackdown is a great example of a WWE response if that were to happen: they'd just call up NXT and have a hot show.



Bryan tries to suggest Vince left before he knew all the problems talent would face. Dave says we don't know that. He'd like to believe that, but he just knows a lot of people were mad. One person there told Dave they felt like they were pawns in a dick waving contest.



Dave says Lesnar and Heyman were not originally scheduled to be on last Friday's Smackdown but they added them because of the rest of the talent being delayed. Says Brock/Heyman jumping to Raw was going to happen next Tuesday as a big kickoff for the new FS1 news show.

[rez]

Jesus. Smdh

[rez]

Market Summary > World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
NYSE: WWE
55.96 USD −0.080 (0.14%)
Closed: Nov 1, 5:00 PM EDT · Disclaimer
After hours 55.96 0.00 (0.00%)

It'll be interesting to see what the stock opens at tomorrow

[Emperor Smeat]

Dave says Lesnar and Heyman were not originally scheduled to be on last Friday's Smackdown but they added them because of the rest of the talent being delayed. Says Brock/Heyman jumping to Raw was going to happen next Tuesday as a big kickoff for the new FS1 news show.

Wonder how FOX feels about WWE getting rid of the one big star they wanted the most for their brand only weeks after the Draft happened.

[slik]

So far...

FOX heavily promoted Becky, Charlotte and Brock in the lead up to SD's debut...and um, ugh, well...

[GD]

The possibility of Vinny Mac being incarcerated for insider trading

[rez]

Vince is a horrible businessman if it's true that WWE wasn't paid for past events until Crown Jewel

[Ultra Mantis]

Some of the roster were being held hostage before they even went to Saudi.

[Droford]

Everyone hated them for going and now they're likely not going back and still getting shit on even though it was the Prince of Saudi Arabia that had them ordered off the planes

Amazing

[ClockShot]

Yeah.

Who wants to leave now is what I want to know.

[Droford]

Brock going to Raw was Renee Young's big thing she was teasing about the FS1 show

[Droford]

Yeah.

Who wants to leave now is what I want to know.

Whoever it is, it's a thinly vieled excuse to go to AEW.

[Splaya]

Droford you can’t be serious. While they might go there it’s the principle that some talent were fearing for their lives.

[rez]

AEW and TNT couldn't ask for a better week lol....well, except the Jags lost but that's normal.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Who did Tuna Meltz talk to? He's been so full of shit lately what he says means nothing.

[xrodmuc316]

If this roster doesn't form a Union tomorrow night, they are never getting it done.

Vince would have no way to shut it down under the current shitstorm.

[Jordan]

I wonder who actually wants to leave.

Did Lana stay in the US or did she travel and stay in Bobby's hotel room?

[Emperor Smeat]

Seems AJ Styles might have outed himself as being the only person who claimed the Saudi situation was due to mechanical problems and not something else to Meltzer.

If so, it wasn't the case of someone else leaking his name to the sheets and instead due to him holding a live stream discussing the Saudi issue.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dave says the talent was told the plane was held up due to mechanical issues. He says in talking to talent, one person there believes that story and pointed out to Dave there were mechanics working on the plane. Everyone else there talking to Dave doesn't buy it.</p>&mdash; Trevor Dame (@TrevorDame) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrevorDame/status/1190935774562111488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Huh, I wonder who told Dave that he genuinely that that the plane was held by mechan…oh. Of course. <a href="https://t.co/IXt0C9U6hN">pic.twitter.com/IXt0C9U6hN</a></p>&mdash; David BixenSP����KY (@davidbix) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidbix/status/1191150842889613313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Ruien]

Lol at everyone over reacting.

[slik]

WWE should do a show in N Korea next if this deal falls thru

[slik]

Greatest Greatest Greatest RoyalSummerSeries

[Triple A]

AJ Styles is also a flat-earther

[rez]

Fuck WWE

AJ is a weirdo and just wants to ride out his contract and become a WWE HOF'er. Sucks...like Sting. $ is more important than a backbone. Tis what it tis

[rez]

You got the Brockk Reigns, AJ, Rollins ------------------------------- NXT. Fucking hope they unionize lol

[slik]

I see Reddit is hard at work to get to the bottom of the situation


https://i.postimg.cc/mrXMNT2n/Screenshot-2019-11-03-at-10-39-03-PM.png

[GD]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2nd house!! Not a pool..but don’t ever go back AGAIN! We don’t need our daddy/papi/motherlover/absanderson/besttagteam etc. being held hostage while we’re at home worried to death ❤️</p>&mdash; Tini (@Strawtini) <a href="https://twitter.com/Strawtini/status/1190757223145918464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[xrodmuc316]

You got the Brockk Reigns, AJ, Rollins ------------------------------- NXT. Fucking hope they unionize lol

Like I said, it is the best time to.

"Why do you want to unionize Pals?"
"So you can't leave us to get beheaded in Saudi Arabia Vince."

Boom, argument over, wrestlers win.

[Frank Drebin]

Lol.....yeah....this is what they'll unionize over.

[Droford]

If anything all this means is they'll have to make the future shows in SA RAW only or make it a Wednesday to avoid potential travel issues.

[Triple A]

One of the main impediments to starting a union would be getting the handful of wrestlers at the top to join in, since they're already being paid a lot and probably don't want to "rock the boat" for the benefit of the vast majority of everyone else.

Also there are probably a lot of guys at the bottom who are like "it's my dream to wrestle in WWE" and don't want to "cause any trouble," etc.

Sucks... wish they would all band together...

[Mr. Nerfect]

AJ Styles is also a flat-earther

Lol, I came in here to point that out too.

[erickman]

I wonder if vince will let people like luke harper go now.

[Splaya]

Vince isn’t letting anyone go. The way those contracts are written, they have to fulfill them. And when these wrestlers say they aren’t going, I’m sure Vince and his lawyers will tell them and somehow he will sue them for breach of contract or some bullshit

[Jordan]

If the Saudi money doesn't come through and or if this was the last show in Saudi Arabia then I think WWE will begin to release a large amount of talent. They always cut roster when things get tight. There are guys that they hold onto out of spite like Luke Harper and I could see him getting released. Him and a ton of NXT talent that hasn't "made it".

[Gerard]

Sounds like the show was a total clusterfuck, be interesting to see how wrestlers refusing to go back to Dune Coon territory will be dealt with by wwe. They could probably claim that as being breach of contract or some shit, even though they are "independent contractors" that are under more restrictions than pretty much any other job.

It baffles me how wwe get away with that independent contractor shit when it's blatantly obvious that their performers are under lock and key.

[erickman]

If luke harper writing contract ends this month and vince decides to ad 6 months on it, lawyers are less likely to get involved if luke wanted to call the bluff. but yeah if they lose Saudi money, an fox getting pissed, vince will need to cut costs an get rid of un happy people.

[Helmsphere]

Doesn't Vince know better?

Cash up front.

[slik]

Stock dropping again today....WWE Stock down 20% so far in one month...

[Gerard]

Stock dropping again today....WWE Stock down 20% so far in one month...

Good, Vince needs a kick in the balls and seeing as these days he seems to be part Jew this will hurt him even more.

[Seanny One Ball]

Dune Coon territory



Unbelievable

[Supreme Olajuwon]

What I don’t understand and maybe I just missed it, but people are reporting the wrestlers were being held hostage. Held hostage for what? The show was over. It sounds like WWE held up their end of the deal. What did the Saudis want that they would delay the flights?

[Gerard]

Unbelievable

And factual!

[Sepholio]

So I keep hearing that there is this internal Saudi struggle behind the scenes with this. Something about some of the royals really not wanting anything to do with WWE and the current "cultural shift" Saudi is pretending to put on. Might have something to do with their money being held up and all that. But my point is.....I wonder if this situation is a direct result of them putting on Natalya v Lacey at the show. Maybe some of the Saudi officials who aren't cool with the new direction of their country decided to interfere and jeopardize the business deal they don't want any part of anyways.

[Triple A]

What I don’t understand and maybe I just missed it, but people are reporting the wrestlers were being held hostage. Held hostage for what? The show was over. It sounds like WWE held up their end of the deal. What did the Saudis want that they would delay the flights?

There was apparently something with Vince delaying the airing of the show until WWE got paid or something, so the Saudis probably wanted to "teach him a lesson" to show him that they are the "alpha" in this situation,,

[Evil Vito]

Curt Hawkins, Heath Slater, Karl Anderson and others were tweeting about how much theu couldn't wait to see their kids during these delays.

Definitely made it all a bit more morbid, as though they were concerned they'd be held there indefinitely.

[Sepholio]

I read that Roman, Braun, Kofi, and Andrade are some of the names reportedly refusing to ever go back to Saudi now.

[Sixx]

Roman looks the most Arab of all of them.

[RaginRonic]

Anyone who kisses the ass of those in charge of Saudi Arabia need theirs stomped the fuck out. And while the kicker would be at it, also go after the teeth of those morons.

When is Vince gonna figure out he's a dumb shit and fucking retire from WWE? His presence isn't welcomed anymore, and fuck him and his supporters if they think I'm hanging them out to dry. Who cares about that shit?

=P

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Saudi Arabia is Canada's 17th largest trading partner.[10] Saudi Arabia imported $1.5 billion worth of Canadian goods in 2015 according to the World Bank.[11] Canada imported $1.5 billion worth of Saudi goods in 2015.[12]

STOMP STOMP!

[erickman]

I wonder who is the locker room leader do they even have one now.

[Sixx]

What are Saudi goods?

[rez]

What are Saudi goods?


Terrorists

[Lock Jaw]

Saudi Arabia is Canada's 17th largest trading partner.[10] Saudi Arabia imported $1.5 billion worth of Canadian goods in 2015 according to the World Bank.[11] Canada imported $1.5 billion worth of Saudi goods in 2015.[12]

STOMP STOMP!

Why did you single out Canada?

[Sixx]

Then I totes want some.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Why did you single out Canada?

Ronic is MR. CANADA of TPWW.

[Seanny One Ball]

Ronic McDonic, I'll take fries with that.

[Droford]

For Immediate Release
WWE® AND THE SAUDI GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORITY EXPAND EVENT PARTNERSHIP

STAMFORD, CONN. and RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, November 4, 2019 ? Following the historic Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, WWE (NYSE: WWE) and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) have expanded their live event partnership through 2027 to include a second annual large-scale event. WWE and GEA also continue to work towards the completion of a media agreement in the MENA region.


This long-term partnership demonstrates WWE and GEA's commitment to bring sports entertainment to the region and supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.



Seems like a big fuck you to whoever doesn't want to go back

[Emperor Smeat]

So I keep hearing that there is this internal Saudi struggle behind the scenes with this. Something about some of the royals really not wanting anything to do with WWE and the current "cultural shift" Saudi is pretending to put on. Might have something to do with their money being held up and all that. But my point is.....I wonder if this situation is a direct result of them putting on Natalya v Lacey at the show. Maybe some of the Saudi officials who aren't cool with the new direction of their country decided to interfere and jeopardize the business deal they don't want any part of anyways.
If that was the case for the women's match, then other women's related events and fights would be getting cancelled as well this month which isn't the case.

This whole month is all about boosting Saudi's image in the world and to fool everyone about them becoming more progressive on human and women's rights. While that is going on, they are still jailing and torturing dissents who are pushing for real progress to be made and not PR fluff.

[RP]

Reports are now saying that this had nothing to do with the Saudi's and everything to do with being stuck in a plane with Natayla and her smelly vagina.

[Helmsphere]

I would still do things to her smelly vagina. Plus would be that all her cats would lick my bunghole while i did it.

[Volare]

Ronic is MR. CANADA of TPWW.

Mexico North.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wonder who is the locker room leader do they even have one now.

Roman Reigns seems to lead. I imagine that Daniel Bryan is basically universally respected and would take up for people. Kofi Kingston seems to have a lot of respect and makes public statements on behalf of The New Day. Then you’ve got Orton. Titus also seems to lead in sort of less abusive Bradshaw-type way, where it doesn’t mean anything on-screen.

If talent were going to unionize, Reigns and Bryan would be at the forefront of it, I imagine.

[RaginRonic]

Ronic McDonic, I'll take fries with that.

Seanny = serial rapist of cows.

The cows in question? All the fat women that gravitate to him.

> = )

[Tom Guycott]

If the Saudi money doesn't come through and or if this was the last show in Saudi Arabia then I think WWE will begin to release a large amount of talent. They always cut roster when things get tight. There are guys that they hold onto out of spite like Luke Harper and I could see him getting released. Him and a ton of NXT talent that hasn't "made it".

Nope.

I mean, they could, but they're back on their toy collecting bullshit, because they don't want anyone going to AEW or New Japan or elsewhere to have any sort of improved leverage against them being the perceived top dog. They have too much talent that they're not really doing anything with, even with the current structure of NXT non-TV developmental, "main roster" NXT, NXT UK, and a split main roster of RAW and Smackdown. They could easily get rid of a lot of the percieved dead weight... but then that "dead weight" has a chance to become a big deal and potentially make a lot of money for, say, Billy Corgan instead of Vinnie Mac, and that's a chance WWE doesn't want to take.

They didn't even do the spring housecleaning they usually do around Mania time to the extent that they usually do most likely because AEW was a very loud rumor. If the timeline were different and they *did* land Omega and The Bucks, that "threat" would have gone away and there would have probably been future endeavors all around for financial room.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Nattie confirmed AJ and the plane story

[GD]

Nattie confirmed AJ and the plane story

And did you know Khan does business with the Saudis :eek:

[GD]

WWE and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority expand event partnership

Following the historic Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, WWE and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) have expanded their live event partnership through 2027 to include a second annual large-scale event. WWE and GEA also continue to work towards the completion of a media agreement in the MENA region.

[Seanny One Ball]

Ronic McDonic, I'll take fries with that.

Seanny = serial rapist of cows.

The cows in question? All the fat women that gravitate to him.

> = )


This is mad patter

[Mr. Nerfect]

Nope.

I mean, they could, but they're back on their toy collecting bullshit, because they don't want anyone going to AEW or New Japan or elsewhere to have any sort of improved leverage against them being the perceived top dog. They have too much talent that they're not really doing anything with, even with the current structure of NXT non-TV developmental, "main roster" NXT, NXT UK, and a split main roster of RAW and Smackdown. They could easily get rid of a lot of the percieved dead weight... but then that "dead weight" has a chance to become a big deal and potentially make a lot of money for, say, Billy Corgan instead of Vinnie Mac, and that's a chance WWE doesn't want to take.

They didn't even do the spring housecleaning they usually do around Mania time to the extent that they usually do most likely because AEW was a very loud rumor. If the timeline were different and they *did* land Omega and The Bucks, that "threat" would have gone away and there would have probably been future endeavors all around for financial room.

I think WWE refuses to let talent out more so because they don’t want guys like Bryan and Owens wanting out and asking. If there’s a consistent rule in place, the top talent can be held to it instead of being exceptions.

[RaginRonic]

This is mad patter

Seanny's now this generation's 'Fat Chick Thrilla'.

> = )

[JimmyMess]

Dave Meltzer is a fucking goof