Dave Meltzer talked about the WWE Crown Jewel and the beatings that took place in Riyadh as talent was leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
WWE held its scheduled November 7 show in Riyadh without a hitch, even amid deadly airstrikes by Yemen’s Houthis. The US State Department increased its warnings about travel to the region, leading to the eventual withdrawal of some US diplomats. But it looked like WWE was never going to change their trajectory, which would see them get $50-$55 million.
Meltzer wrote this week:Wrestling Observer Newsletter:“It was obviously a gain for security,” but it was always likely that nothing untoward would happen. A cruise missile was intercepted over Riyadh on Crown Jewel Day. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari said it had struck King Khalid International Airport, Aramco and the Naji National Guard camp.
Meltzer noted that the WWE talent avoided the airport upon arrival, instead flying to Bahrain and driving five hours to Riyadh. But the next day they left King Khalid. As they were leaving, ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom, according to Meltzer.
Shrapnel and shrapnel from the truncated missile hit the Saudi Aramco administration tower in the King Abdullah Financial District, blowing out windows on multiple floors. KAFD is the Riyadh Season Stadium, the original venue for the Crown Jewel before the venue was changed to the ANB Arena in Ar Rahmaniyah. Meltzer noted that talents are located near the Aramco building.
After the hits on November 8, WWE talent were reported to have left before they took place. But met occurred that Bronson Reed, the medical officer and international executive, remained after Reed was hospitalized.
