WWE has been heavily criticized for running shows in Saudi Arabia, for numerous reasons, including the fact female wrestlers were not permitted to be on the shows due to the woman having reduced rights in the county.
It was such a big deal that at Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, when WWE accidentally aired a video that showed female wrestlers in their ring gear, The Saudi General Sports Authority felt the need to issue an apology for the “indecent material” that was shown.
To WWE’s credit they have been addressing the issue with the relevant people in Saudi Arabia, and in an April 2018 interview Triple H would make the following comment confirming this:
“I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different, and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture…You can’t dictate to a country or a religion about how they handle things but, having said that, WWE is at the forefront of a women’s evolution in the world, and what you can’t do is effect change anywhere by staying away from it….While women are not competing in the event, we have had discussions about that and hope that in the next few years, they will be”.
WWE had attempted to have Natalya wrestle Alexa Bliss at the Saudi Arabia event Super Showdown earlier this year, but the match didn’t happen despite the pair traveling to the event.
Earlier today, WWE would confirm their persistence had paid off and confirmed at a special press conference that Natalya will wrestle Lacey Evans at Crown Jewell on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
The history-making announcement can be viewed below.
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