People Within TKO Reportedly Question WWE And UFC Over Shows In Saudi Arabia
It appears that the WWE and UFC shows recently held in Saudi Arabia have caused tensions within the companies and TKO to boil over.
Leading up to the WWE Crown Jewel event this past weekend, speculation mounted over whether the event would go ahead due to the attacks in the region in recent weeks. In the end, the company took a reduced crew to the shows, with reports suggesting they were offered $3000 as hazard pay. Plus, despite WWE’s initial plans for the card, it emerged GUNTHER had turned down the trip to Saudi Arabia, leaving his potential match with Finn Bálor off the show. Now, people within TKO are believed to be exceptionally frustrated at how things panned out.
Through a new report from Ben Fowlkes of Uncrowned, quotes have emerged from within TKO regarding the company pushing forward with plans to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“All [TKO executives] talk about is if the State Department says it is OK to fly there. The rest of us are like, ‘If the State Department has to think about it at all, let’s just postpone.’ That’s what all the other sports are doing. Why can’t TKO?”
-TKO Employee
Another source asked why the shows still get scheduled, providing the view that it’s down to TKO losing out on money without them.
“Why are you still even having these shows at this point? I think the answer is, if they chose not to do the show, they would lose out on millions and millions of dollars.”
-TKO Employee
Similarly, a source speaking to Uncrowned also noted fourth-quarter earnings will be down if the company didn’t proceed with the events.
“From what I’ve heard, if we don’t do the shows in Saudi Arabia or [United Arab Emirate] or Doha or wherever we are going, then our fourth-quarter earnings will be off and our shareholders aren’t going to get their money. So it’s all about greed. They don’t care about anybody’s well-being. The level of greed with this company is so gross.”
-TKO Employee
In perhaps the most cutting comment, the report relays a source describing TKO employees as being sick of the greed of the company.
“They don’t fing care about you one bit. People are just getting tired of the way they’re getting treated. They get treated like s and everybody’s tired of it. The lack of communication, the greed, the lack of appreciation, people are just sick of it.”
-TKO Employee
As it happened, the show went on without any incidents, although there was an attack in Riyadh’s financial district not long after Crown Jewel. Thankfully, it’s believed all WWE talent had vacated the area by that point, with all that were medically able to fly home leaving the country.
Sadly, though, Bronson Reed sustained an injury during his mid-match interference in which he was thrown off the stage by Oba Femi. As a result, the Australian remains in Saudi Arabia with a some of WWE’s medical team. You can read more about that here.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the backlash within TKO as soon as we hear more.
