US Senators Speak Out Against WWE’s Crown Jewel Event In Saudi Arabia – Call For WWE To Pause Relationship With Kingdom

WWE’s upcoming event in Saudi Arabia on November 2nd, Crown Jewel, has been a very hot topic after numerous members of the United States Senate have gone on record in saying that they feel that WWE should reconsider their current business relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia going forward.

This all comes in the wake of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist for the Washington Post, and United States resident. Khashoggi at the time of his murder was in Turkey, and was said to have entered the office of a Saudi Arabian consulate to pick up paperwork which would allow him to re-marry, and has not been seen since last week. The Saudi Arabian Consulate claims that Khashoggi left the building and property, there is no video of Khashoggi leaving the building to back his claim. Khashoggi’s fiancee was apparently outside the building waiting for him to go inside and pick up the paperwork, however Khashoggi never returned to her.

The Washington Post is reporting that Turkish Officials had audio and video proof that Jamal Khashoggi was tortured and murdered, in what is said could have been an attempted kidnapping and extradition to Saudi Arabia that apparently went wrong.

Khashoggi had been very critical of many aspects of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in numerous articles that he had written. The investigation remains ongoing, and the topic has been a major international issue as of late.

An article from The Independent Journal Review recently focused on WWE’s upcoming event on November 2nd called “Crown Jewel” which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the article were comments from US Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) of Connecticut, Murphy said:

“This is a brazen assault on the freedom of the press and a slap in the face to the United States, if this murder occurred as it seems it did.”

“I’d hope that they would be rethinking their relationship with the kingdom especially with respect to events coming up in the next weeks like [WWE Crown Jewl].”

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) of Delaware reportedly acted surprised upon hearing the news regarding WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia told the IJR that WWE, “should be taking a hard look” at their relationship with The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia going forward.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was also reached for comment regarding WWE’s upcoming event in Saudi Arabia. Sen. Graham told the IJR that there “should be a pause” in the business relationship with Saudi Arabia.

To add even more intrigue to the story is that wife of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon is a member of the Trump Administration as the Small Business Administrator. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez also spoke to the IJR regarding Linda McMahon’s ties to the presidency and her connection to the WWE and their current business deal with Saudi Arabia. Sen. Menendez said:

“Private enterprise is private enterprise, different than a governmental entity,but because [Linda McMahon] is part of the president’s cabinet, it falls into the grey area where the administration really should give it some thought and maybe even prevail upon them not doing it.”

WWE is in their first year of a ten year business deal with The Saudi General Sports Authority which would see the company hold live events in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The IJR reached out to WWE for a comment on the matter to which the company responded by saying:

“We are currently monitoring the situation.”

We will keep you updated as the story continues to unfold.

 
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