WWE has relocated its Crown Jewel premium live event, originally scheduled for Nov. 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as security concerns mount across the region. The move was announced Wednesday by Riyadh Season, the entertainment festival organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which oversees the event.
“We would like to inform you that ‘WWE Crown Jewel’ has been moved to a new venue,” the organization said in a statement posted to social media. “All ticket holders will receive a full refund, and tickets will be re-released to everyone within the next 48 hours.”
The event had been set to take place at Riyadh Season Stadium as one of three WWE premium live events planned in Saudi Arabia this year. WWE opened its 2025 calendar in the kingdom with the Royal Rumble in January, the first traditional Royal Rumble ever held there, followed by Night of Champions in June.
A region on edge
The venue change comes against the backdrop of months of regional unrest that began after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran in late February. Since then, the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen’s Houthi movement and Iran have all been drawn into the conflict.
Concern around Crown Jewel intensified earlier this month after Houthi forces struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an attack that left more than a dozen people dead. The strike raised alarm within the pro wrestling industry over the safety of WWE personnel who would have traveled to the Saudi capital.
Those worries deepened after the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave the country, citing “safety risks.”
“Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area,” the embassy said.
The U.S. State Department has separately raised its travel advisories for Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to Level 4, its highest warning level, urging Americans to avoid travel to those countries because of the threat of Houthi attacks.
The danger has not been limited to past incidents. Saudi Arabia said Monday that its air defense coalition intercepted three ballistic missiles fired by Houthi forces toward the kingdom’s Eastern Province.
“Air defenses intercepted and destroyed 3 ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward the eastern region,” said Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki.
Despite the shifting security picture, WWE’s biggest annual event, WrestleMania 43, remains scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next year.
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