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Speaking on the latest episode of Sportskeeda’s Dropkick DiSKussions, Tom Colohue told Korey Gunz that some WWE Superstars are refusing to work on the next Saudi Arabia show, Crown Jewel, on October 31.
WWE’s visit to the country in November 2018 proved to be highly controversial, with big names including Daniel Bryan and John Cena asking to be taken off the card following the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
With the 2019 event on the horizon, WWE has decided to focus its two biggest storylines – Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez and Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury – on names from outside of the wrestling business, which Colohue says is partly due to some of WWE’s full-time roster not wanting to work in Saudi Arabia.
“I think WWE also chose to bring people in to pad out the card because we have people saying ‘no’. We have quite a bit of talent in the locker room now saying ‘no’. Those numbers are going up. People are refusing to work Saudi Arabia.”
Another featured match at Crown Jewel will see Team Hulk Hogan (Roman Reigns, Rusev, Ricochet, Ali and Shorty G) face Team Ric Flair (Randy Orton, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley and TBD) in a five-on-five tag team match.
Colohue added that an unnamed Superstar in the match has also considered asking if they can be taken off the show.
“I was told quite recently just by the one person within WWE that there was someone who is already on a Team Hogan or a Team Flair who was considering refusing working Saudi Arabia. It’s not just a case of Sami Zayn anymore, who was told not to come. People are saying ‘no’, people are paying attention, people are more politically active and they are making that decision.”
WWE Crown Jewel match card
As well as Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez (WWE Championship), Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury and Team Hulk Hogan vs. Team Ric Flair, WWE has confirmed that Seth Rollins will defend his Universal Championship against “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
It has also been announced that Saudi Arabia’s own Mansoor will face Cesaro in a one-on-one match, while nine tag teams will do battle in a Tag Team Turmoil match to determine the 2019 World Cup winners.
Listen to the full episode of this week's Dropkick DiSKussions below, featuring a review of the 2019 draft, as well as insight into WWE's decision to replace Eric Bischoff!
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