TKO exec discusses safety for WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Oct 28, 2026, 11:19 PM
Last updated Oct 28, 2026
TKO held a town hall meeting on Zoom with employees regarding safety for the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel event scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. President Mark Shapiro emphasized that the safety of all personnel involved is paramount. The event was recently moved to the Kingdom Arena, an indoor venue with a capacity of 30,000, following concerns about safety in the region. Reports suggest that the meeting was largely motivational but did not provide specific reassurances regarding the current situation in Saudi Arabia.
- •Crown Jewel is set for November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- •The event location was changed to Kingdom Arena, seating 30,000.
- •Mark Shapiro held a town hall meeting to address safety concerns.
- •Shapiro stated safety is paramount for all involved personnel.
- •The meeting was described as mostly motivational with no detailed safety plans.
- 11:19 PMWrestling Inc — TKO Holds Town Hall Meeting, Mark Shapiro Emphasizes Safety In The Middle East
- 10:51 PMCageside Seats — Report: TKO exec addresses WWE wrestler safety in Saudi Arabia during ‘rah rah’ meeting
"It’s obvious to most people that TKO / WWE is putting its wrestlers and production crew in unnecessary danger by moving forward with the Crown Jewel PLE on Nov. 7 in a war zone in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Earlier today, the Saudis moved Crown Jewel to a different venue in Riyadh, which Forbes reports is Kingdom Arena, an indoor venue that seats 30,000 people. PW Insider now reports that before the venue change was announced, TKO held a town hall meeting today (on Zoom) for all company employees where President Mark Shapiro addressed the safety of employees and talent for WWE, UFC, and Zuffa Boxing who are working events in the Middle East. Insider described it as “mostly a rah rah meeting with each department.” Shapiro apparently stressed that the safety of everyone involved is “paramount.” I wonder if Shapiro said anything about it being even more paramount that TKO gets paid 55 or 60 million dollars by the Saudi government to run WWE Crown Jewel. How do you think WWE wrestlers and employees should feel about TKO’s assurance that their safety in the Middle East is a priority? Let me know in the not-so-rah-rah comments below, Cagesiders.
"TKO held a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, where President Marc Shapiro emphasized safety in the Middle East ahead of WWE Crown Jewel.
Sources
External links- Wrestling IncOct 28, 2026, 11:19 PMTKO Holds Town Hall Meeting, Mark Shapiro Emphasizes Safety In The Middle East
TKO held a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, where President Marc Shapiro emphasized safety in the Middle East ahead of WWE Crown Jewel.
- Cageside SeatsOct 28, 2026, 10:51 PMReport: TKO exec addresses WWE wrestler safety in Saudi Arabia during ‘rah rah’ meeting
It’s obvious to most people that TKO / WWE is putting its wrestlers and production crew in unnecessary danger by moving forward with the Crown Jewel PLE on Nov. 7 in a war zone in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Earlier today, the Saudis moved Crown Jewel to a different venue in Riyadh, which Forbes reports is Kingdom Arena, an indoor venue that seats 30,000 people. PW Insider now reports that before the venue change was announced, TKO held a town hall meeting today (on Zoom) for all company employees where President Mark Shapiro addressed the safety of employees and talent for WWE, UFC, and Zuffa Boxing who are working events in the Middle East. Insider described it as “mostly a rah rah meeting with each department.” Shapiro apparently stressed that the safety of everyone involved is “paramount.” I wonder if Shapiro said anything about it being even more paramount that TKO gets paid 55 or 60 million dollars by the Saudi government to run WWE Crown Jewel. How do you think WWE wrestlers and employees should feel about TKO’s assurance that their safety in the Middle East is a priority? Let me know in the not-so-rah-rah comments below, Cagesiders.
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