WWE /raw live tonight on at 8 ET on Netflix from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is facing renewed scrutiny amid growing security concerns in the Middle East.
With the premium live event less than a week away, a report from The New York Times has revealed that a recent U.S. intelligence memo warned of potential threats against American personnel in the Middle East and other regions.
The memo, reportedly sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, indicated that Iran was in the “advanced stages” of planning attacks against Americans in the area.
While the report does not mention WWE or any other entertainment events, the intelligence warning has added to questions about whether Crown Jewel should proceed as scheduled.
WWE’s Crown Jewel event is scheduled to take place at Riyadh Season Stadium, a temporary venue expected to accommodate a sizable audience.
The event will also involve a significant number of American personnel traveling to Saudi Arabia to help produce the show. With the region continuing to face security concerns and reports of attacks, the latest intelligence memo has prompted renewed discussion about the risks surrounding WWE’s plans.
Construction of the temporary stadium was reportedly underway as of late last week, suggesting preparations for the event remain in progress.
However, the intelligence warning has led some to question whether WWE should postpone Crown Jewel or relocate the event to a venue outside Saudi Arabia.
Despite the concerns, current indications suggest that WWE is still preparing to hold Crown Jewel in Riyadh.
TKO CEO Ari Emanuel addressed the situation last week, explaining that the company was monitoring developments in the region on a daily basis and would consider moving the event if necessary.
Emanuel indicated that, at the time, the signs pointed toward Crown Jewel and other TKO events in the Middle East proceeding as planned.
WWE also continued promoting the event during the most recent episode of SmackDown. The company announced that Cody Rhodes would face Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at Crown Jewel, further reinforcing the expectation that the show will take place in Saudi Arabia.
At this time, WWE has not announced any changes to Crown Jewel’s location or schedule.
The intelligence memo does not specifically reference WWE, Crown Jewel, or the Riyadh event venue. However, its reported warning about potential attacks against Americans has intensified the broader security discussion surrounding the show.
With the event approaching, WWE and TKO are expected to continue assessing the situation. For now, the company’s public plans remain unchanged, though the developing security situation could still affect the final decision.
AEW President Tony Khan reportedly came away from a recent meeting with Skydance executives feeling more optimistic about the company’s future than ever before.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Khan met with Skydance representatives in Los Angeles on Friday. While Meltzer said he did not know the specific details discussed, he noted that Khan was particularly pleased with how the meetings went.
The update comes as AEW’s future under the Skydance merger continues to draw attention, with questions remaining about how the new corporate structure could affect the wrestling promotion.
Meltzer described Khan’s reaction to the meetings as especially positive, despite the fact that the AEW president has consistently expressed enthusiasm about the relationship.
“I don’t know any of the details yet, but I do know that he came out of the meetings extremely happy,” Meltzer said. “Much happier than he’s been about this relationship — he’s always been happy about this relationship, he’s always been beaming about it since Day One — but he definitely came out of these meetings the happiest he’s been.”
Meltzer also noted that Skydance had already made two moves involving wrestling, neither of which he viewed as positive. However, he indicated that the situation surrounding AEW itself did not appear to involve any cutbacks.
The merger has prompted speculation about how Skydance’s involvement could impact AEW, particularly as the company continues to operate under Khan’s leadership.
Khan has previously spoken favorably about Skydance CEO David Ellison, describing him as a supporter of AEW and expressing confidence that the company would benefit from the relationship.
Meltzer’s latest report suggests that Khan’s recent discussions with Skydance have reinforced that optimism. According to the report, there was no indication that AEW had been targeted for reductions following the meetings.
Meltzer also discussed other wrestling-related changes under the broader Skydance landscape.
According to his report, Women of Wrestling will receive another season, although the show will not be syndicated. Additionally, a Roku channel that carried Women of Wrestling and NWA 24/7 has reportedly been canceled.
Those developments were described as two of the wrestling-related moves made by Skydance that Meltzer viewed negatively.
For AEW, however, the reported outcome of Khan’s meetings appears encouraging. While the specific plans discussed remain unknown, Khan’s reportedly positive reaction offers a glimpse into how he views the company’s relationship with Skydance moving forward.
AEW Collision live tonight at 8 ET on TNT and HBO Max from the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Charlotte Flair has reassured fans that her father, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, is expected to be okay after he was hospitalized following a fall outside a restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
Ric reportedly suffered cuts to his head and eye in the incident and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Charlotte shared an update on social media Friday evening, adding a touch of humor while confirming that her father was doing alright.
“Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…
(ps: he’s going to be ok)”
The comment referenced The Ultimate Warrior, Ric’s former wrestling rival, with Charlotte joking about her father’s explanation to medical staff.
The incident came shortly after Ric announced that he would be unable to attend Washington State Horror Con in Seattle.
The 16-time world champion explained that his doctors had limited his travel to around three or four hours due to a blood clot in his leg.
Flair’s fall and subsequent hospitalization raised concern among fans, but Charlotte’s message offered reassurance that he is expected to recover.
At this time, no further details regarding the extent of his injuries or his recovery timeline have been shared.
WWE may be considering bringing back the Sin Cara character, with PWInsider Elite reporting that the company has floated the idea of reviving the masked wrestler’s gimmick.
The character was last seen in WWE in 2019, but the reported early pitches could signal a new chapter for one of the promotion’s most recognizable masked personas.
Sin Cara made his WWE debut in 2011, originally portrayed by the Mexican wrestling star known as Mistico. The character was introduced with considerable attention, bringing a high-flying style and a distinctive presentation to WWE.
However, Mistico’s run as Sin Cara was interrupted when he received a 30-day suspension under WWE’s Talent Wellness Program. During his absence, the company had Hunico take over the character.
When the original Sin Cara returned, the two performers became involved in a storyline that saw them portrayed as Sin Cara Azul and Sin Cara Negro. Their rivalry culminated in a Mask vs. Mask match at the October 16, 2011, WWE SmackDown taping in Mexico City, with the Azul character winning.
The latest report indicates that WWE has discussed the possibility of bringing the character back, though no details have been provided regarding who might portray Sin Cara or when the gimmick could return.
At this stage, the idea appears to be in the early pitching process. There has been no official WWE announcement confirming a revival, and the report does not establish whether the company has settled on a performer for the character.
If WWE does move forward, the return would revive a gimmick that has been absent from the company’s programming since 2019.
WWE SmackDown live tonight, beginning at 8:00 pm ET on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans, from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Tatum Paxley & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. B-Fab and Michin
Street Fight: Giulia vs. Blake Monroe
Non-Title: WWE Tag Team Champions The MFT (Tama & Talla Tonga) vs. Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura & Kyoki)
Chris Jericho is adding another notable role to his acting résumé, with the AEW star set to portray one of professional wrestling’s most influential figures in an upcoming streaming series about boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Jericho has been cast as Gorgeous George in The Greatest, a limited series coming to Prime Video. The show stars Jaalen Best as Ali and will explore defining moments from the boxer’s life, both inside and outside the ring.
According to Deadline, the series will examine Ali’s well-documented career as well as moments away from the public spotlight, offering a portrait of the athlete as a man, husband, father, brother and son.
Gorgeous George was one of professional wrestling’s earliest mainstream stars, known for his flamboyant personality, extravagant fur coats and dramatic ring entrances set to “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Rising to prominence during the 1940s, George built a larger-than-life persona that helped bring professional wrestling to a wider audience. He was also known by nicknames including “The Beautiful Bicep” and “The Sensation of the Nation.”
A WWE Hall of Famer, George’s influence extended well beyond wrestling. His showmanship and charismatic presentation helped shape the performance styles of numerous entertainers and athletes who followed him, including Muhammad Ali.
Jericho is expected to appear in the fourth episode of The Greatest. The casting offers an opportunity for the longtime wrestler to portray a major figure from the history of his own industry.
The role adds to Jericho’s growing list of television and film appearances. He recently appeared in Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles and an episode of CBS’ Trackers.
Jericho also revealed in April that he would be appearing in Dexter: Resurrection, continuing to pursue acting opportunities alongside his wrestling career.
Meanwhile, AEW Collision is scheduled to air live from his Rock ’N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise for the first time. The broadcast is set for November 7, the same date as WWE Crown Jewel.
With his portrayal of Gorgeous George, Jericho will take on a role tied directly to wrestling history while continuing to build his presence in television and entertainment.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight at 9/8c on AMC.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8 ET on TBS and HBO Max, from the Watsco Center on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
