Several WWE Superstars, including some prominent names, have reportedly expressed reluctance about traveling to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel amid concerns about potential safety risks.
According to Fightful Select, multiple talents have made it clear they do not want to participate in the November 7 premium live event because of the potential dangers associated with the trip.
The report notes that one WWE talent indicated some wrestlers who are currently scheduled for Crown Jewel have privately raised concerns with company officials. Those individuals were reportedly assured that their safety would be a top priority throughout the trip.
WWE Reportedly Planning a Smaller Traveling Crew
Fightful Select also reports that WWE is planning to bring a significantly smaller crew to Saudi Arabia than it typically would for an international premium live event.
The company is reportedly looking to limit the number of wrestlers traveling to the country, with very few talents who are not booked for Crown Jewel expected to make the trip.
These reported plans come as concerns surrounding travel to Saudi Arabia continue to draw attention.
Crown Jewel Moves to an Indoor Venue
Crown Jewel was recently moved from Riyadh Season Stadium at the King Abdullah Financial District to The Venue (ANB Arena).
The new venue is an indoor arena with a reported capacity of up to 25,000 spectators. Riyadh Season Stadium, by comparison, was an outdoor venue with a capacity exceeding 70,000.
The venue change comes amid reported disruptions to air travel in Saudi Arabia.
According to a report published Thursday by Business Insurance, approximately 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were canceled between October 8 and October 25 amid Houthi rebel attacks targeting Saudi airports, ports, and oil facilities.
The report also noted that the attacks prompted international airlines to suspend services to the Saudi capital through November, while several other major airports across the kingdom experienced significant disruptions.
Crown Jewel Broadcast Details
WWE Crown Jewel is scheduled to air live on November 7, with the event available on ESPN Unlimited in the United States and Netflix internationally.
The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT.
While WWE has reportedly assured concerned talent that safety will be prioritized, the extent of the reported travel concerns and how they could affect the event remain to be seen.
The long-awaited merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery has raised questions about what the new media landscape could mean for All Elite Wrestling. However, AEW’s current television deal reportedly isn’t in danger of being cut, at least for now.
According to Dave Meltzer on last week’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Skydance does not classify AEW as a sport, which could help keep the promotion out of any potential cuts to the company’s sports programming portfolio.
“I think I even asked and was told that they are considered entertainment,” Meltzer said. “But they were listed as sports in this article, and they were talking about how cuts are going to have to be made. They did not…put it this way, they had talked to people who were inside over where they expected cuts, and AEW was not on that list on where they expected cuts.”
Meltzer noted that AEW was not among the programming expected to be affected by anticipated cuts. That said, the situation could change as Skydance continues to evaluate its business and programming priorities.
AEW’s Current Media Rights Agreement
AEW is currently in the second year of a three-year media rights agreement announced in October 2024. The deal kept AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision on TBS and TNT while also bringing both shows to HBO Max through simulcasts.
The agreement also included AEW’s video library being added to the streaming platform, expanding the promotion’s presence across Warner Bros. Discovery’s television and streaming offerings.
The current deal is expected to run through late 2027. However, it reportedly includes an option that would allow Skydance to extend the agreement for an additional year, potentially keeping AEW under contract through 2028.
AEW’s Future With Skydance Remains Uncertain
At this point, it is unclear whether Skydance intends to exercise the extension option or pursue a longer-term agreement with AEW once the current deal expires.
AEW President and CEO Tony Khan has remained optimistic about the promotion’s relationship with Skydance, particularly following a recent meeting with company executives.
For now, AEW appears to be in a relatively secure position under its existing agreement. Whether Skydance ultimately wants to continue its partnership with the promotion beyond the current contract remains to be seen.
WWE NXT presented Halloween Havoc 2026 with Danhausen serving as the event’s host, bringing plenty of spooky surprises, unusual match stipulations, and several championship encounters to the show.
The night featured Myles Borne and Tavion Heights battling in a Weapons Wild Match, Zilla Fatu facing Charlie Dempsey in a Falls Count Anywhere contest, and Kelani Jordan defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Wren Sinclair.
Grayson Waller also put the NXT Championship on the line against Tony D’Angelo, while the show ended with a major surprise involving CM Punk.
WWE NXT Halloween Havoc 2026 Results
Myles Borne def. Tavion Heights in a Weapons Wild Match.
Izzi Dame def. Zaria via pinfall.
Zilla Fatu def. Charlie Dempsey in a Very Nice, Very Evil Match (Falls Count Anywhere).
Kelani Jordan (c) def. Wren Sinclair via pinfall to retain the NXT Women’s Championship.
Shiloh Hill def. Naraku via pinfall.
Grayson Waller (c) def. Tony D’Angelo via pinfall to retain the NXT Championship.
Myles Borne Defeats Tavion Heights in Weapons Wild Match
Myles Borne and Tavion Heights opened the in-ring action with a chaotic Weapons Wild Match, using everything from a fire extinguisher and toolbox to chairs, ring steps, and a camera.
Heights came close to putting Borne away after dropping him onto a pile of metal hardware, while Borne answered with a powerslam and several creative weapon combinations.
The action took a particularly nasty turn when Heights attempted to Pillmanize Borne’s leg using the ring steps before applying an Ankle Lock. With no disqualifications in the match, Borne eventually escaped the situation and sent Heights into the ring post.
Heights later found himself on the receiving end of a camera shot from Borne, crashing through a table on the outside. Borne followed up with a Borne Again onto a trash can and the scattered contents of a toolbox to secure the victory.
Winner: Myles Borne
Izzi Dame Defeats Zaria
Zaria squared off with Izzi Dame in a match that continued their ongoing rivalry, with Dame targeting Zaria’s left arm throughout the contest.
Both women had several opportunities to finish the match, including a spear from Zaria and a series of power moves from Dame. Zaria also became distracted when images of herself and Sol Ruca appeared on the arena screen, allowing Dame to nearly steal the victory.
The finish came when Dame introduced the NXT Women’s North American Championship into the match. After the referee confiscated the title, Zaria briefly picked it up herself, drawing the official’s attention. Dame used the opening to strike Zaria with the championship and score the pinfall.
Winner: Izzi Dame
Zilla Fatu Defeats Charlie Dempsey in Falls Count Anywhere Match
Danhausen’s Wheel-hausen determined that Zilla Fatu and Charlie Dempsey would compete in a Very Nice, Very Evil Match, which was revealed to be a Falls Count Anywhere contest.
Dempsey received plenty of assistance from BirthRight, with Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Uriah Connors getting involved throughout the match.
The group used chairs, shovels, a chain, and even a Jack-O-Lantern to try to take Fatu out. However, Zilla eventually fought back and used the chain to deliver a Samoan Drop.
Fatu finished things off by climbing to the top rope and connecting with a Frog Splash to pick up the victory.
Winner: Zilla Fatu
Kelani Jordan Retains NXT Women’s Championship Against Wren Sinclair
Kelani Jordan defended the NXT Women’s Championship against Wren Sinclair in a competitive encounter.
Sinclair targeted Jordan’s left arm and repeatedly attempted to finish the match with the Final Wrench submission. Jordan managed to escape and connected with a 450 Splash, but Sinclair survived the cover.
Wren later reapplied the Final Wrench, forcing Jordan to find another escape. The champion eventually drove Sinclair into the middle turnbuckle before using the bottom rope for additional leverage during a pinfall attempt.
The referee failed to notice Jordan’s foot on the rope, allowing the champion to retain her title.
Winner: Kelani Jordan (Retains NXT Women’s Championship)
Shiloh Hill Defeats Naraku
After a series of bizarre backstage segments involving mist, strange environments, and Halloween-themed characters, Shiloh Hill and Naraku finally brought their rivalry into the ring.
Naraku attempted to use his mist against Hill, but Shiloh countered with what was described as “fog,” neutralizing the attack.
Hill then connected with a pop-up forearm and a neckbreaker to secure the pinfall victory.
Winner: Shiloh Hill
Grayson Waller Retains NXT Championship Against Tony D’Angelo
Grayson Waller put the NXT Championship on the line against Tony D’Angelo in the night’s final title match.
Waller spent much of the contest targeting D’Angelo’s right arm, using the ring steps, exposed turnbuckle, and announce desk to wear down the challenger.
D’Angelo eventually fought back, connecting with a spear and sending Waller crashing onto the ring steps. He later put the champion through the announce desk, but Waller managed to survive.
The closing moments saw D’Angelo accidentally knock down the referee while the two fought over a carjack. After the official was taken out, Waller retrieved the weapon and smashed D’Angelo before connecting with a rolling cutter.
The referee recovered in time to count the pinfall, allowing Waller to retain the championship.
Winner: Grayson Waller (Retains NXT Championship)
CM Punk Challenges Grayson Waller
Following the championship match, Danhausen appeared with a message for Waller from a “close personal friend.”
CM Punk then appeared on the arena screen and announced that he had been waiting for an opportunity to return to NXT.
Punk revealed that he would get that opportunity on Wednesday, challenging Waller for the NXT Championship.
The announcement provided a major closing moment for Halloween Havoc, setting up an immediate title showdown on the upcoming episode of NXT.
WWE Crown Jewel 2026 is continuing to move forward amid ongoing security concerns in the Middle East, and a new report indicates that no WWE talent have requested to stay behind rather than travel to Saudi Arabia.
With the event approaching, questions have surrounded the safety of WWE performers and staff traveling to Riyadh amid regional tensions, missile strikes, and travel advisories. However, despite online speculation involving several high-profile names, there are reportedly no indications that anyone on the WWE roster has withdrawn from the show.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, rumors suggesting that stars such as Kevin Owens and CM Punk had declined to travel to Saudi Arabia have not been supported by any reports of talent pulling out.
Meltzer also noted that there has been no indication WWE offered performers the option of skipping the event.
WWE Reportedly Discouraging Talent From Declining Saudi Arabia Trip
While no talent have reportedly withdrawn, Meltzer shared an interesting detail about how WWE is approaching the situation behind the scenes.
An unnamed top WWE star told Meltzer that the company had communicated that declining to travel to Riyadh for Crown Jewel “is something very much not being encouraged.”
The report does not indicate that any performers have formally requested to stay home, despite the ongoing concerns surrounding travel to the region.
With the event just eight days away at the time of the report, preparations appear to be continuing largely as planned.
WWE Crown Jewel Venue Has Been Changed
One significant adjustment has been made to the event’s location within Riyadh.
Crown Jewel was originally scheduled to take place at an outdoor temporary stadium, but the show is now expected to emanate from The Venue, an indoor location approximately 35 minutes from King Khalid International Airport.
The venue change comes amid heightened security concerns following a missile strike at the airport, which reportedly killed 12 people and injured hundreds.
Despite the change, WWE is still planning to hold Crown Jewel in Riyadh rather than relocating the premium live event outside Saudi Arabia.
Questions Remain About WWE Travel Arrangements
While the venue change has been reported, there are still unanswered questions about how WWE talent, production staff, and other personnel will travel into Saudi Arabia.
Meltzer previously discussed a possible travel route being used by athletes attending the Zuffa Boxing event featuring Canelo Álvarez. As originally reported by Ariel Helwani, fighters traveling for Saturday’s card flew into Bahrain before making the drive to Riyadh.
It remains unclear whether WWE will use a similar arrangement for its performers and crew.
For now, there has been no reported mass withdrawal from Crown Jewel, and WWE’s plans to hold the event in Saudi Arabia remain intact. However, with security developments continuing to unfold, the situation surrounding the company’s trip to Riyadh remains a significant talking point heading into the show.
TNA Wrestling is reportedly interested in establishing a formal relationship with Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), while the promotion is also considering changes to how it records its weekly programming.
According to PWInsider Elite, discussions surrounding a potential TNA-OVW partnership have continued, with the arrangement possibly being influenced by the fact that both companies share the same financial investors.
The report also revealed that TNA is considering moving production of its Xplosion episodes to OVW’s home venue, The Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, in a move that would reportedly help reduce expenses.
TNA and OVW Partnership Could Be Taking Shape
Speculation about a potential relationship between TNA and OVW first emerged several months ago, when reports indicated that both promotions were interested in an agreement that would make OVW a developmental territory for TNA.
The latest update from PWInsider Elite suggests the shared financial backing of the two companies could be a significant factor behind the potential arrangement.
TNA President Carlos Silva has also attended OVW events in the past, although the report noted that he has not been seen at recent shows.
A formal agreement has not been announced, but a partnership could give TNA a closer relationship with a promotion that has a long history of developing wrestling talent.
TNA Could Move Xplosion Tapings to Louisville
Another notable detail from the report concerns TNA’s production plans for Xplosion.
The promotion is reportedly considering filming the show at The Davis Arena, rather than continuing to record episodes at the same venues used for TNA iMPACT tapings.
According to PWInsider Elite, the potential move would be financially motivated, as recording Xplosion in Louisville would reportedly be a cheaper option for the company.
The change would represent a different approach to TNA’s television production, with the promotion potentially separating its Xplosion tapings from its main television events.
No final decision has been confirmed.
TNA’s Remaining 2026 Events
TNA has two additional television taping dates scheduled before the end of the year, with events planned in both Canada and the United States.
The company is set to visit the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary, Alberta, on November 18 and 19. Its final announced tapings of the year will then take place at the El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, on December 18 and 19.
TNA also has one more pay-per-view event remaining on its 2026 schedule. Destination X is scheduled for November 15 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
With a potential OVW partnership and possible changes to Xplosion production under consideration, TNA could be preparing to make some adjustments to its operations as it moves toward the end of the year.
Chris Jericho has offered a promising update on a planned television series based on his first autobiography, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex, revealing that the project is getting closer to the pilot stage.
The AEW star discussed the adaptation during an appearance on Skratch N’ Sniff, where he was promoting Fozzy’s new single, “I Know Evil.” During the conversation, Jericho explained that the project has been in development for some time and is now approaching a major milestone.
According to Jericho, the team behind the series is getting close to filming a pilot episode, with an actor from the Canadian comedy series Letterkenny reportedly being considered for the role of a younger version of the wrestling star.
Chris Jericho’s Early Career Could Be Coming to Television
Published in 2007, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex chronicles Jericho’s early journey through the professional wrestling business, covering his career before his 1999 WWE debut.
The book details his experiences working around the world as he developed into one of wrestling’s most recognizable performers. A television adaptation would give viewers an opportunity to revisit those formative years in a different format.
Jericho confirmed that the project has progressed beyond the early stages of development, explaining that it has moved further along the production process.
“We are actually working on something based on my first book, A Lion’s Tale, that we’ve been working on for a while, of doing a TV series based on that,” Jericho said. “And so we’ve kind of moved it up the food chain, and it’s getting pretty close to filming a pilot.”
He added that he believes a television series would allow the story to go beyond the autobiography itself, describing the possibility of bringing his early career to the screen as an exciting prospect.
Actor From Letterkenny Reportedly Being Considered
One of the more intriguing details from Jericho’s comments concerned the actor who could portray him during his younger years.
Jericho revealed that the production has an actor in mind who resembles him from the beginning of his wrestling career. The performer is associated with Letterkenny, although Jericho stopped short of revealing the individual’s identity.
“I won’t say who it is in Letterkenny, but there is a real facial similarity,” Jericho explained.
No official casting announcement has been made, so the actor’s identity and involvement remain unconfirmed publicly.
When Could the Chris Jericho Series Begin Filming?
Jericho indicated that the project could reach the pilot stage fairly soon, although he did not provide a specific filming date, network or streaming platform.
A pilot would represent an important step toward bringing the series to television, but it does not necessarily guarantee that a full season will be ordered.
For now, Jericho’s comments suggest that the adaptation of A Lion’s Tale is making progress after spending considerable time in development.
If the project moves forward, fans could eventually see the story of Jericho’s early wrestling journey brought to life, including the experiences that led to his arrival in WWE in 1999.