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speculation involving several high-profile names, there are reportedly no indications that anyone on the WWE roster has withdrawn from the show.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While no talent have reportedly withdrawn, Meltzer shared an interesting detail about how WWE is approaching the situation behind the scenes.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.
