WWE is reportedly making significant adjustments to its production plans for Crown Jewel, with a substantial portion of the upcoming premium live event’s broadcast expected to be handled remotely from the company’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
According to a new report from PWInsider Elite, WWE is planning to operate with a smaller production staff on the ground in Saudi Arabia, with several key departments reportedly working from the United States instead.
The changes come amid ongoing safety concerns surrounding the situation in the Middle East, adding another layer of uncertainty to WWE’s preparations for the event.
WWE Production Teams Reportedly Working From Stamford
According to the report, WWE is reducing the number of personnel traveling to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel.
While camera operators and sound crews are expected to remain on-site to capture the action, the audio mixing and graphics departments will reportedly operate remotely from WWE’s Stamford headquarters.
The on-site crews will transmit their footage and audio back to the United States, where WWE’s remaining production personnel will handle much of the broadcast’s finishing work before it goes on the air.
This arrangement would allow WWE to maintain its television production standards while limiting the number of employees required to travel internationally for the show.
The report describes a substantial portion of the broadcast production being handled remotely, although WWE has not publicly confirmed the specific arrangements.
Crown Jewel Venue Changed Amid Security Concerns
Crown Jewel has already undergone a venue change as WWE continues preparing for the event.
The show was originally scheduled to take place at Riyadh Season Stadium before being moved to The Venue arena. The reported change was connected to security considerations amid the ongoing regional conflict.
There have also been conflicting reports regarding WWE talent’s willingness to participate in the event.
One report suggested that some wrestlers had concerns about appearing at Crown Jewel, while another report disputed claims that talent had refused to work the show.
WWE is also reportedly offering hazard pay to employees and wrestlers traveling to Saudi Arabia, potentially as an additional measure to address concerns surrounding the trip.
Could Saudi Arabia’s WrestleMania Plans Be Affected?
The situation has also raised questions about Saudi Arabia’s plans to host WrestleMania next year.
TKO President Mark Shapiro previously acknowledged that contingency plans were in place should circumstances require WWE to reconsider its arrangements.
However, Shapiro also expressed confidence that WrestleMania would ultimately take place in Saudi Arabia as planned.
With Crown Jewel approaching, WWE’s reported remote production strategy could provide an indication of how the company intends to manage its upcoming international events while navigating security concerns.
For now, WWE has not officially announced any further changes to Crown Jewel’s production plans or its future Saudi Arabia events.
What do you think about WWE reportedly producing a significant portion of Crown Jewel remotely? Should the company reconsider its international plans while security concerns remain?
WWE Offering Crew Members Hazard Pay For Traveling To Riyadh For Crown Jewel
Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful reports that WWE is offering crew members additional hazard pay for making the trip to Riyadh, with the offer said to be around $3K, according to two WWE employees.
Hazard pay is generally offered when workers are forced to perform “hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.” It’s believed that WWE doesn’t traditionally offer hazard pay, including past Saudi Arabia shows, although past events in the country haven’t seen the level of military escalation that’s occurred over the last month. It is unclear whether the same offer has been made to the wrestlers performing on the show.
What do you think about WWE reportedly producing a significant portion of Crown Jewel remotely? Should the company reconsider its international plans while security concerns remain?
