• “You can list issues for pretty much any country, including ours” – Former WWE Champion On Backlash Against WrestleMania 43 In Saudi Arabia
WWE announced last week that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first time ever. The announcement was made at a special event in Las Vegas featuring Triple H, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Logan Paul, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer.
The decision sparked backlash from many fans, who argue that hosting the Show Of Shows in the Kingdom overlooks the country’s human rights issues and could be seen as sportswashing. Others believe cities like London would have been a more deserving host.
While speaking on Something To Wrestle, WWE Hall of Famer JBL said that he completely disagrees with the criticism over WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia.
“I don’t know their motives for why they’re doing it. Are they doing it for selfish reasons? I don’t know if it’s a selfish motive as, ‘Hey, I just wanna be heard, I’m a spoiled brat,’ or ‘I really believe this and that’s my voice speaking out.’
I don’t know where they’re coming from. I think it’s misguided.
Obviously we’re not the moral police, and you say, ‘Well you can’t do business with this country because of this, this and this.’ You can list that for pretty much any country, including ours, pretty easily.
And so, I get people wanna have their voice heard. I 100% do not agree with that dissent at all.”
• Released Stars Say They Will Be At The Next Big WWE PLE
On the September 9th edition of WWE RAW, AJ Styles delivered a promo claiming that someone in WWE doesn’t want him in the company and is actively trying to stop him from succeeding. He also mentioned that he’s completely on his own now, with The Good Brothers released and Michin currently on SmackDown.
During a conversation on Off The Ropes, Karl Anderson discussed the promo and rumors of AJ Styles’ contract expiring in February next year. Here’s what he said:
“AJ Styles, he can wrestle as long as he wants to wrestle. He can go as long as he wants to go. The thing with AJ, he’s such a family man, he’s always ready to hang it up and he likes to tell us that he can sit down if he wants to, he can stay home if he wants to.
He’s done his thing, he’s proved this point that he’s one of the best wrestlers of all time to ever do this. He’s proved everything that he’s ever needed to prove, but he likes being home. But, the question would be, is AJ gonna wind it down? Is he not gonna wind it down?
Knowing AJ Styles, and knowing his competitive nature, I truly believe in my heart – and we don’t talk and it’s not that we don’t speak a lot. It’s a quick, ‘I love you, I hope you’re doing good buddy, I miss you.’ But I don’t think, knowing AJ Styles’ competitive nature, I don’t think he’s gonna hang it up.
I heard his contract ends in February, and who knows what the truth is to any of that, right? I still think no matter what, whether it’s with WWE, or it’s not, which I think it’s gonna continue being with WWE, I think AJ Styles is happy where he’s at. I think AJ’s gonna continue, and I really believe that.”
The former Tag Team Champion also teased that the promo may have set up the return of The Good Brothers.
“When they mentioned my name, that AJ mentioned my name Monday – I meant to get to that – all that is, it’s just setting up another Good Brothers return. Hey, we debuted in the Staples Center, our re-debut was in the Barclays Center to a massive pop, let’s be honest.
Now, where’s the next one? What’s the next big city? Chicago or Dallas? Who knows? We’re ready. From Sparta, Tennessee, to Oshweken, Toronto, Canada, to where’s the next big pay-per-view, baby? We’ll be there.”
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were released by WWE earlier this year. They were brought back by Triple H in October 2022.
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