• “Vince McMahon fought for women to have more visibility in Saudi Arabia” – RAW Star
WWE signed a 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia in 2018 under which the company is obliged to hold two Premium Live Events in the kingdom every year. They have also started hosting episodes of RAW and SmackDown there in recent years.
At the start of the deal, the PLEs in Saudi Arabia did not feature women’s wrestling. However, that changed a year later. Natalya and Lacey Evans became the first two female stars to compete in the country at Crown Jewel 2019.
While speaking to Ring The Belle, Natalya credited former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon for the opportunities women got in Saudi Arabia. Here’s what she said:
“I just feel like the women have come such a long way, and Vince McMahon gave me so many opportunities. The Saudi Arabia match, I said to Vince McMahon, when WWE first started doing stuff in Saudi Arabia, I said, ‘Vince, I really want to go. I want to be the first woman to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.’
Vince made it happen. I think Vince really wanted women to wrestle there, too, and he really wanted us to have more visibility there, to be able to do what we love. So I will always be so grateful to Vince for that moment, because he fought for the women to have more visibility in Saudi Arabia. He had to fight. So, look at us now.”
The WWE-Saudi Arabia deal has come a long way as the company will hold a WrestleMania in the kingdom in 2027.
• “I’m semi-retired from wrestling because I want to be an actor” – Released WWE Star
Braun Strowman debuted in WWE as part of The Wyatt Family in 2015 and was let go six years later. He was then brought back by Triple H in 2022.
After a three-year long run, The Monster Among Men was released earlier this year due to him having a high salary and a history of injuries affecting his leg.
It seems like Braun Strowman is no longer fully focused on pro wrestling. In an interview with Collider, he shared that he is now semi-retired from in-ring competition and is eager to explore a career in acting.
“Even like in our business too, like the wrestling side of things… I say ‘our business,’ I’m semi-retired from wrestling now too because I want to be an actor.
I always have so much admiration for these young and up-and-coming talents that are looking for a shoe in, a place to get in by putting their bodies (on the line), going the extra mile, being the first one to raise their hand, not even knowing what I’m going to do to their poor soul and just going ‘I’ll volunteer for it.’ I was that kid at one point.”
The former Universal Champion said that he wants to play Jason Voorhees in a Friday The 13th movie, and confirmed he has had discussions about it.
“There may be some talks about it with people that I know and my agency. If we could ever get everybody to get back on the same page and allow the things to work, I might be the next Voorhees.”
Next month, USA Network will premiere “Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman”, a new food-travel series featuring The Monster Among Men. The show is a collaboration with WWE and will showcase Strowman exploring America’s tastiest spots, from casual diners to Michelin-starred restaurants.
