• “We get paid by America too. You think there’s no blood money there?” – Top Star Defends WWE/Saudi Arabia Partnership
WWE has maintained a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia since signing a 10-year deal in 2018, requiring the company to hold two Premium Live Events in the kingdom each year. In recent years, WWE has also hosted episodes of RAW and SmackDown in the region.
The partnership has faced criticism, particularly early on when women were not permitted to compete on the shows. Over time, the situation has evolved, with female wrestlers now participating both in matches and behind the scenes.
On Mohr Stories, former World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins addressed fans who label WWE’s Saudi events as “blood money deals.” He defended the company, pointing out that WWE earns revenue from multiple sources, including American audiences, and implied that money from the U.S. isn’t entirely free from controversy either.
“We’ve been going there for six years. We’ve been taking sh*t for six years. ‘It’s blood money.’ Yeah, well, guess what? We get paid by America, too. What do you think? You think there’s no blood money there? Come on. Get out of here.
I’ll say this. When we went in 2019, I was skeptical as well. ‘Oh, I don’t know about this. I don’t know how I feel about it.’ But we go over there and the change in the culture and the people at our shows in six years has been incredible. We went there the first time, there were no women on our show. There were no women backstage. They wouldn’t do anything. Now we go there and it’s just like a WWE show.”
Despite the backlash, the relationship between WWE and Saudi Arabia continues to expand. WWE is scheduled to return to the kingdom next month for the Royal Rumble, which will be the company’s biggest event there to date.
In 2027, WWE will also hold WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia.
• WWE’s New Commentary Teams For 2026 Revealed
WWE’s commentary teams for 2026 have been revealed. According to PWInsider, Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be the lead commentary duo on RAW beginning January 5, 2026. The pairing is one of WWE’s most established broadcast teams, with Cole’s play-by-play experience complemented by Graves’ analytical and often outspoken style.
Meanwhile, WWE SmackDown will feature a different booth when the show returns to the 3-hour format on January 2, 2026. Joe Tessitore is set to handle play-by-play duties alongside Wade Barrett, who will continue providing color commentary.
WWE has announced the following matches so far for the January 5th RAW, which will be the one-year Netflix anniversary special:
– World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Bron Breakker
– Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Becky Lynch
– WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Rhiyo (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY)
Also Read: ESPN Wanted The WWE Draft, Why It Fell Apart
