"Last September, WWE's chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque appeared on a YouTube livestream to make an announcement. For the first time in its history, WrestleMania-the most prestigious franchise in the sport, equivalent to the industry's Super Bowl-would not be emanating from the United States. Instead, WWE would be dispatching its roster to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as part of the country's ongoing attempts to revamp its public image."
"Well, for one, Saudi Arabia is famous for its manifold human rights abuses and punitive modesty laws. WWE has run events in the country before, and they have a knack for leaving audiences feeling complicit in something dirty. Tomorrow, the company will be debasing itself again when the Royal Rumble-another one of promotion's marquee shows-is broadcast live from Riyadh. A small handful of fans called to boycott the event entirely."
"It's an understandable cause when you consider that when WWE's women wrestlers perform in the country, they're forced to don oversize T-shirts or latex catsuits to ensure no flesh is exposed to the public. But all of that is just a symptom of a larger disease. In 2023, WWE merged with Endeavor, the owners of UFC. The two companies formed a conglomerate called TKO Group Holdings, and longtime chairman Vince McMahon retired under significant controversy shortly afterward."
Last September Paul 'Triple H' Levesque announced WrestleMania would be held in Riyadh, marking the first time the event would not originate from the United States. Fans reacted angrily online, repeating 'YOU SOLD OUT.' Saudi Arabia's record of human rights abuses and punitive modesty laws fuels criticism. WWE previously ran events in the country and critics say those shows make audiences feel complicit. The Royal Rumble will be broadcast live from Riyadh, prompting some fans to call for a boycott. In 2023 WWE merged with Endeavor to form TKO Group Holdings, and Vince McMahon retired amid controversy, signaling a corporate focus on treating WWE as an extractable asset.
Read at Slate Magazine
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