As WWE prepares for this weekend’s Night of Champions premium live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the company has reportedly instructed its talent and staff not to reference the ongoing Iran-Israel crisis during any WWE programming.
The directive was revealed on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, where Dave Meltzer reported that WWE implemented a strict no-mention policy regarding the real-world geopolitical tensions currently affecting the Middle East.
“They weren’t allowed [to reference the Iran-Israel crisis],” Meltzer explained. “They just were not allowed to mention anything… That’s probably one of the reasons why they weren’t allowed to address it, because I don’t think they wanted those questions being asked.”
Meltzer noted that the directive extended to this week’s Monday Night Raw, with no acknowledgment of the ongoing situation permitted on-air. The decision comes amid growing concern over regional stability, particularly as WWE travels internationally with a large crew of talent and staff.
“It’s potentially dangerous,” Meltzer added. “Some people say, ‘Well, it’s not really that dangerous in Saudi Arabia.’ The flying was dangerous today — there’s a ceasefire, but that came later in the day.”
While WWE has not publicly commented on the internal guidance, the company is known for maintaining a firm stance on keeping real-world political issues separate from its televised content, particularly during international events.
Despite the rising tensions in the region, Night of Champions is still scheduled to proceed as planned, with WWE talent set to arrive midweek on chartered flights.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for further updates on WWE’s Night of Champions, backstage developments, and global coverage of this weekend’s event from Riyadh.
