John Oliver Grapples With WWE Plans For Saudi Arabia “Crown Jewel” Event

Oktober 15, 2018

HBO/YouTube

If wrestlers with the WWE are indeed expressing “discomfort” with plans to perform in Saudi Arabia next month, as an anonymous-sourced Sports Illustrated article says today, last night’s excoriating report by HBO’s John Oliver could only have pumped them up even more.

In a nearly 20-minute segment on Sunday’s Last Week Tonight (watch it above), Oliver detailed the cozy and lucrative relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, specifically Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (or MBS, as he’s often called).

Determined to position the kingdom in a new and more progressive worldwide light, MBS, as Oliver put it, “struck a 10-year deal with one of the most popular and most American franchises there is — World Wresting Entertainment, or WWE.” The first WWE event was staged in April, but the big, appropriately titled “Crown Jewel” pay-per-view event is set for November 2 in Riyadh.

The April event, as Oliver described it, provided the kingdom with global “wall-to-wall propaganda about the new Saudi Arabia, including video showing women happily driving, men dancing and tourist destination beauty shots as well as constant excited compliments throughout the broadcast.”

As Oliver pointed out, a “much grimmer story” was going on in Saudi Arabia even then – for example, women who had campaigned for driving rights had been arrested even as their accomplishment was being heralded. The WWE itself had bent to the will of the Saudis on the issue of its female wrestlers, leaving them out of the ring under the deal, per local custom.

And now, with the all but certain murder of Washington Post journalist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, the WWE’s “Crown Jewel” event is anything but. After showing a clip of wrestler/actor John Cena expressing “a genuine thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” (that moment in the Last Week Tonight segment comes in at about the 7:50 mark above), Oliver said, “It seems the WWE is as overtly pro-Saudi Arabia as it is latently homoerotic, which is to say, intensely.”

When contacted by Deadline, a WWE rep said the company is “monitoring the situation” in Saudi Arabia.

The Sports Illustrated post said that “multiple members of the WWE talent roster have expressed discomfort with the idea of performing in Saudi Arabia.” John Cena, a wrestling A-lister who has crossed over into mainstream movies, has not made any kind of public statement as yet. In the Last Week Tonight segment, he is shown offering “a genuine thank-you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” from the middle of the ring at the April event.

WWE stock dipped a fraction today, closing at $84.97. While it has had a banner 2018, it has slipped more than 10% in October to date, though any link to the Khashoggi situation has not been clearly established.

Watch Oliver’s report on “the situation” above.

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Cody Rhodes, Fandango and More Highlight the WWE News Roundup for Oct. 15

Oktober 15, 2018

Photo credit: WWE.com

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

              

Cody Rhodes Heading Back to WWE?

There have been rumors that Cody Rhodes and Bullet Club will join WWE when they become free agents, and the buzz has only gotten hotter in recent days.

After Rhodes "joked" about going to WWE on the Grims Toy Show, Tama Tonga seemed to confirm the speculation Monday morning in a pair of angry tweets:

'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga @Tama_Tonga

The Elite doesn’t exist without #BulletClub . Good luck in WWE

'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga @Tama_Tonga

We were here before. We were here during. We’ll be here after. #BulletClub -good luck in WWE

The New Japan Pro-Wrestling star is driving the feud between Bullet Club faction The Elite and Bullet Club, while adding fuel to the fire that major changes are on the way in these groups.

Rhodes, who also competed as Stardust in WWE, left the organization in 2016 and has been successful in a variety of other competitions over the past two years.

He has earned the Ring of Honor World Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship and IGWP United States Championship in NJPW. If WWE gets the opportunity, it will likely want to bring this hot commodity back into the fold.

       

Fandango Ready for Return

After missing several months with a shoulder injury, Fandango looks stronger than ever based on his latest updates on social media:

Fandango @WWEFandango

https://t.co/9WZ83j7a8n

Fandango @WWEFandango

First week back moving weights 🇺🇸🐍 https://t.co/nBbov1h6fp

The WWE star initially suffered a labrum tear in his left shoulder before undergoing surgery in July. He speculated his recovery could take at least six months, putting him on track to return in mid-January.

While lifting weights is not the same as contact inside a ring, it seems he could come back even before his initial estimate. Based on his physique, he could also become even more dangerous once he is back to full strength.

Whether it comes from tag team work as part of Breezango or on his own, the 37-year-old could be ready for a breakout year in 2019.

       

John Oliver Calls Out WWE on Saudi Arabia Relationship

WWE is attempting to expand its influence worldwide with the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel, a pay-per-view that is set to take place Nov. 2 from King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

However, on Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver examined the potential conflicts following the alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Oliver called out WWE for being overly welcoming to the regime during an April event following the signing of a 10-year promotional deal in March (WWE discussion begins at 6:56):

"Audiences around the world were treated to wall-to-wall propaganda about the new Saudi Arabia, including a video showing women happily driving, men dancing and tourist destination beauty shots, as well as constant excited announcements throughout the broadcast," Oliver said (h/t Akhilesh Gannavarapu of Wrestling Inc.).

Several United States senators have also argued WWE should reconsider this deal in light of recent controversies that surround Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

As of Monday, however, the PPV is still on featuring a scheduled WWE Championship bout between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan.

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WWE Monday Night Raw Coming To Golden 1 Center In December

Oktober 15, 2018

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Tired of the same old Nutcracker ballet every holiday season? The WWE is planning to swing by Sacramento come December.

The Golden 1 Center will be hosting WWE Monday Night Raw on Dec. 17. Tickets start at just $20.

WWE is billing a 6-man tag team match, The Shield vs. Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, Ronda Rousey and Bobby Lashley as some of the stars fans will be able to see. Plus, it comes a day after the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event – so Sacramentans will be the first to see any fallout from the show.

It’s not the first time the WWE has come to the Golden 1 Center. WWE Live paid a visit to Sacramento back in September.

Tickets for the December show go on sale Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.

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What to Watch When World Wrestling Entertainment Reports Earnings

Oktober 15, 2018

Investors in World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE:WWE) have been flying from the top rope. The sports entertainment company has absolutely crushed the market so far in 2018, soaring 170% compared to the S&P 500's maudlin gain of just 2%. A couple of key announcements earlier this year have driven WWE's stock into the stratosphere, as fears of wrestling's declining popularity have been largely discounted.

With that type of performance, investors will be watching closely for any signs of weakness when WWE reports its third-quarter financial results on Thursday, Oct. 25 before the market open. Let's review its most recent quarter and several recent announcements to see of the company can maintain its high-flying ways, or if it's about to get tossed out of the ring. 

WWE wrestlers The Showoff and The Architect in an Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Championship. Image source: WWE.

A winning team

Despite high expectations going into its second quarter, WWE lived up to the hype. The company reported record revenue of $281.6 million, an increase of 31% year over year and powering past analysts' consensus estimates for an increase of 11.6%. That resulted in adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $43.5 million, up 79% year over year, and earnings per share of $0.11, which soared 83% compared to the prior-year quarter. 

WWE's growth came largely from television agreements to broadcast its programming, while revenue from live events was nearly breakeven. Revenue from the media segment increased 48% year over year, while consumer product sales increased by 9%. Average paid subscribers increased to 1.8 million, up 10% compared to the prior-year quarter.

Several big announcements last quarter helped boost the stock over the top rope. WWE inked five-year broadcast deals with both Twenty-First Century Fox and Comcast. Fox signed on the dotted line for SmackDown Live, while Comcast-owned USA Network penned a similar agreement for Monday Night Raw. While none of the parties have officially confirmed the terms, the Fox deal is thought to be worth more than $1.025 billion, while Comcast's NBCUniversal is reportedly shelling out $265 million per year -- with the two deals topping $2.35 billion over five years. 

Is there a win in the future?

WWE has had a few announcements this quarter as well, but not on the magnitude of last quarter's revelations. The company extended long-standing agreements with Australia's Foxtel and Nine networks to continue broadcasting Raw and SmackDown, as well as a number of other pay-per-view events that will be shown on Foxtel Now.

For the third quarter, WWE is forecasting adjusted OIBDA in a range of $30 million to $34 million. The company raised its guidance for the year and is expecting adjusted OIBDA between $160 million to $170 million, and average paid subscribers of 1.67 million, up 10% compared to last year.

While long-term investors shouldn't be beholden to short-term views of Wall Street mavens, they can help provide context. For their part, analysts' consensus estimates are calling for revenue of $201.61 million, up 8.2% year over year, and earnings per share of $0.19, down 32% compared to the prior-year quarter.

WWE has had a blockbuster year so far, and with its stratospheric rise, it's hard to see how the wrestling company can up its game any further -- and with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio north of 100, its frothy valuation may drag the stock down if its results are anything less than show-stopping.

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WWE Distances Itself From Saudi Arabia Ahead Of Hotly Contested Crown Jewel PPV

Oktober 15, 2018

The WWE Crown Jewel saga continues to dance with likely implosion as the promotion deals with growing backlash and warnings from United States Senators in regards to going to Saudi Arabia.

Vince McMahon and WWE are moving forward with plans to go to Saudi Arabia for now.Credit: WWE.com

In light of the disappearance and presumed murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) became the latest Senator to oppose WWE's relationship with Saudi Arabia, telling WCBS News Radio 820:

All major private interests should review and relook their relationship with the Saudi Kingdom in light of its continuing pattern of abuse of civil rights and civil liberties, contempt for the rule of law, and bombing in Yemen using the United States military equipment and possible intelligence," Blumenthal said. "I would hope that WWE will recognize on its own a conscience and conviction if there is proof that Saudi officials approved and ordered this kind of killing, and I would lean first on the United States government to do its duty so that it can lead private interests like WWE, and the first place to look is to the United States of America.

WWE's dealings with Saudi Arabia were even the target of a scathing monologue from late-night host John Oliver on his popular HBO show Last Week Tonight. 

WWE plans to soldier on with its multimillion-dollar Crown Jewel event as part of its Vision 2030 agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One that is beginning to backfire one year into an increasingly unlikely 10-year deal given political tensions between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

WWE has announced qualifying matches for the Crown Jewel World Cup tournament ahead of Monday's Raw as Seth Rollins will take on Drew McIntyre while Dolph Ziggler will take on Dean Ambrose.

Still, WWE has not exactly rallied around its highly questionable decision to go to Saudi Arabia. Crown Jewel was suspiciously removed from the WWE calendar for several hours on Sunday before being re-listed. Meanwhile, all references to Saudi Arabia have been scrubbed from the Crown Jewel event page on WWE.com in addition to its YouTube channel, where all references to Crown Jewel stop short of name-dropping the host city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is a far cry from YouTube clips of the Greatest Royal Rumble, where most videos liberally mention the host city of Jeddah and/or "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

WWE seems to be at a crossroads with a pay-per-view that is becoming more combustible by the day. For now, it is moving forward with plans to hold Crown Jewel, albeit cautiously.

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WWE news: Rey Mysterio calls out RAW megastar ahead of Smackdown 1000 return

Oktober 15, 2018

Mysterio came back for a one-off surprise appearance during the Men’s Royal Rumble Match and put together a stunning performance before Balor chucked him over the top rope.

The Master of the 619 is now set to return to WWE this Tuesday on Smackdown’s 1,000th episode at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

The three-time world champion, however, seemed to have thrown down the gauntlet to one of RAW’s top stars before WWE announced his long-anticipated comeback to the blue brand.

The 43-year-old high-flyer is excited about the new roster as he could have some stunning matches with the likes of WWE Champion AJ Styles.

But the luchador seems more keen to share the ring with Balor after the Irishman ended his dreams of main-eventing WrestleMania 34.

Mysterio told Al Arabiya English: “There is a new roster on board and there are so many matches out there that the fans would love to see and that I would really enjoy.

“AJ Styles vs Rey Mysterio, Finn Balor vs Rey Mysterio, not to mention he was the one who threw me out in the Royal Rumble.

“So no hard feelings, but if I ever do come back, I would go after him.”

Mysterio is set for a dream match on his first night back to Vince McMahon’s promotion as he will face US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

The winner of the bout will go on to WWE Crown Jewel on November 2 in Saudi Arabia to compete in the World Cup Tournament, which will determine the best in the world.

John Cena, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy have already advanced and will be joined by two more superstars from RAW and Smackdown.

Many more WWE legends are expected to join Mysterio for this historic episode, such as The Undertaker who is also scheduled to compete at WWE Crown Jewel.

Undertaker will reform The Brothers of Destruction with Kane to take on the returning Shawn Michaes and Triple H of D-Generation X.

Triple H is set to reform the legendary Evolution for one night only with Orton, Batista and Ric Flair in Washington.

All these legends will be joined by Smackdown’s biggest stars like Styles, Samoa Joe, Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and more.

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John Oliver Body Slams WWE Over Saudi Arabia Ties on Last Week Tonight

Oktober 15, 2018

John Oliver borrowed a few moves from the WWE’s playbook to take the organization to task over its close relationship with Saudi Arabia on Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight.

Oliver said President Donald Trump and his representatives have been too cozy with Saudi Arabia, whose government is led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS. “Trump’s intent ‘bromance’ with [bin Salman] is bad news, because when you set no boundaries on an oppressive regime, they are always going to ask themselves, ‘How much can we get away with here?’ And as we saw this week, the answer to that may well be: Pretty much anything,” Oliver said, referring to the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the Saudi government who appears to have walked into the kingdom’s consulate in Turkey and never emerged.

Oliver likened the Saudi prince’s relationship with Trump to a babysitter with an unwieldy child, comparing the influx of cash to the U.S. to a young caregiver plying a charge with Twizzlers. “’Oh, I thought this was going to be difficult, but if all you want is Twizzlers, I have loads of them — here, take all you want, and the shut the f–k up,” Oliver joked.

However, according to Oliver, MBS isn’t just interested in bringing business to the kingdom. Oliver noted that, “MBS’ PR push isn’t just toward attracting businesses. It’s also toward changing the world’s perception of Saudi Arabia. “To that end, he struck a 10-year deal with one of the most popular and most American franchises there is — World Wresting Entertainment, or WWE.”

According to Oliver, the WWE held their first event in Saudi Arabia back in April, and audiences “around the world were treated to wall-to-wall propaganda about the new Saudi Arabia, including video showing women happily driving, men dancing and tourist destination beauty shots as well as constant excited compliments throughout the broadcast.”

Oliver played clips from broadcast, which showed the commentators praising the country and superstar John Cena thanking the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the end of the clip reel, Oliver added the punchline: “Wow. It seems the WWE is as overtly pro-Saudi Arabia as it is latently homoerotic, which is to say, intensely.”

WWE responded to criticism of its ties to the kingdom in a terse statement reading, “we are currently monitoring the situation,” CBS Sports reports.

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