Saudis host wrestlers in shadow of Khashoggi murder

Saudis host wrestlers in shadow of Khashoggi murder

(Agence France-Presse) – November 3, 2018 – 9:49 am

RIYADH – Greased-up and trash-talking WWE stars clashed on Friday at the Crown Jewel extravaganza in Riyadh, which took place in the shadow of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Wrestling stars such as Shane McMahon, Seth Rollins, and AJ Style are well-versed in the ring, sending a roar to Riyadh's King Saud University.

With thumping rock music and a dazzling fireworks display, Hulk Hogan, the host for the evening, swaggered to the ring and a red bandana.

Addressing the crowd as "maniacs", he declared: "It's awesome to be here!"

Khashoggi – a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – inside the consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

WWE superstars John Cena and Daniel Bryan were away from the event, but they offered no public explanation for their decision.

WWE Had to Face Global Calls to Pull Out the Following Riyadh event following Khashoggi's murder.

WWE representatives refused to answer questions related to the controversy, referring to it was "a very difficult decision" to hold the event after the "heinous crime".

"WWE has operated in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and has developed a sizable and dedicated fan base," the statement said.

"Similar to other US-based companies who plan to continue operations in Saudi Arabia, the company has decided to uphold its contractual obligations to the General Sports Authority and internship the event."

'Here to be entertained'

Dozens of global CEOs and policymakers have pulled out of last month's Future Investment Initiative, an investment summit in Riyadh dubbed "Davos in the desert", in protest at the killing.

A local organizer at Friday's event shrugged off the global outrage, saying, "You are here to be entertained.

It was the second WWE event held in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was headed by Turki al-Sheikh, who was present at the event.

The first WWE event in Saudi Arabia was held in western Jeddah city in April, at which the sports authority was apologized to a watchful audience.

Hosting the event in the ultra-conservative petro-state would have been practically impossible before dramatic reforms by Prince Mohammed, who has clipped the powers of the religious establishment and promoted entertainment mixed-gender events.

"Two years ago," she said to you, "said a Saudi government employee who was at the event with his wife.

He refused to discuss the Khashoggi affair, echoing the assertion of several local media that it was a Western conspiracy to malign the kingdom.

The crown prince has faced growing international pressure over the murder, even though the de facto ruler has been involved.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said the order to murder Khashoggi came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government, without any direct pointing fingers at the prince.