MR. TITO: WWE Wrestlers Need to Stand Up to Greedy TKO Management and REFUSE to Perform at WWE Crown Jewel

Years ago, comedian George Carlin spoke about how the rich and elite purposely help politicians stoke social issues so that lower and middle class folks can remain mad about that versus the massive income inequality in our country. Why are they doing that? As George Carlin put it, “there are more of us than there are of them” and so thus, it’s in the interest of richer folk to keep lower/middle class workers distracted with social issues so that they don’t revolt.

Same premise, minus the social issue distraction… But for both Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), there exists more fighters hurting themselves in the octagon and more wrestlers tanking bumps in and outside of the ring than there are TKO executives. MMA fighters and pro wrestlers don’t realize how much leverage they truly have, especially household name wrestlers who don’t have their careers dictated by actual wins or losses like UFC fighters.

Thus, when your TKO executives still want you to fly to and wrestle at Saudi Arabia for the WWE Crown Jewel event, the wrestlers could band together and REFUSE TO PERFORM. What could TKO do if ever WWE superstar grouped together and refused to be sent in an area of severe danger.

You know, like Saudi Arabia where the Houthis have recently attacked oil pipelines and the airport in Riyadh, home of both WWE Crown Jewel and 2027’s Wrestlemania 43.

The very airport that WWE superstars will arrive at was attacked. On October 10th and 11th, multiple strikes occurred that caused up to 14 people killed and a reported 300 who were wounded by the blasts. That is dangerous…

One would think, “the United States will protect WWE from harm”. Wait, isn’t Saudi Arabia a massive ally of the United States and also a bigtime trading partner? Wasn’t the entire premise of 1990-1991’s Desert Storm to protect the possibility of Saudi Arabia being invaded after Iraq invaded Kuwait? Saudi is a major investor in United States businesses, too.

I wouldn’t quite guarantee safety… Yes, the United States still has one of the most superior militaries in the world and has the biggest missile stock, but we’re in a day and age where drones and other types of missiles can be launched or fired from mobile sites. This is a different type of warfare, but I’d also argue a different type of combatant, too. It’s one thing when you’re up against a ruthless dictator, but it’s another matter when their dictator is also another the highest ranking religious cleric. When you’re willing to die in the name of your religion, no other Fs will be given about human life.

The Middle East has been a dangerous place for decades, and United States involvement with Israel, the 1953 Iranian coup, placing bases throughout the Middle East, and fighting multiple wars, unjust or not, has made the region feel an anti-American sentiment. Iran has had issues with the United States since the 1953 coup that overthrew an elected leader and it’s been rocky relations with us ever since in that region. Then, since June of last year and especially since late February if this year, the United States has engaged in serious military strikes against Iran that saw their leadership destroyed and martyred. In return, Iran has ramped up its own attacks against any Middle Eastern country favorable to the United States, including Saudi Arabia, and has encouraged any proxy group to attack on their behalf, like the Houthis located in Yemen which is South of Saudi Arabia.

They attacked the airport… Where is the seriousness by TKO executives about this situation?

Nope, gotta protect that massive Saudi Arabia deal that guarantees $25 to $30 million per regular event, while paying WWE $100 million for Royal Rumble 2026 and $250 million for Wrestlemania 43.

What the TKO and/or Endeavor/Silver Lake folks think about is how the TKO stock could tank if WWE has to move locations of those Premium Live Events (PLE). Meanwhile, they aren’t thinking of the total disaster TKO could have if, and I pray this would never happened, is if the Crown Jewel event is hit with an attack. In addition to the WWE wrestlers, losing Saudi Arabia fans would be a tragedy as well. Any loss of life would be a tragedy. By still having Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, WWE is placing its own wrestlers, production staff, and fans from Saudi Arabia at risk.

These are serious times and we need serious leadership to make decisions that protects lives.

So far, TKO has said nothing about moving the event…

And that proves what a joke TKO and its executives truly are.

All of these revenues generated from massive TV deals, Saudi Arabia, and severely price gouging WWE fans for live events and merchandise, yet TKO has the NERVE to ask its performers to take a 50% paycut and/or be terminated. Meanwhile, if you look at TKO’s proxy statements, its executives are pulling in the big bucks by sitting in a boardroom while their performers take the punishment inside and outside of the ring.

Right now, WWE’s World Champions are guaranteed to be there, with Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and Liv Morgan vs. Chelsea Green with other matches to be determined later.

Those 4, alone, should go to WWE and TKO’s management and outright REFUSE to perform at this event due to safety concerns.

Now, we all know that Roman Reigns will likely get private jet treatment to transport to the event and that usually occurs at a different part of the airport or in a secure location. Each of the wrestlers, at minimum, should demand equal treatment. Again, the airport in Riyadh was attacked…

But if Roman Reigns values his own life and wants to cement the respect of the entire WWE locker room, he should take a stand and demand the event be moved. Sure, WWE might lose $20-$30 million this time, but Roman and the entire roster will be alive on November 7th to perform somewhere in America. World Title vs. World Title matches will draw here in the United States, and thus, WWE and TKO won’t lose that much money. Then, 6 months later, you can re-assess Wrestlemania 43.

There’s just too much danger in this region and lots of anti-American sentiment per recent foreign policy decisions on top of decades of things bubbling in the Middle East. It wasn’t safe before 2025 or 2026 and even Saudi Arabia, itself, had issues with its culture to be a questionable place to host WWE events. Again, think about that plane ride where WWE superstars weren’t allowed to leave the country for over 1 day or think about how female WWE wrestlers have to look when wrestling at their events. Saudi aside, the hostilities of neighboring countries has always created risks for WWE hosting events there and that was probably part of the premium that gave WWE $20-$30 million per event and pricing in $100 million for Rumble 2026 and $250 million for Wrestlemania 43.

This airport strike changes the game… Way too close to where Crown Jewel and eventually Wrestlemania 43 will be.

Safety first, as a WWE event could be a major target with it being a major American brand.

The TKO executives should be ashamed of themselves for not already moving the Crown Jewel event.

If Saudi right now is so safe, then the TKO executives and their full extended families should all attend the event to make a point. Come on, if life is so precious, then prove it by placing your entire family on a plane and sitting in that arena while chaos is happening in that region. Lead by example instead of continuing to siphon funds as fat cat executives while the wrestlers continue to bump and wrestle in dangerous environments.

And for the record, I’ve been consistent on protecting wrestler safety as noted in my column on September 22nd after the Houthis hit the oil pipeline and when the United States issued a travel advisory. Crazy how much things have escalated since.

Wrestlers HAVE THE LEVERAGE because without them, there are no events. The top wrestlers (Roman, Cody, Punk, etc.) need to protect the entire roster and join them in standing up to the clowncar known as TKO executive team who only cares about making themselves rich. The reason why WWE has never unionized is because top stars buddy up to WWE management and are essentially paid more money to be the best company men possible. Hulk Hogan ratted out Jesse Ventura when he tried to unionize before Wrestlemania 2, and Vince since took care of the top guys while thinking the midcarders were disposable.

Well, now this isn’t about unionizing. This is about safety and being potential political and religious targets in a region that has been violent. Stand up to the arrogant TKO management and protect your co-workers from harm’s way! REFUSE to perform at WWE Crown Jewel!!!!!

Remember, WWE wrestlers… There are more of you than there are of them (TKO executives).

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ