JBL calls out critics of WWE traveling to Saudi Arabia following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran

Prior to the 2025 WWE Night of Champions PLE, the United States conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities amid Iran’s conflict with Israel. Iran’s foreign minister has threatened “consequences” in response and this led to concern about WWE traveling to Saudi Arabia.

While speaking on the Something to Wrestle podcast, WWE Hall of Famer JBL called out the critics…

“That war was 1,000-plus miles away. You’re not anywhere near this freaking war zone. It’s like shutting down Austria because there’s a war in Ukraine… I don’t have any issue whatsoever with them going to Saudi Arabia. And I think all of this clamoring about, ‘Oh, how dare you send people into a war zone?’ I’ve been to war zones. That ain’t a war zone.”

“If you want to put a moral test on whoever you work for or work with, you’re going to be like some religious purist. You can’t put morals, your morals on somebody else… to me, it just takes away from you’re just being some a–hole purist that thinks they’re better than everybody else… The world’s enjoying themselves. Either come along for the ride or go somewhere else.” (quotes courtesy of WrestlingNews.co)