Report: TKO’s Mark Shapiro addresses safety concerns ahead of WWE Crown Jewel and other events
According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, TKO held a company-wide town hall meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, with representatives from WWE, UFC, Zuffa Boxing and On Location providing brief updates on their respective divisions.
TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro reportedly discussed the company’s upcoming events in the Middle East and reportedly emphasized that everyone’s safety was “paramount.” The meeting took place before news broke that WWE Crown Jewel was moving to a different venue in Riyadh, so the change was not addressed.
WWE President Nick Khan also discussed the company’s upcoming stars, specifically mentioning Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Sol Ruca and Oba Femi.
United States Embassy Riyadh posted the following message to Twitter/X today…
“U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions. Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport.”
Security Alert: U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia (October 28, 2026)
Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.
Iranian-supported Houthis… pic.twitter.com/65FxYeBVHV— U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) October 28, 2026