Former WWE Co-President Explains Why Company Continued Saudi Arabia Partnership After Jamal Khashoggi Murder

Former WWE co-president George Barrios has shed new light on WWE’s decision to continue its partnership with Saudi Arabia following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In his new memoir, Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt: How a Cuban Kid from Queens Transformed WWE, Barrios discussed the internal conversations that took place as WWE weighed whether to move forward with its Saudi events amid growing international scrutiny.

According to Barrios, company leadership debated the future of the agreement after Khashoggi disappeared inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Khashoggi never came back from the building, and U.S. intelligence agencies later concluded that the killing had been ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The timing placed WWE in a difficult position. Earlier that year, the company had announced a 10-year partnership with Saudi Arabia, launching the deal with the Greatest Royal Rumble event in April and planning a return later in the year for Crown Jewel.

Barrios wrote that he, Vince McMahon, and then-co-president Michelle Wilson spent extensive time discussing the advantages and risks of continuing the relationship. He noted that McMahon was uncomfortable with the uncertainty surrounding the case (via POST Wrestling).

“Our negotiations dragged on because the Saudis are notorious hagglers. By 2018, despite having made great progress, we were struggling to get the deal over the finish line. Complicating matters was the disappearance of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi. As outraged as I was by what happened, I still defy anyone to argue they understand who was truly at fault. All I know is that on our end, Khashoggi’s disappearance called into question our deal with the Saudis. Vince (McMahon), Michelle (Wilson), and I spent a great deal of time debating the pros and cons of moving forward. Vince in particular was deeply uncomfortable with the uncertainty surrounding the events. In my opinion, we couldn’t walk out on the deal. It was too worthwhile for WWE. But Vince kept shaking his head. “This thing with Khashoggi. Doing the deal could be the biggest risk we’ve ever taken with the company.” “‘Vince, listen to me, ’ I said. ‘I understand how serious this is. But no one really knows what’s going on.’”

Despite those concerns, Barrios said he believed the company could not walk away from an agreement of that importance. WWE temporarily paused ticket sales for Crown Jewel. However, the company ultimately proceeded with the event in Saudi Arabia as scheduled.

Barrios and Wilson later exited WWE in January 2020 before returning to the company’s board of directors in 2023.

Former WWE Co-President George Barrios explained that the Saudi Arabia deal was already a difficult negotiation even before the controversy surrounding journalist Jamal Khashoggi, noting that “our negotiations dragged on because the Saudis are notorious hagglers” and that despite… pic.twitter.com/E9ctr3XJXW

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