WWE Earned More Than Initially Reported From 2018 Saudi Arabia Shows

– Remember that $40 million to $45 million that WWE reportedly made from the Saudi Arabia shows last year? Yeah, that looks to have been a bit low. WrestleNomics host Brandon Howard Thurston, who does deep dive financial analysis into the wrestling industry, noted on Twitter that WWE received “well over” $53 million from its Saudia Arabia shows in 2018, the first year of a ten year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority for events in the country.

The deal became a controversial issue in and out of the wrestling industry after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi nationals connected to the government became worldwide news and companies began pulling out of their deals with the country. Despite pressure being put on WWE to pull out of the deal and cancel the second event, October’s Crown Jewel, the company went through with it. (The first event, Greatest Royal Rumble, happened in April before Khashoggi’s murder.)