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Backstage Note on WWE Moving Forward With Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia Amid Uncertainty
Image Credit: WWE
WWE has confirmed Night of Champions is scheduled for June 27 in Riyadh. The event has been announced despite ongoing regional conflicts.
The show is part of WWE’s strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, which includes two “large-scale events” annually. Reports indicate the deal is valued at approximately $55 million per event. While the show has been listed all year, the recent war has raised a major question mark. However, WWE has continued to promote and plan for Night of Champions without announcing any changes. No official statement has been released regarding a cancellation or relocation.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted the stock price has fallen to $187.76 from a $226.94 high in 2025. He suggested that any change to scheduled events “would hurt the stock price because of the loss of expected revenue by canceling the show.” He claimed WWE had to announce something because it was “getting late,” and that the event is always “subject to change.”
Meltzer also believes it would be a “bad idea” not to have a backup plan in case WWE can’t go to Saudi Arabia. However, he noted that since a lot of money is involved, “it will take a lot for them not to go,” but “they are going to announce it and act like they are going until the day when they are all but forced not to go, if that day comes.” He referenced the Jamal Khashoggi murder in 2018 and how WWE still went ahead with Crown Jewel despite calls for cancellations.
He concluded by saying that whether WWE goes to Saudi Arabia or not would be decided by the war situation closer to the event date in June, and that the “mentality is to go and get the money unless they simply can’t do it.”
As of now, the event remains scheduled for Riyadh on June 27. WWE has not provided further updates beyond ongoing promotion and preparation for the show.
BREAKING: WWE Night of Champions will return to Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, June 27, 2026!
عاجل: عرض نايت أوف تشامبيونز سيعود إلى الرياض بالمملكة العربية السعودية يوم السبت ٢٧ يونيو ٢٠٢٦ في المملكة أرينا!#WWENOC pic.twitter.com/xpOJz7iUmx
— WWE MENA (@WWEmena) April 23, 2026
