Last month, WWE made the announcement that the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments would be returning, and eventually culminating, at their next premium live event in Saudi Arabia. The appropriately titled WWE King & Queen of the Ring even received a mention on the company’s website, along with a video package promoting it on Monday Night Raw.
“The General Entertainment Authority, in cooperation with WWE, has announced that WWE King and Queen Of The Ring will be held at the Jeddah Superdome, the world’s largest pillarless Superdome, on Saturday, May 27, 2023,” the WWE.com mention began. “WWE King and Queen Of The Ring is happening in Jeddah, alongside a host of additional exciting events happening in Jeddah throughout the year.
“This marks the first King Of The Ring Premium Live Event to be held since 2015 and the first crowning of a Queen since the inaugural Queen’s Crown Tournament which took place at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh in 2021.”
King of the Ring is one of the most beloved WWE properties among fans and many have embraced the new Queen of the Ring tournament as well. Of course, Saudi Arabia has a history of women’s rights issues, and the idea of WWE using the beloved tradition to present the country as more progressive towards women, on an international stage, than they are in reality, has certainly raised eyebrows.
For those concerned with that imagery, breathe a sigh of relief because the name of WWE’s upcoming show in Jeddah appears to have changed. Based on a new graphic released on WWE’s Twitter account, the new name for the premium live event will be WWE Night of Champions. A show that has traditionally seen as many WWE championships defended as possible.
WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia will be an interesting story to watch in the coming years. The company signed an agreement to produce twenty events for the Kingdom, approximately two a year, that is set to run up until 2028. Endeavor, the soon-to-be parent company of WWE, cut its business ties to Saudi Arabia following the death of journalist Jamaal Khashoggi, which American intelligence asserts was at the behest of Saudi leader Muhammad bin Salmen.