Vince McMahon addresses controversy surrounding WWE's relationship with Saudi Arabia

Speaking to Pat McAfee on his podcast, Vince McMahon has defended WWE’s decision to put on shows in Saudi Arabia.

Every year since 2018, WWE has put on shows in Saudi Arabia, with seven shows taking place in the country over the last four years.

That number would actually have been higher, likely closer to the ten mark, had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic meaning WWE couldn’t travel from March 2020 and September 2021.

While speaking on The Pat McAfee show yesterday, McMahon spoke about WWE putting on shows in Saudi Arabia.

The WWE Chairman explained that the Saudi Arabian people are “no different” from any other WWE fans, noting that the Saudi fans are “really enthusiastic” about the WWE product.

Saudi is no different than any other people, WWE fans all over the world. I’ve known for years (they are fans). We’ve had a presence there for years. There is no place in the world we don’t have a presence. Saudi fans are really enthusiastic like they are everywhere else. It was an opportunity to play before the audience.

People love Western culture all over the world. They don’t love our government, but they love Western culture. Our form of entertainment with WWE fits everything. It’s larger than life. It fits everything imaginable like, ‘Oh my God,’ the spectacle of it. It fits everywhere. We translate it to 40 languages or something like that.

Even if it’s just English. You get it, you understand. Saudi is no different. People are people. Cultures are cultures and you have to respect that.

Just because we as Americans, ‘this is the way we should do this. The whole world should be like us. We know the way and any other way is not the right way.’ Come on. Culture has been around for thousands of years. Long before us.”