Forget what WWE told you about that infamous 2019 trip to Saudi Arabia, because the real story about 175 wrestlers and staff being stranded just got blown wide open. George Barrios, the former co-president and Chief Financial Officer for WWE, finally admitted last week that it wasn’t some simple “mechanical issue with the plane” that kept everyone stuck on the tarmac after Crown Jewel 2019. It’s been seven years, and we’re finally getting something resembling the truth.
The ‘Mechanical Issue’ Lie, Seven Years Strong
Remember that whole nightmare from October 31, 2019? A chartered 747, loaded with WWE talent and crew, sat on the tarmac at Riyadh Airport for more than six brutal hours. The company and the airline, Atlas Air, tried to feed us the line about “mechanical problems.” But people on that plane were texting their families back home in the U.S., telling them they were being held against their will. Karl Anderson’s wife, bless her heart, tweeted about her “Good Brother” being “held hostage while we’re at home worried to death.” The mood on that plane reportedly got darker and darker as the hours ticked by. For years, the rumor has been that the Saudi government slapped an “airport fee” on WWE as payback because Vince McMahon cut the transmission of the event right before the main event, supposedly because the Saudis were late with a payment. What a mess.
Exaggerated? Or The Ugly Truth?
Now, on the “My World” podcast, George Barrios stepped up and became the first person to publicly confirm it wasn’t a minor plane issue. But get this: he also said reports of WWE being held hostage were “exaggerated, to some degree.” “Exaggerated, to some degree.” What kind of wording is that, right? A day later, an anonymous former WWE executive texted Conrad Thompson, going even further. This exec noted that WWE has dealt with several countries that “are thrilled to see you arrive but are problematic on departure.” He specifically confirmed this was what happened in 2019. So, it wasn’t mechanical, it wasn’t smooth, and some parts were, shall we say, “problematic.” It makes you wonder how “exaggerated” those hostage fears really were for the talent stuck there.
The Bottom Line Trumps All, Even Today
And that brings us to this Saturday’s Crown Jewel, where WWE talent is performing while bombs and drone attacks are still falling on Riyadh. Last month alone, the Iran-backed Houthi forces fired over 80 missiles into the capital, killing at least 24 and injuring more than 300. The TKO brass held a town hall for employees recently, and while there was some talk about “we won’t put you in harm’s way,” the focus seemed to be heavily on the bottom line. TKO stock is down over 10% year-to-date, and cancelling this PLE, along with a UFC event expected there next month, would hit them hard this quarter, this year, and for their long-term relationship with Saudi Arabia. As Conrad Thompson put it, “WWE makes wrestling for shareholders.” What an absolute mess, and it just makes you wonder what else is “exaggerated, to some degree.” This isn’t just about what happened years ago, it’s about what talent faces this very Saturday at Crown Jewel, with the company brass focused squarely on that stock price.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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