Vince McMahon Pushed For WWE’s Women To Shine In Saudi Arabia

Was Vince McMahon really a beacon of light for women’s rights when it came to WWE stars competing in Saudi Arabia?

Eyebrows were raised in 2018 when WWE signed a ten-year deal with the General Sports & Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia. Accusations of sports washing have engulfed the country as it uses its vast wealth to bring all kinds of sports to overshadow the country’s poor record on things such as human rights and the rights of women.

In 2018, WWE under Vince McMahon was one of the first to take the vast sums of money on offer, but now years later, everything from golf to boxing to stand-up comedy has made peace with Saudi Arabia to get their own piece of the pie.

One of the things many fans discussed was whether WWE’s female stars would get to compete in the ultra-conservative country. And for the first few shows that proved a bridge too far. However, at Crown Jewel 2019, Natalya and Lacey Evans became the first women to compete in a wrestling match in the country, with Natalya picking up the win.

Natalya Credits Vince McMahon For Saudi Breakthrough

Speaking with DS of Ring the Belle, Natalya discussed that experience and explained it was all down to Vince McMahon pushing for the company’s women to get their chance:

WWE is my home. It’s where I’ve built so many incredible, amazing moments. I think it is about trust, though; they know that I’m going to deliver. I just feel like the women have come such a long way, and Vince McMahon gave me so many opportunities… The Saudi Arabia match, I said to Vince McMahon, when WWE first started doing stuff in Saudi Arabia, I said, ‘Vince, I really want to go. I want to be the first woman to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.’

Vince made it happen. I think Vince really wanted women to wrestle there, too, and he really wanted us to have more visibility there, to be able to do what we love. So I will always be so grateful to Vince for that moment, because he fought for the women to have more visibility in Saudi Arabia. He had to fight. So, look at us now.

Vince McMahon has been accused of serious sexual abuse and sex trafficking as part of a lawsuit filed by a former WWE employee.

Saudi Arabia will host WrestleMania for the first time ever in 2027 as TKO looks to rake in more money than ever from the Middle Eastern Kingdom.