Is a decision on Crown Jewel coming tomorrow?
Tony Maglio of The Wrap reports that WWE will make a decision regarding Crown Jewel on Wednesday. According to Maglio, "WWE was waiting for Turkey to announce details from its investigation into the killing of the Washington Post columnist [Jamal Khashoggi] before it makes a final call about whether to hold the event in Saudi Arabia"
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday (via The New York Times) that the death Khashoggi was a ‘‘premeditated murder."
“It is clear that this savage murder did not happen instantly but was planned,” Mr. Erdogan said. Saudi Arabia officials claim that Khashoggi was killed after engaging in an argument and fist fight at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia has said that 18 officials are under investigation in the killing.
"Why was a team of 15 Saudi men, all with qualifications related to the incident, gathering in Istanbul on the day of the murder? We are seeking answers to this question. On whose orders did those individuals go there?" asked Mr. Erdogan. "This murder might have been committed at a consulate building which may be considered Saudi Arabian land, but it rests within the borders of Turkey." Mr. Erdogan plans to speak with King Salman of Saudi Arabia to get the case adjudicated in Istanbul.
Mr. Erdogan did not directly accuse Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of being involved with the murder of Khashoggi, but is "charging him with responsibility."
CIA director Gina Haspel was sent by the White House to Istanbul to help the Turkish government with its investigation. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held a meeting with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh.
WWE's only statement on the matter thus far is that they are "currently monitoring the situation." Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports reported that John Cena and Daniel Bryan are "refusing" to work the event. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer and John Pollock of POST Wrestling both reported that WWE creative was told that Cena would not be at the show. Cena was still advertised for the event on Monday Night Raw.
On Tuesday, Fox followed up by reporting that WWE is currently scouting locations to move Crown Jewel to. However, Fox was quick to mention that this does not mean the show is 100 percent being moved out of Saudi Arabia, just that the show remains "in major jeopardy."
