TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, is facing internal backlash from employees over its decision to continue staging events in Saudi Arabia despite ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks. Multiple anonymous sources within the company told Uncrowned that worker safety has been treated as an afterthought in favor of protecting fourth-quarter earnings and shareholder returns.
The frustration intensified after a missile strike hit a tower in Riyadh’s financial district owned by state-run Aramco just hours after WWE’s Crown Jewel event concluded on November 7. Wrestlers had already left the country by then, but production and other staff expressed growing unease as attacks have become near-daily since early October, including a deadly cruise missile strike on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 that killed 13 and wounded over 300.
Other major sporting events in the region, such as the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament and the PIF Saudi International golf tournament, were postponed. Combat sports under the TKO umbrella, however, have pressed ahead. These include Canelo Alvarez’s October 31 bout in Riyadh (which proceeded despite a “hostile aerial threat” warning), a Power Slap event on November 6, WWE Crown Jewel, an upcoming Zuffa Boxing card on November 14, and a UFC Fight Night scheduled for December 5.
Anonymous sources inside TKO described the company’s priorities in blunt terms:
“Why are you still even having these shows at this point? I think the answer is, if they chose not to do the show, they would lose out on millions and millions of dollars.
From what I’ve heard, if we don’t do the shows in Saudi Arabia or [United Arab Emirates] or Doha or wherever we are going, then our fourth-quarter earnings will be off and our shareholders aren’t going to get their money. So it’s all about greed. They don’t care about anybody’s well-being. The level of greed with this company is so gross.
All [TKO executives] talk about is if the State Department says it is OK to fly there. The rest of us are like, ‘If the State Department has to think about it at all, let’s just postpone.’ That’s what all the other sports are doing. Why can’t TKO?
They don’t f***ing care about you one bit. People are just getting tired of the way they’re getting treated. They get treated like sh*t and everybody’s tired of it. The lack of communication, the greed, the lack of appreciation, people are just sick of it.
Not one email has gone out saying, ‘Here are the details and the plans for December 5th.’ That’s crazy. They don’t tell you anything. They just throw it at you. How about a backup plan? How about a safety letter? ‘Hey, if x happens, we go do y. We’ll all meet here. We’ll do this. We’ll do that.’ Nothing.
I’m not the only one who does not want to fly there. It’s crazy. Everyone is talking about the Middle East shows. Who has to go, who can get out of going. Some people say they are waiting until the time to fly comes and telling [TKO executives] that they won’t go. But I don’t know how many will follow through with that.
This is a company that can fire you for no reason or any reason. Everyone just can’t believe this is a choice that they are being forced to make — fly into a war zone or risk getting fired before Christmas.
We’ve come to the realization, this is what it is. We’re going to either have to accept it or leave, because nothing’s going to change at this point. But it’s time to get called out. Everyone across the whole company gets treated like sh*t, whether you’re a fighter or a camera guy.”
In a recent company town hall, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro stated that the company would “not hesitate” to cancel or postpone events in the face of “danger or a further escalation,” emphasizing that “business is secondary” to employee safety. He also noted the financial impact of any cancellations, saying the company wants to deliver the strong year it has worked toward and that 2026 is “shaping up to be that year.”
TKO CEO Ari Emanuel had previously said the company was monitoring the situation daily and had contingency plans if needed. TKO had not responded to requests for comment on the employee concerns at the time of the original report. The company remains scheduled to proceed with its remaining Middle East events for the year.

“The level of greed with this company is so gross” – TKO Employees Not Happy With Saudi Arabia Events

&#8211; Tonight&#8217;s NXT kicked off with CM Punk&#8217;s theme song hitting, but NXT Champion Grayson Waller came out instead and mocked Punk for thinking &#8220;The Best in the World&#8221; could defeat him, and said he wants someone new to step up and challenge him. Shiloh Hill came out and said that he wants to face Waller for the NXT Title, but Grayson said Shiloh is not ready. Mason Rook returned and attacked Waller.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
CM Waller?? 👀
Very clever, <a href="https://x.com/GraysonWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GraysonWWE</a> 🤨 <a href="https://t.co/Cbtdl5lLGx">pic.twitter.com/Cbtdl5lLGx</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120322312083841231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
HE&#39;S BIG HE&#39;S BAD HE&#39;S BACK!!! <a href="https://x.com/MasonRook_wwe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MasonRook_wwe</a> <a href="https://t.co/aqUY184rzW">pic.twitter.com/aqUY184rzW</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120324306768928987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
Mason Rook has his EYES on the NXT Title!! 👀<a href="https://x.com/MasonRook_wwe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MasonRook_wwe</a> <a href="https://t.co/0icyfOviB8">pic.twitter.com/0icyfOviB8</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120343489896452600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8211; In a pre-taped segment, John Cena announced 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno as the third and fourth participants in the John Cena Classic.
&#8211; EK Prosper def. Kam Hendrix
&#8211; Tony D&#8217;Angelo questioned what&#8217;s next for him.
&#8211; Izzi Dame def. Wren Sinclair
After the match, NXT Women&#8217;s North American Champion Zaria attacked Izzi and laid her out with an F5.
&#8211; In a pre-taped segment, John Cena announced NXT Women&#8217;s Champion Kelani Jordan as the first woman in the John Cena Classic.
&#8211; Kendal Grey is cleared to compete and will face Kelani Jordan for the NXT Women&#8217;s Championship next week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
There is NO love lost between these two! 😳<a href="https://x.com/kendalgreywwe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kendalgreywwe</a> | <a href="https://x.com/kelani_wwe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kelani_wwe</a> <a href="https://t.co/ACbDnqPQUT">pic.twitter.com/ACbDnqPQUT</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120337745528685053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/2120338492425126388
&#8211; The Vanity Project attacked Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno backstage. Robert Stone announced Dar and Moreno are no longer medically cleared to compete, so Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes will defend the NXT Tag Team Titles against another tag team tonight.
&#8211; Lizzy Rain def. Chantel Monroe
&#8211; Kam Hendrix attacked Tony D&#8217;Angelo backstage.
&#8211; NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Vanity Project (c) def. Hank and Tank to retain the titles
&#8211; Chantel Monroe told Thea Hail that she could lose every day of the week, and it still wouldn&#8217;t be as bad as Thea&#8217;s alopecia.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/2120349390497874162
&#8211; DarkState, BirthRight, and Los Perros del Mal got into a brawl while Zilla Fatu watched them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
PERROS DEL MAL 🔥
OH YEAH!! <a href="https://t.co/8vLCQQEtml">pic.twitter.com/8vLCQQEtml</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120351230153081208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

NXT Results – Mason Rook Returns, Kendal Grey Cleared To Compete

In a pre-taped segment on tonight&#8217;s NXT, John Cena announced 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno as the third and fourth participants in the John Cena Classic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="525" data-dnt="true">
HISTORY 🤩<a href="https://x.com/JohnCena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCena</a> has officially invited <a href="https://x.com/NoamDar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NoamDar</a> and <a href="https://x.com/Itsbbyromeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Itsbbyromeo</a> to join the John Cena Classic!! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WWENXT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWENXT</a> <a href="https://t.co/cyZn7Rnmi7">pic.twitter.com/cyZn7Rnmi7</a>
&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://x.com/WWE/status/2120326333716992190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Also, Cena announced NXT Women&#8217;s Champion Kelani Jordan as the first woman in the John Cena Classic.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/2120336308589752404

1st Woman For John Cena Classic Revealed, 2 More Participants Announced

Former WCW Executive Vice President Jim Herd has passed away at the age of 87. Herd died in October, with Conrad Thompson first revealing the news in a column for Yahoo Sports&#8217; Uncrowned.
Herd entered the wrestling world in 1988 after Turner Broadcasting purchased Jim Crockett Promotions. With a background in television and fast food management rather than pro wrestling, he was brought in to bring corporate discipline and try to stem heavy financial losses. His four-year run in charge ended up being one of the most controversial eras in WCW history, marked by strange gimmick ideas and regular creative clashes with traditional wrestling minds.
His most infamous moment came in July 1991 during a bitter standoff with Ric Flair. Herd wanted the legendary champion to cut his hair, wear an earring, and completely repackage himself under the gladiator-inspired name &#8220;Spartacus.&#8221; When Flair refused a pay cut and contract talks fell apart, Herd fired him while he was still the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. Flair promptly signed with the rival WWF, bringing the physical &#8220;Big Gold Belt&#8221; with him to TV in an embarrassing blow to WCW.
Herd resigned from his post in January 1992 and stepped away from the wrestling industry entirely, moving on to work in the casino business. He rarely looked back on his wrestling days, later explaining that running the company was simply an executive assignment within the Turner corporate ladder that stopped being enjoyable once the business disputes took over.

Former WCW Boss Jim Herd Passes Away At 87

On RAW Recap, Becky Lynch criticized Roxanne Perez&#8217;s partnership with Liv Morgan:
“What is Roxanne getting out of this? Roxanne, who everybody was saying, ‘oh, she’s going to be the prodigy.’ She is a prodigy. She’s incredible. She started wrestling when she was, you know, right out the womb, and she would travel to Booker T’s school, and everybody was like, she’s going to be the one.
She’s the one standing in the shadows. What is she getting out of this? What is she getting out of this? She’s not this girl. The girl that she is, that she’s coming out, she’s trying to be cool, trying to be tough with her little entrance? I’m sick of that entrance. I want to see her come out and throw fists. You know what I mean? Throw fists. None of this cutesy crap where she’s sitting on the rope. Look at me, me, me. No. I’m going to throw you off that rope. I’m going to beat the bejesus out of you, and you should be ready for that, and you would be ready for that if you had some good influence.
If you were under the tutelage of me or somebody, or it doesn’t have to be me. It could be somebody else. I mean, I’m probably the best, but that’s it. But like, what is she doing with Liv Morgan? It’s not helping her. It’s not advancing her career. How long has she been with her? Two years.”
Becky will face Liv for the Women&#8217;s World Championship at Survivor Series 2026.

“What is Roxanne Perez doing with Liv Morgan? It’s not advancing her career” – Becky Lynch

During a new interview on The Johnny I Pro Show, Bret Hart criticized today&#8217;s wrestling:
&#8220;I gave so much and tried so hard to make it appear real. I have a hard time today when it’s not, I don’t think those values are carried forward and they’re moving on in a different direction now where wrestling is starting to become hokey. It doesn’t try to be real anymore.
It tries to be unreal, like too outrageously. The more explosions and pyro and stuff that you can do, it has nothing to do with wrestling.
In the end, I’m a wrestling fan deep in my heart. I like to watch a really good wrestling match that builds and tells a story and all that. I don’t get that fix anymore, I’m not getting that at all from today’s wrestling.&#8221;

“Wrestling is starting to become hokey. It doesn’t try to be real anymore” – Bret Hart

During a new interview on The Johnny I Pro Show, Bret Hart took another shot at Bill Goldberg:
“You’ve got to know what you’re doing when you go out there a little bit. It’s not like Goldberg&#8230; I won’t go on a big thing about Goldberg, but Goldberg just hurt me because he didn’t know how to do anything different.
No one taught him, no one showed him, no one explained to him like Bill, it’s not really real. You can’t actually kick somebody in the head as hard as you can, you just can’t.
No one took the time to tell him that in WCW, where it’s like, they should be sued for unprofessional wrestling, for putting me in the ring with a guy that didn’t know anything about wrestling.”

“The level of greed with this company is so gross” – TKO Employees Not Happy With Saudi Arabia Events

NXT Results – Mason Rook Returns, Kendal Grey Cleared To Compete

1st Woman For John Cena Classic Revealed, 2 More Participants Announced

Former WCW Boss Jim Herd Passes Away At 87

“What is Roxanne Perez doing with Liv Morgan? It’s not advancing her career” – Becky Lynch

“Wrestling is starting to become hokey. It doesn’t try to be real anymore” – Bret Hart

Bret Hart Says WCW Should’ve Been Sued For Booking Him Against Goldberg