WWE is planning the next edition of Night of Champions with an eye on the war in Iran

WWE will return to Saudi Arabia for the celebration of Night of Champions as part of its multi-year agreement with the Asian country. The company has internally set the date for June 27, as reported by Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling. However, the current conflict in the region involving Iran could disrupt these plans.

The Iran war has led Formula One to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix scheduled for April. However, WWE has not yet made a decision about Night of Champions with more than three months remaining.

"A source told POST that this year's venue for Night of Champions was planned in Riyadh. Jeddah and Riyadh are the two cities where WWE has held events in Saudi Arabia. Most events, including this year's Royal Rumble, have taken place in Riyadh. WWE's most recent event in Jeddah was Night of Champions on May 25, 2024," Thurston wrote.

In fact, Riyadh has been the target of counterattacks by Iran since the United States and Israel began hostilities on February 28 in a joint operation called "Epic Fury." On March 3, the U.S. embassy was hit, allegedly by an Iranian drone, although no injuries were reported.

"Earlier this month, it was also reported that TKO sent a message to all its staff reiterating the recommendations of the U.S. Department of State, advising American citizens to leave regions in much of the Middle East, mentioning Saudi Arabia among other countries. The internal message, sent on March 4, noted the U.S. government's expectation that hostilities would soon escalate. TKO instructed its staff: 'We encourage all employees to take this notice into account when planning travel,'" Thurston wrote.

"As part of a ten-year agreement initiated in 2018, WWE's live premium events in Saudi Arabia generate at least $50 million each for the company, revenues that surpass all but the biggest events in WWE history. When WWE was forced to cancel some of its biannual events in Saudi Arabia due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the company indicated that those events would be added to the end of the agreement. If events are canceled due to the war in the region, WWE and the Saudi government may agree on a similar solution," the report concluded.