Earlier this year, we heard that former Universal Champion Roman Reigns didn't want to travel to Saudi Arabia for the
Crown Jewel PPV last November. Apparently, The Big Dog made his feelings known to Vince McMahon before his cancer diagnosis but that obviously led to his match with Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman being cancelled regardless.
Something has changed, though, as he's now set to face Shane McMahon at
Super ShowDown next month.
"It gets a lot of mixed and negative reactions," Reigns said of WWE's relationship with Saudi Arabia. "The bottom line for me is, if we’re going to help promote change, if we’re going to set out to make an impact than I have to be a part of it. I’m not going to sit on the sideline and talk about how we can get there. I want to be a part of the action."
"I look at it as being a part of the solution while still respecting cultures, but it’s a big world and I want to experience all of it," he continued. "So if we can help make a positive impact that’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to put smiles on everyone’s faces. We don’t discriminate, that’s our goal to help and promote positivity and take that to every inch of the world."
It would help if wrestlers like Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair could perform there, of course, but it's easy enough to see where Reigns is coming from. Whether things will change is another matter but at least The Big Dog is trying to make a difference.