After a week of turmoil in Saudi Arabia surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a consulate in Turkey, the situation is still playing itself out in the news.
One thing is clear, and the Saudi government have admitted as much - Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in a Saudi Arabian consulate. While the version of events differs - the Saudi government claim it was a brawl, whereas the Turkish government claims it has evidence that Khashoggi was brutally tortured and dismembered - the condemnation of Saudi Arabia has been swift.
Earlier this week, 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver' discussed both Khashoggi's murder, the wider implications of US / Saudi relations and - yes - the WWE's upcoming pay-per-view event, The Crown Jewel, which is due to take place next week in Riyadh. This week so far, Wall Street analysts have estimated that the WWE stands to lose anywhere between $12 to $19 million in its operating income for 2019.
WWE have yet to issue any new statements on the matter, but it looks the event is still go ahead - despite the fact that numerous WWE personalities spoke anonymously to Sports Illustrated about how they were "uncomfortable" with the event going ahead. Currently, WWE.com lists the event as still active and has Brock Lesnar, Triple H, The Undertaker, Kane, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and John Cena listed to attend.
When quizzed about the event by TMZ, Orton said that the event should still go ahead. "I think the only way to help with change over there is to go and not cancel the trip," said Orton, echoing what former World Heavyweight Champion John Bradshaw Layfield - JBL - told Fox Business earlier this week as well.
The event, however, isn't sitting well with audiences. Earlier this week, The Undertaker was booed by a live audience when a reference was made to the event during a promotional segment, and social media sentiment is largely against the event taking place. Unconfirmed reports have it that con
With less than a week to go to the event itself, WWE is going to have to make a decision soon - but, for the moment, it looks like it's still happening, despite huge pressure both from audiences around the world, and business and political figures.