A serious military escalation in the Middle East has resulted in a logistical impasse for WWE, leaving part of its production team stranded indefinitely at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. The situation occurred after Qatar closed its airspace in response to an Iranian missile retaliation against a nearby U.S. base, preventing the crew from continuing their journey to Saudi Arabia.Internal WWE sources, who describe the situation as “fluid,” indicate that the crew’s departure from Doha is unfeasible until the air restriction is lifted. Despite this, preparations for the show in Riyadh are continuing, as essential equipment was transported overland to Saudi Arabia in advance.
Even with the obstacle in Doha, WWE maintains its position that the scheduled events will proceed. Executives informed Fightful Select that while the security situation is being “monitored accordingly,” there are no plans to postpone Night of Champions or the three-hour edition of SmackDown, scheduled to take place 24 hours earlier in Riyadh.
On-site reports confirm that arena construction and fan activations are continuing “full steam ahead,” with Saudi officials expected to provide additional security assurances.To circumvent the crisis, WWE has adjusted the travel plans for its main roster. The talent is scheduled to board a direct charter flight to Riyadh mid-week, completely avoiding Qatar’s airspace. As of Monday afternoon, no performer had been informed of any changes or delays to their itineraries.
The company has also prepared for a potential widening of flight restrictions in the region, with contingency plans that include a secondary charter or staggered departures, though these measures have not yet been activated.