WWE Global Matters Snapshot via Media Man Media Man Int

WWE Global Matters Snapshot via Media Man

Profiles

Australia Wrestling Bitcoin Business Entertainment Sports

WWE top brass Triple H explains not having women on Greatest Royal Rumble card

The WWE is one of the most high profile entertainment and media companies on the planet, and are constantly under the microscope - not just for match performances, TV or social media rankings, but also for its corporate values and the way the company is continuing to evolve for changing times. Being a global company not only do they have to keep in mind their internal and external affairs and good corporate citizenship for their homeland United States, but also for international markets, be it Japan, Australia, India, and now the sometimes culturally controversial Saudi Arabia.

Triple H has intelligently researched and addressed the issue of the WWE Women's Evolution not being presented an opportunity to showcase their in ring talents on the current Saudi tour.

Make no mistake, in many ways this is even a bigger issue and situation than having the WrestleMania 34 Women's Battle Royal get the rebrand after some fan and media backlash, and one might argue even makes the potential return of a Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea), following Hogan's prior racist type remarks, look pale in comparison.

WWE are dealing with a large and lucrative market which holds different culture values and norms than many parts of the world, in particular when it comes to females.

Before anyone gets on their high horse consider a few other interesting cultural situations in relation to various counties, and these examples have nothing to do with pro wrestling - sports entertainment:

Australia - white Australians have farmed and killed Australian kangaroos to eat. Once considered meat for native Aborigines, and later for sale as dog food, Kangaroo meat is now found in some of Australia's finest restaurants. Kangaroos are a national symbol of Australia as as well as being a famous tourism attractions, with the world's citizens raveling to Australia to see Kangaroos in the bush as well as zoos such as Australian Zoo in Queensland. Some Australian farmers consider Kangaroos pest and are known to have shot them on site.

Japan - for decades whale meat has been a staple of Japanese culture and diet. The whales often see a gruesome death by whale ship harpoon. Activists groups such as Sea Shepherd and GreenPeace have long lobbied and fought to have whale hunting outlawed, to little or no avail. Last year Sea Shepherd announced that it was no longer economically viable (read too expensive) to keep pro actively chasing the Japanese whalers.

China and Thailand - are known to eat monkey. This tradition goes back to the very beginning of their culture. Monkey's are also a tourist attraction. You may never look at monkeys in these countries the same way again. We are not even going to start on dog meat. That's right, people who eat dog, otherwise known as 'Man's best friend'.

Readers may or may not appreciate the examples of cultural sensitivities relating to Australian Kangaroos, or Japanese whalers harpooning beautiful whales, but these are culturally sensitive matters.

Back to sports entertainment...

Saudi Arabian culture does not permit the talented female WWE workers to take part on the card.

"I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don't agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn't mean it's not a relevant culture," Levesque said.

"You can't dictate to a country or a religion about how they handle things but, having said that, WWE is at the forefront of a women's evolution in the world and what you can't do is affect change anywhere by staying away from it.

"While, right now, women are not competing in the event, we have had discussions about that and we believe and hope that, in the next few years, they will be. That is a significant cultural shift in Saudi Arabia."

While it's not ideal for many fans or sports media that the ladies won't be competing on what's being advertised as WrestleMania caliber supercard, the hope is there for change in the future, as Paul Levesque (Triple H) addressed.

This seasons Greatest Royal Rumble event is the beginning of a decade long relationship between WWE and Saudi Arabia, and it would unquestionably be a monumental moment if, during this period, a change were to be executed permitting the ladies to be included on the Saudi Arabian cards. The deal is worth numerous millions of dollars. How much, only a few top brass in the WWE are likely to know. It's a decade long deal folks. Let's see, 60,000 plus people, x 10 shows perhaps, with the media rights, advertising and merch elements thrown in, plus whatever WWE has in place with Saudi tourism, trade and sporting bodies. This is mega.

Full marks to the WWE and in particular Triple H for addressing the elephant in the arena, and the Media Man agency wishes the WWE management and talent all the best for the upcoming supershow, as well as ongoing and positive negotiations with Saudi government, sporting and event officials, and like many we are hopefully that the WWE women will be able to perform on future wrestling shows in the Middle East.

WWE Around The World; Sports Entertainment Over The Decades

The Iron Sheik

Hulk Hogan vs The Iron Sheik. Madison Square Garden. New York

Outback Jack. WWE. 1987

Hulk Hogan vs Road Warrior Hawk in a tag team match. Tokyo, Japan

Shinsuke Nakamura is welcomed to the WWE by Triple H

The Great Muta vs Hulk Hogan. Tokyo, Japan

Lana (CJ Perry) and her real life husband Rusev ('The Bulgarian Brute') The Rusev vs Undertaker match is back on after some fan fair and mixed media reports at the likes of TMZ. Chris Jericho will now compete in the Greatest Royal Rumble Match, despite being a self proclaimed 'King Of The Casket Match'!

Roman Reigns and cousin Dwyane 'The Rock' Johnson. Both gentlemen are from the Samoan blood line and may be the most successful wrestling family dynasty of all time, despite the odd boo from the crowd.

Former WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino was originally from Italy and holds the record for the most sellouts of Madison Square Garden in history for professional wrestling

The late, great, Andre The Giant hailed from France. Pictured on The Late Show with David Letterman

Abraham Lincoln was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He was a wrestling fan and is understood enjoyed hitting the mats himself on occasion. Image credit: WWE