TKO has addressed employee safety concerns head-on ahead of WWE Crown Jewel 2026, with president and COO Mark Shapiro telling staff that safety is “paramount” as the company prepares for its upcoming events in the Middle East.
Mark Shapiro (Credits: Ringside News)
According to PWInsider, TKO held a company-wide town hall over Zoom on October 28, bringing together staff from WWE, UFC, Zuffa Boxing, and On Location, with each department running through what it has coming up. Much of the meeting was standard corporate fare, but the tone turned serious when Shapiro addressed the Middle East events directly.
Mark Shapiro Crown Jewel Safety Message
The timing of the meeting is notable: it took place before news broke that Crown Jewel would be moving to a different venue in Riyadh, so that particular change was not discussed on the call. Still, Shapiro’s message was clear, and it landed against a tense backdrop.
The U.S. State Department recently ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia because of safety risks tied to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis. There have also been warnings about attacks on airports, possible airspace closures, canceled flights, and travel disruptions, with U.S. government employees still in the country needing special authorization to use airports following recent missile and drone attacks.
TKO Monitoring the Situation Daily
TKO has not been ignoring the situation. Ari Emanuel previously said the company has a team monitoring developments every day while WWE continues preparing for Crown Jewel. The town hall also included some wrestling talk, with WWE president Nick Khan highlighting the company’s next crop of stars, specifically Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Sol Ruca, and Oba Femi.
The message from the top was not panic, but reassurance: Crown Jewel is still moving forward, and getting everyone through the upcoming Middle East events safely is at the top of the list.
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Source: Ringside News — read the full story there.
