WWE Superstar Sami Zayn was curiously absent from the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia, but new information about his omission is quite perplexing.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Zayn's absence was a secret between the Superstar and WWE officials. Meltzer reports that an injury angle was supposed to explain why he wasn't at the Greatest Royal Rumble , but it never came to be. The report also says that the WWE didn't offer a reason to Zayn for not being on the card.
WWE announcers were also reportedly instructed to not bring up Sami Zayn during the broadcast.
Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reports Zayn didn't work because he is of Syrian descent. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Syria has been strained since the Syrian Civil War began in 2012, so Zayn appears to no have been booked out of respect for the "local customs.". WWE released this statement last week about Zayn's absence from the Greatest Royal Rumble.
"WWE is committed to embracing individuals from all backgrounds while respecting local customs and cultural differences around the world."
This isn't the first controversy to hit WWE's Greatest Royal Rumble event. In the weeks leading up to the show, multiple reports confirmed that the women of the WWE were not allowed to wrestle or make the trip to Saudi Arabia.
Triple H, who acts as WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, spoke to The Independent regarding the show and explained how the GRR could open doors for women to compete in the future. "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," he said.
We reached out to WWE for a new statement and will update if we get one.
Sami Zayn launched Sami For Syria, a partnership with the Syrian American Medical Society to fund mobile medical clinics for those who can't receive care otherwise.
What do you think of the reason for Sami Zayn not being booked at the Greatest Royal Rumble? Should the WWE have the event again next year? Let us know in the comments!
