A new US intelligence memo warning that Iran has “substantially increased efforts to target US personnel” adds to the security concerns around WWE Crown Jewel, two weeks before the show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent the memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, according to CBS News. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was copied. The memo was first reported by Axios, and The New York Times reported that a US official confirmed it existed.
“The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against US citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” the memo said, per CBS News.
The memo does not mention WWE. Earlier this week, the State Department ordered nonessential US embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. A US official told CBS News that staffing decisions in the region reflect threats from Houthi attacks and Iranian plots.
TKO executive chair and CEO Ari Emanuel said Thursday that Crown Jewel is “still set”, and that TKO has a team monitoring the situation daily and looking at where the show could move if needed. WWE has not announced any change to the event.
Crown Jewel is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at Riyadh Season Stadium. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match was set on Friday’s SmackDown. Roman Reigns faces the winner of next week’s Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams Undisputed WWE Championship match, and Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan faces the winner of Chelsea Green vs. Nikki Bella for the WWE Women’s Championship.
