Employees of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, are reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with the company’s decision to continue staging events in Saudi Arabia despite ongoing missile and drone attacks.
According to Ben Fowlkes of Uncrowned, several current and former TKO employees have expressed serious safety concerns, accusing company executives of prioritising financial interests over the welfare of staff required to travel to the region.
The concerns follow a series of reported Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, including incidents preceding Power Slap on November 6 and WWE Crown Jewel on November 7, 2026. Another attack reportedly struck Riyadh’s financial district just hours after Crown Jewel concluded.
WWE personnel had reportedly departed Saudi Arabia before the latest attack, although Bronson Reed remained in the country while recovering from injuries sustained during the event. One TKO employee questioned why the company continued organising events under the circumstances, suggesting that financial commitments were influencing its decisions.
“Why are you still even having these shows at this point?” the employee told Uncrowned. “I think the answer is, if they chose not to do the show, they would lose out on millions and millions of dollars.”
The source further accused TKO of placing shareholder returns ahead of employee safety, describing the company’s approach as driven by greed.
TKO Employees Raise Safety Concerns Ahead Of Upcoming Saudi Arabia Events
The reported frustration comes as TKO prepares for additional events in Riyadh, including a Zuffa Boxing show on November 14 and UFC Fight Night on December 5. Despite other sporting events reportedly being postponed because of security concerns, TKO has not announced similar changes to its upcoming schedule. Employees have also criticised what they describe as insufficient communication regarding emergency procedures and contingency plans.
“Not one email has gone out saying, ‘Here are the details and the plans for December 5th.’ That’s crazy,” one source told Uncrowned.
The employee questioned why workers had not received detailed safety instructions or information about what would happen if another attack occurred. Another source said some employees were considering refusing to travel but feared losing their jobs as a result.
“Everyone just can’t believe this is a choice that they are being forced to make — fly into a war zone or risk getting fired before Christmas,” the source said.
The report also follows claims that WWE star Gunther declined to travel to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel, although the precise reason for his reported decision has not been confirmed. Several employees reportedly believe the company’s focus on short-term profitability has contributed to declining morale, with some suggesting they have little choice but to accept the situation or leave.
As of the report, TKO’s upcoming Zuffa Boxing and UFC events in Saudi Arabia remained scheduled to proceed, despite the concerns raised by employees.
