After $21 billion merger, WWE ‘working on a deal’ to have Cristiano Ronaldo at their Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia: Reports

Following its huge merger under Endeavor, WWE is now eyeing the football star to make an appearance in Crown Jewel.

After $21 billion merger, WWE ‘working on a deal’ to have Cristiano Ronaldo at their Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia: Reports

Crown Jewel, Cristiano Ronaldo (Image via: WWE & RealMadrid)

Over the years, WWE has made it a tradition to bring celebrities across the globe to its live events. They either appear as a special host or sometimes get their boots dirty in the ring. Sports personalities like Mike Tyson, Shaquille O’Neal, Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have graced WWE in the past. Recent reports state that the Stamford-based promotion is planning to bring Al-Nassr FC star Cristiano Ronaldo to one of its shows.

Following WWE’s acquisition by Endeavor to form TKO Group Holdings, the company is planning to take its events across the globe on a larger scale. To attract a wider audience, the company is trying to bring in big names from other sports as well. The recent appearance of The Rock and Pat McAfee is a prime example of that. Moreover, their appearance on SmackDown has resulted in a boost in viewership.

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Xero News on X reported that WWE is trying to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Crown Jewel, which will be taking place in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese legend plays for Saudi’s club Al-Nassr FC, and so the Stamford-based promotion is trying their best to have him as a special guest on the show. Also, the promotion is now open to having multiple celebrities at the November premium live event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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The event is tentatively scheduled to take place on November 4, 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo will be in Saudi Arabia at that time for the AFC Championship group matches. WWE has been firing on all cylinders to make Crown Jewel a grand spectacle. Therefore, the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner can possibly make an appearance on the show.

Related: Major update on WWE departments seemingly in jeopardy with a few layoffs happening and talents undergoing an audit

Impact of the WWE-UFC merger under Endeavor

The recent merger of WWE and UFC with the California based holding company has caused a lot of commotion. WWE’s stocks have skyrocketed, and people like Triple H have got millions in bonus. The merger has put an end to Vince McMahon’s 40-year singular ownership of the WWE product.

Top officials signing the merger
Top officials signing the merger (Image via: TKO)

This has brought a lot of changes to the company, and a few backstage officials are not happy about it. It is reported that more than 100 WWE employees were laid off within a few days of the merger. This has caused a sense of job insecurity among the employees. Several sources claim that the morale of the locker room is completely down.

This reminds fans of the time when WWE made budget cuts during the pandemic while enjoying a great profit. It has not only brought changes to the workforce but is also likely to bring changes to the WWE product. It is expected that new weight divisions like the UFC will be introduced.

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