Why is Rhea Ripley allowed to wrestle in Saudi Arabia with DEMONIC tattoos while Zelina Vega’s husband  wasn’t?

Aleister Black was not allowed to wrestle in Saudi Arabia back in 2019 due to a few tattoos that he had on his body, which symbolized demons.

Why is Rhea Ripley allowed to wrestle in Saudi Arabia with DEMONIC tattoos while Zelina Vega’s husband  wasn’t?

Rhea Ripley, Zelina Vega and Aleister Black (via Pinterest)

WWE is currently gearing up for its upcoming premium live event, Crown Jewel, which will take place in Saudi Arabia. The country has a few strict restrictions when it comes to tattoos. This might have cost WWE superstar Zelina Vega’s husband Aleister Black the event in 2019. That said, fans have wondered how Rhea Ripley could wrestle in Saudi Arabia despite having demonic tattoos.

In 2019, WWE left Aleister Black out of the Crown Jewel event, citing his tattoos as the reason behind it. Black has tattoos of Yama on his torso, which is the Hindu god of death. Additionally, he also has a tattoo of Mahakala, which is the destroyer of all elements according to the Hindu religion. It was revealed that these might have offended the sentiments of the people. Therefore, Black had to sit out of the event.

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Rhea Ripley, despite her visible tattoos, could wrestle in Saudi Arabia, sparking confusion among fans regarding possible bias. This may be due to the requirement for female superstars to cover their bodies from neck to toe during matches, ensuring Ripley’s tattoos remain hidden.

Male wrestlers face no such restrictions, allowing their tattoos to be prominently visible to fans and the audience. This could explain why Rhea Ripley could wrestle in Saudi Arabia while Aleister Black could not.

Clothing rule for women in Saudi Arabia explained

One of the most prominent differences between WWE shows anywhere else and in Saudi Arabia is the women’s attire. If WWE has a show anywhere else in the world, the female wrestlers perform in their regular attire. However, when WWE makes its annual trip to the Middle East, the women wear bodysuits.

Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya
Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya (via WWE)


WWE adheres to the custom of covering bodies from neck to toe during events in Saudi Arabia, in line with the rules of the Muslim law dominant in the country, to ensure respect and avoid offense.

During the first few installments of the Saudi show, women wrestlers did not perform on the show at all. However, this changed when Natalya and Lacey Evans had the first women’s match in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel 2019. The two wore black bodysuits and a t-shirt over them.

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