Renee Young And Michael Cole Comment On Women Participating At WWE Events In Saudi Arabia
Renee Young made more history this past weekend when she joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves in the commentary booth for WWE Crown Jewel.
Speaking to BBC, Cole and Young discussed their trip to Saudi Arabia and Renee being allowed to take part on commentary.
“Renee Young was the commentator in Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel as we continue to make progress there. Our hope one day is that we will have women superstars battling it out as part of our events in Saudi Arabia,” said Cole.
Women not being allowed to perform in Saudi Arabia was highly publicized heading into Crown Jewel, but an exception was made for Young. The General Sports Authority had to issue an apology in April when a video package was shown featuring women in their wrestling gear. In promoting WrestleMania 35 during Crown Jewel, WWE edited out the female superstars.
Young commented, “One thing I will say that was very cool about that is, being a woman welcomed into Saudi Arabia to step into the announce booth and be apart of the broadcast, how many men, women, children were coming up to me knowing that this was a big moment of change and that there is a demand and need for women to be performing in Saudi Arabia. They were asking for it, certainly.”
The point of “changing Saudi Arabia by going to Saudi Arabia” was hammered home by many WWE superstars ahead of Crown Jewel. Natalya Neidhart, Alexa Bliss, Mark Henry, Randy Orton, Ronda Rousey and more all made the same point following WWE’s decision to keep Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia despite the Saudi government admitting to killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi and restrictions against female performers.
