First women’s match in Saudi Arabia set for WWE Crown Jewel
The fourth show in WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia will include the first women’s match in the country.
At a media event today, WWE announced that Natalya vs. Lacey Evans will take place at Crown Jewel this Thursday (October 31). The show is being held at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh and will air live on the WWE Network. The pre-show begins at noon Eastern time, with the main card starting an hour later.
Natalya tweeted about the announcement: “The world will be watching. I am so incredibly proud to represent our women’s division tomorrow night at #WWECrownJewel. It’s time to bring your best, Lacey.”
Natalya and Evans had been pictured among the talent that traveled to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel.
Natalya and Alexa Bliss went to Saudi Arabia in hopes of having a match at Super ShowDown this June, but the match ultimately wasn’t approved by the Saudi Arabian government.
WWE’s 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority began with the Greatest Royal Rumble in April 2018. After the show, the General Sports Authority apologized for an “indecent” advertisement that aired and included women in their wrestling gear.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.