WWE Offers $3,000 Hazard Pay for Crown Jewel 2026 Trip as Crew Decline, Venue Shifts

WWE is reportedly offering crew members an extra $3,000, designated as hazard pay, to travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Crown Jewel 2026 Premium Live Event. Multiple sources within the company confirmed this offer to WrestleVotes, as reported by Fightful Select. Two WWE employees reportedly confirmed the specific $3,000 amount, lending solidity to the figure. However, this offer has not won everyone over, as several crew members have already decided not to make the trip to Saudi Arabia, even with the additional payment available. The report does not name these employees who declined, nor does it provide details on their individual reasons for refusal. It is also not clear if the $3,000 applies to every crew member making the journey. This extra pay comes amidst WWE's broader changes to its original Crown Jewel plans, which include a different venue for the show.

Among these changes is a significant alteration to the event's venue. Crown Jewel was initially slated for Riyadh Season Stadium at KAFD, which is an outdoor facility boasting a seating capacity of more than 70,000 spectators. WWE has since decided to move the event to a different location: The Venue, also known as ANB Arena. This newly designated site is an indoor arena capable of holding up to 25,000 spectators, representing a considerably smaller setting than originally planned. Safety concerns were cited in connection with this venue change. However, WWE has not publicly detailed the specific nature of these concerns in the information currently available.

For audiences tuning in, Crown Jewel 2026 will be broadcast live. In the United States, the Premium Live Event will air on ESPN Unlimited. International viewers will have access to the event via Netflix. The broadcast is scheduled to commence at 12 PM ET (9 AM PT).

What to watch: Crown Jewel 2026 airs live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, starting at 12 PM ET.

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