Is WWE Upset With Gunther For Skipping Crown Jewel

Published: November 11, 2026 by Monika Thapa

Gunther vs. Finn Bálor was one of the matches the WWE Universe was looking forward to at Crown Jewel. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

This year’s Crown Jewel PLE from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, only featured four matches: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton (Last Man Standing match), Penta and Je’Von Evans vs. The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Austin Theory (World Tag Team Championship match), Liv Morgan vs. Chelsea Green (Women’s Crown Jewel Match), and Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn (Men’s Crown Jewel match).

WWE had been building the Gunther vs. Sami Zayn match for a long time. According to reports, this match was supposed to be the last bout to be added to Crown Jewel‘s match card. WWE had even locally advertised promotional materials for the match ahead of the PLE.

Reports say that the match didn’t take place at WWE Crown Jewel because Gunther refused to travel to Saudi Arabia due to safety concerns. WWE was forced to scrap the match from the PLE card. Bálor was also reportedly hesitant to travel to Saudi Arabia given the current warlike situation in the country, but wouldn’t have refused to attend the event and wrestle if the Career Killer hadn’t refused to go.

Trick Williams Pins Gunther In Dark Match Following WWE Raw

Following this week’s Monday Night Raw at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, Gunther fought Trick Williams in a one-on-one match. The bout ended in a loss for The Ring General after he ate a nasty spin kick followed by a Book End.

The Austrian pro wrestler has never lost a dark match in WWE before this, and fans are speculating that this might be connected to the fact that he refused to go to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel.

Generally, babyfaces do go over heels at live shows, but the timing of Gunther’s loss to Trick Williams has led fans to believe that it might be far from just a coincidence. Moreover, WWE booking a clean loss for someone with a status like Gunther is a big deal.

Normally, if a bigger superstar is booked to lose, it’ll either be via distraction or disqualification. Gunther retired legends like John Cena, Goldberg, and AJ Styles last year, so losing to Trick Williams (who is relatively new on the main roster) didn’t sit right with many fans.

While WWE didn’t force superstars to go to Saudi Arabia, they were encouraged to do so. Even megastars like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes showed up at the event. Hence, Gunther refusing a trip to Saudi Arabia might have upset higher-ups, resulting in his loss to Trick Williams.

The upcoming episodes of Friday Night SmackDown will be crucial for Gunther, as fans will find out whether his loss to Trick was just a coincidence or a punishment for skipping Crown Jewel.