The controversy surrounding WWE’s trip to Saudi Arabia continues. WWE will host their “Crown Jewel” event from the country next month. The show is part of a mega-10-year deal with the country to host events there. However, with the story of a journalist being captured and killed in Saudi Arabia sweeping the nation, WWE is being urged to pull out.

As it stands, they will do no such thing. Multiple reports have surfaced indicating that several WWE stars are uncomfortable making the overseas trip. According to a report from Wrestling Observer Radio‘s Dave Meltzer, that feeling extends to the production staff as well.

Meltzer noted that most people in the company don’t want to go through with the show. However, those in management want to continue forward out of fear that reluctance to will affect the company’s stock price. One reason WWE’s stock is so high is due to the fact that they’re expecting $450 million over the next decade from Saudi Arabia.

As of this writing, WWE is planning to go forward with “Crown Jewel.”

What do you think about the WWE production staff reportedly being reluctant to go to Saudi Arabia?

Terry Funk knows a thing or two about retiring and then making a comeback.

The legendary wrestler had more than a few exits and subsequent returns to the ring over the course of his career.

Funk, 74, was a big part of Paul Heyman’s initial push with ECW and even appeared on the company’s first pay-per-view. Since that time, Funk has retired on several occasions only to get drawn back into the ring again and again.

“Paul Heyman is a wonderful manipulator, and I mean that in a good way,” Funk told The Ringer about his comeback from retirement. “He’s probably the greatest one around at this point in time. He was a pain in Vince [McMahon]’s side and Vince finally hired him, and I truly believe Paul Heyman is doing a great deal up there [in WWE] that no one knows about.

“They knew they were gonna have to keep increasing the salary, and I loved what I was doing. Whenever I was up there [in ECW], we were pounding out new ground.”

In November, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will make his first in ring appearance in eight years after he called it a career back in 2010.

Michaels has made sporadic appearances in WWE over the years but he hasn’t wrestled in a full match since announcing his retirement.

That hiatus will come to an end in November when Michaels teams up with his old friend Triple H for a tag team match against the Undertaker and Kane at the WWE’s upcoming ‘Crown Jewel’ event in Saudi Arabia.

Funk points to two key elements that likely brought Michaels back to the ring and that likely plays a huge part in any professional wrestler choosing to return after retirement.

“I’m sure he has plenty of money, but money changes constantly. You love the business, but you love it a whole bunch more if you’re getting more money,” Funk said. “I’m the same way. I think we all are.

“I don’t think I’m talking about some guy that’s just money-hungry. It’s his love for the business and the money.”

As far as Michaels somehow tarnishing his legacy by making a return for this match, Funk downplays that possibility because it’s a different animal coming back for pro wrestling versus any sport where athletes just can’t seem to stay away after retirement.

Ultimately, Funk says Michaels is making his own choices and no one can begrudge him for that decision.

“Truthfully, it’s really not a risk at all,” Funk said about Michaels coming back. “Of course, that depends on what level you come back at. Are you going to come back at a high position of a main-eventer? If Shawn Michaels came to the ring and was in the opening match and lost, I don’t think he’d have much longevity. It’s [dependent on] the manipulation of his character after he is there.

“Shawn will definitely do business. Shawn is controlling his destiny and can control it at any time.”

Charlotte Flair recently spoke to the New York Post. The interview covered a variety of topics including WWE’s Crown Jewel and Evolution events.

When asked about the Crown Jewel event Charlotte stated that “We have Evolution to think about, so I’m not really even thinking about the boys traveling overseas because I’m like, ‘I got the first-ever women’s pay-per-view match coming up.‘” It has been well documented that the female talent are not permitted to perform in Saudi Arabia.

Charlotte was also asked about the concussion injury sustained by Liv Morgan on WWE RAW. This occurred following an accidental run of ‘Yes’ kicks from Brie Bella. Flair reportedly stated that “she hadn’t heard the criticism of Brie Bella. Charlotte also added that she “is glad Morgan is OK and said “accidents happen.‘”

Charlotte also discussed the difficultly of playing a ‘babyface’ role in her feud against Becky Lynch. Flair said “because I think the go-to for me [as a heel] is easy that I always just go, ‘People just assume it’s because of my dad and that’s very easy to play off of.” Flair embellished on this by saying “to me that’s the easy way out, but since I’ve come to SmackDown and being in this new role, it’s having to show so many different layers and working from underneath as the bigger guy has been a great opportunity for me to work on things.”

You can read the full interview with the Post here