WWE clarifies CM Punk and Kevin Owens absence from Crown Jewel

Journalist Dave Meltzer has dismissed rumors that CM Punk and Kevin Owens refused to travel to Saudi Arabia for the WWE Crown Jewel event. Speculation had arisen after the two were scheduled for a No Holds Barred match on the November 6 episode of SmackDown, just one day before the premium live event in Riyadh.

Meltzer clarified that the match was never intended for the Crown Jewel card and that neither superstar declined the trip. He noted that while some talent may have expressed concerns regarding travel to the region, the decision to feature the Punk vs. Owens bout on SmackDown was a creative choice rather than a refusal to participate in the international event.

Other updates from the recent SmackDown tapings in Brooklyn include Shinsuke Nakamura defeating Tama Tonga and a chaotic Women’s Tag Team Championship match involving B-Fab, Michin, Fatal Influence, Charlotte Flair, and Bayley. Additionally, Kevin Owens secured a victory over CM Punk in their No Holds Barred match using a steel chain.