How Were Bianca Belair & Co Allowed to Wear Bikinis in Viral Pic Despite King & Queen of the Ring Ban?

Fans were upset when the WWE announced a tie-up with Saudi Arabia’s entertainment authority for a PLE. This deal has been the subject of multiple controversies; one of the most talked-about is women’s attire. While the male stars get to perform as they do on American soil, the women have to be covered up more than usual. And this has been subject to multiple debates. However, ahead of this year’s King & Queen of the Ring, the WWE’s women’s roster, including Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, posted several pictures while on the sandy Oia Beach in Jeddah. But how were they able to do so?

Right off the bat in 2018, the WWE faced substantial backlash due to the Saudi Arabia deal. The region’s stringent laws and cultural norms restrict women’s rights and freedom. Due to local regulations, female WWE wrestlers were notably absent for the first few events. This exclusion starkly contrasted WWE’s progressive image in the United States, where female wrestlers are prominently featured and celebrated.

Responding to the criticism, WWE included female wrestlers in its Saudi events. 2019 saw its first-ever women’s match in Saudi Arabia, featuring Natalya and Lacey Evans. This historic match was a significant step forward. However, it highlighted the deeper ongoing challenges. Both performers had to wear conservative full-body outfits, which has continued to this day.

On SmackDown ahead of the PLE, the female talent performing were covered. However, the images that went viral were taken at a private beach, which is why they could get away with swimsuits. This would not be allowed on public beaches in Saudi Arabia.

The WWE and all personnel have been put up at the Oia Beach Resort for the few days they will stay in Saudi Arabia. This way, women can enjoy their time on the beach without fear of being banned from the PLE. The images featured many of the talents who were appearing on SmackDown and at the PLE. Despite everything fans were not happy with the overall booking of the show.

Many fans called out Nia Jax winning and Randy Orton losing

One of the show’s main highlights was the finals for the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. Nia Jax and Gunther were declared the winners, but fans were unhappy. Jax defeated Lyra Valkyria, who was a fan favourite to win. Many believed this would be a great launching platform for the Irish star. Jax is an established name in the company and did not need to rub.

While Orton lost to Gunther after a gruelling fight, his shoulders were clearly off the mat. Fans cried out on social media that this should not have been a clean win for The Ring General. Unfortunately, Jax and Gunther are the new Queen and King of the Ring 2024. What did you think of the images, and did you like the booking? Tell us in the comments.