Former WWE executive reveals the secrets of Vince McMahon's deal with Saudi Arabia in 2018

× The partnership between WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, begun under Vince McMahon's regime, has been one of the most financially lucrative for both parties. Back in 2018, the 10-year-long strategic multi-platform partnership began between them. To better explain that condition, former WWE Co-President George Barrios has pulled back the curtain.

Ad Speaking with POST Wrestling to promote his new book, Sometimes Wrong But Never in Doubt, Barrios reflected on the negotiations surrounding the 2018 Crown Jewel event. The show was scheduled just weeks after the brutal m***er of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. This has also been discussed in his book.

George recalled a late-night meeting in which Vince McMahon addressed his executive team about this geopolitical issue. Mr. McMahon said it was the most difficult decision he would ever make and that he felt like he was betting his company.

Ultimately, they marched forward with it while the media was also demanding to pull back. Ad Trending "As we’re talking about doing this deal, Khashoggi is ki***d. And so that now creates this different context.

And internally, it becomes a difficult decision. I remember Vince looking Michelle and I in the eye, it was late one night, and saying, 'This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever made. I feel like we could be betting the company,'" said George Barrios.

Ad Oba shouldn't win King of the Ring? Check out why! Ad WWE later denounced Khashoggi's m***er as a 'heinous crime' but insisted they had to fulfill strict contractual obligations.

The 'gamble,' as Vince would say, paid off financially, which strengthened WWE's business model and kept its relations with Saudi relations intact. George Barrios opens up on Vince McMahon's real-life personality George Barrios spoke on the Two Man Power Trip Podcast about how he initially expected Vince McMahon to be a loud, extroverted figure. However, when he got to know him, he was very different, more of a quiet, introverted person.

Ad “Very different than me. The hardest part of working with Vince, and it’s not what people expect, is the communication. He’s just a quiet, introverted guy,” said George BarriosBarrios says this became a hard nut to crack about their work, as it was difficult to communicate.

George was the WWE CFO and also Co-President for three years alongside Mr. McMahon. Ad If you use quotes from this article, please credit POST Wrestling and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.

× Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Get all the hottest wrestling news FIRST by clicking here Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Angana Roy The partnership between WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, begun under Vince McMahon's regime, has been one of the most financially lucrative for both parties. Back in 2018, the 10-year-long strategic multi-platform partnership began between them.

To better explain that condition, former WWE Co-President George Barrios has pulled back the curtain. Ad Speaking with POST Wrestling to promote his new book, Sometimes Wrong But Never in Doubt, Barrios reflected on the negotiations surrounding the 2018 Crown Jewel event. The show was scheduled just weeks after the brutal m***er of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

This has also been discussed in his book. George recalled a late-night meeting in which Vince McMahon addressed his executive team about this geopolitical issue. Mr.

McMahon said it was the most difficult decision he would ever make and that he felt like he was betting his company. Ultimately, they marched forward with it while the media was also demanding to pull back. Ad Trending "As we’re talking about doing this deal, Khashoggi is ki***d.

And so that now creates this different context. And internally, it becomes a difficult decision. I remember Vince looking Michelle and I in the eye, it was late one night, and saying, 'This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever made.

I feel like we could be betting the company,'" said George Barrios. Ad Oba shouldn't win King of the Ring? Check out why!

Ad WWE later denounced Khashoggi's m***er as a 'heinous crime' but insisted they had to fulfill strict contractual obligations. The 'gamble,' as Vince would say, paid off financially, which strengthened WWE's business model and kept its relations with Saudi relations intact. George Barrios opens up on Vince McMahon's real-life personality George Barrios spoke on the Two Man Power Trip Podcast about how he initially expected Vince McMahon to be a loud, extroverted figure.

However, when he got to know him, he was very different, more of a quiet, introverted person. Ad “Very different than me. The hardest part of working with Vince, and it’s not what people expect, is the communication.

He’s just a quiet, introverted guy,” said George BarriosBarrios says this became a hard nut to crack about their work, as it was dif