Regarding Natalya and Alexa Bliss being flown to Saudi Arabia for Super Showdown, ProWrestlingSheet.com noted that “WWE officials have been going back and forth with the Saudi General Sports Authority for the past few months trying to get a women’s match approved.”
Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com commented further on the situation:
“So this is the situation. At some point in the last couple of months — you know they’ve had female entertainers there [in Saudi Arabia] they’ve had female athletes there, they’ve had female circus performers there… there’s no reason that women shouldn’t be allowed to wrestle in Saudi Arabia, there’s nothing.”
“I know this is going to be annoying — god, is this going to be annoying going forward having McMahon and WWE trying to claim this breakthrough because the breakthrough’s already happened a long time ago, you know. Why they were’t on the last show or the first show I don’t know I guess it’s so they can build up this breakthrough storyling thing and that’s been part of the deal.”
“So I guess whatever it was WWE was expecting that this would be the show. That was the plan, but the plan has gone back and forth, I don’t know why and as of a few hours ago nobody knew.”
“I haven’t heard anything in several hours. I know in that point in time nobody knew. The women didn’t know. They’re there, I mean they’re hoping they’re gonna wrestle on the show. I think they’re gonna wrestle on the show, but nobody knows and it’s up to the Saudi government and god only knows… I don’t know if they’re messing with WWE for their jollies probably — I don’t know if they’re afraid of media backlash if they let it happen. I don’t know what’s going on I don’t like to try and figure them out.”
“I mean if it’s not now it’ll probably be a show afterwards, but they’re there ready to go. So that would be the match Alexa Bliss vs Natalya for whatever reason they picked those two. I have no idea, none whatsoever. I just know that they’re both there. They’ve landed, they’re out of the plane.”
