Gunther reportedly declined to participate in a scheduled match against Finn Balor at the WWE Crown Jewel premium live event in Saudi Arabia.
The decision to pull the bout from the Crown Jewel card came despite promotional materials featuring both wrestlers being produced for the event, according to WRKD Wrestling. While the match was originally planned, the Crown Jewel card ultimately featured only four advertised matches plus a post-match title change.
Despite promotional materials being produced, “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Gunther did not take place at Crown Jewel, as people within the company felt the match would be better suited with a further build and felt the four match card was enough for the event. pic.twitter.com/wUQPJJMgwe
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Internal disagreement over travel
Multiple WWE sources confirmed the story, which others internally also believed to be true, regarding the superstar’s decision to skip the trip, SI reported.
Multiple WWE sources confirmed the story, which others internally also believed to be true. One source said that the situation went back-and-forth and thus everything on television was going in that direction. There was also talk that Balor was not thrilled to go either but the belief internally was he would have gone if Gunther would have gone.
Multiple WWE sources, via SI
The situation was described as going back and forth
behind the scenes, which explained why WWE continued to run television angles building toward the confrontation even as the match’s status remained uncertain, Wrestleview reported.
Although some within the company felt the match would have benefited from a longer television build, PWMania noted that promotional posters for the encounter had already been spotted at the Riyadh Season Stadium before the event was moved to the ANB Arena.
According to WRKD Wrestling, some people within WWE felt the encounter would be better served by more television development and believed the existing four-match card was sufficient for the event. This occurred even though promotional materials for the bout had already been created. The match was never officially announced by the company, meaning its absence was not a change to what had been publicly advertised.
Gunther decided against going to Saudi Arabia for WWE Crown Jewel, which is why his planned match with "Demon" Finn Balor was never announced, Dave Meltzer reported on the Wrestling Observer website. Angles had already been shot for the match. One source said the situation "went… pic.twitter.com/HJrZVRJDnI
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The rivalry between the two had been building on SmackDown since August 2026. The two superstars later engaged in a promo exchange that escalated into a physical confrontation on the SmackDown episode preceding Crown Jewel.
Security concerns in Riyadh
The decision to opt out follows a period of heightened tension in the region. Reports stated that a missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport forced security warnings for United States citizens in the country.
While some reports suggested the match was delayed to allow for more development of the rivalry, SEScoops noted that the decision to not travel was the primary reason the match did not take place.
The decision by Gunther is notable because of the perception among many in the promotion that talent could no longer turn down Saudi Arabia appearances. Some believed that declining to attend could negatively impact a wrestler’s push or potentially lead to title changes for those holding championships.
The reason the originally planned Gunther Vs. Demon Finn Balor match was never announced for Crown Jewel on Saturday even though angles were shot for it, was because Gunther decided against going to Saudi Arabia. Multiple WWE sources confirmed the story, which others internally… pic.twitter.com/boSU4iI2XL
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While some production crew members had previously refused to go despite offers of hazard pay, Gunther was reportedly the first and only WWE talent to opt out of the event.
The ongoing situation in the region, including Houthis attacks, had turned the site of Crown Jewel into a warzone. Despite these tensions, WWE management made the decision to have wrestlers travel for the event, as canceling Crown Jewel would have complicated existing plans and potentially resulted in the loss of millions of dollars for the company.
Crown Jewel match results
Despite the absence of the Gunther vs. In the main event, Roman Reigns defeated Sami Zayn to win the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship. In a Last Man Standing grudge match, Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton after hitting him with a punt kick.
In the women’s division, Chelsea Green defeated Liv Morgan to win the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. Shortly after her victory, Tiffany Stratton used her Money in the Bank contract to cash in and capture the WWE Women’s Championship.
🚨 Gunther was not part of Crown Jewel on Saturday in Riyadh, and Dave Meltzer reports it was his own decision. The Wrestling Observer says Gunther chose not to travel to Saudi Arabia, so his planned match with “Demon” Finn Balor was never announced, despite angles already being… pic.twitter.com/PNVWSAQdCP
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WWE has two upcoming major events: Survivor Series WarGames on November 28 and Wrestlepalooza on December 12, Source 8 reported. Whether the rivalry between Finn Balor and Gunther will be settled at one of these events or through a major television match is undecided.