WWE rumours ahead of Crown Jewel: $3,000 hazard pay for crew, WrestleMania 43 dates, Stephanie Vaquer back and Rock tribute plans

WWE-related reports on November 6, 2026, ahead of Crown Jewel in Riyadh, say the company has offered hazard pay to some production crew travelling to Saudi Arabia, is poised to announce WrestleMania 43 dates, and saw Stephanie Vaquer return to in-ring action at a November 5 live event.

Reports compiled ahead of the Riyadh pay-per-view state that WWE offered $3,000 in hazard pay to production crew members travelling to Crown Jewel 2026, while the bonus was not extended to wrestlers or office staff; several crew members declined the trip amid security concerns for Riyadh’s airport and other parts of Saudi Arabia. TKO president Mark Shapiro has said that the danger of holding this event is very low.

Separate production plans for Crown Jewel, per PWInsider Select, indicate that a substantial portion of the broadcast will be engineered remotely from WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, with production and satellite trucks stationed there; on-site staff in Riyadh are reported to handle cameras, sound and equipment before transmitting feeds back to the United States for remote management. The report also says there will be fewer staff in Saudi Arabia than usual, though a sizeable production crew will remain at the venue.

Insiders speaking to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select say WWE could formally announce WrestleMania 43 dates while touring Riyadh for Crown Jewel, potentially during the PLE telecast on November 7. WrestleMania 43 is reported to be scheduled for April 10 and 11, 2027, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which would be the first time WrestleMania is held outside North America; earlier reports cited unusual ticketing issues as one reason for the delayed official announcement.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select also reports the creative team has discussed moving NXT’s Iron Survivor Challenge to the main roster, exploring a version for Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown. The Iron Survivor format, traditionally at NXT Deadline, features five competitors, timed entrances, and a points-based scoring system; there is no confirmation that WWE has approved or scheduled the stipulation for Raw or SmackDown.

Stephanie Vaquer returned to in-ring competition at a WWE house show in Portland, Maine, on November 5, teaming with IYO Sky and Lola Vice in a six-woman tag against Fatal Influence and recording a victory. Vaquer had been pulled from a match on the October 26 episode of Raw and had been absent from recent televised programming due to an illness; WWE has not announced when she will resume appearances on television, and her house-show appearance does not establish a date for a televised return.

WWE is reportedly preparing tributes to mark 30 years of The Rock in the company, with plans that include a commemorative championship belt, special merchandise and social media campaigns tied to Survivor Series 2026; the milestone traces back to Rocky Maivia’s WWF pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series 1996. The report specifies the planned celebrations and notes there is no confirmation that The Rock will appear on WWE programming as part of those tributes.

An official announcement on WrestleMania 43’s timing is expected around Crown Jewel 2026, with sources indicating the company may make the announcement during the Crown Jewel telecast on November 7; until WWE confirms, the April 10 and 11, 2027 dates for Riyadh remain reported but unconfirmed.