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WWE wrestlers in Saudi Arabia for live matches

AFP Published April 18, 2014
John Cena celebrates his win during Wrestlemania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans. World-famous WWE wrestlers such as John Cena, Shaemus and champion Randy Orton are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital Riyadh. —Photo by AP.
John Cena celebrates his win during Wrestlemania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans. World-famous WWE wrestlers such as John Cena, Shaemus and champion Randy Orton are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital Riyadh. —Photo by AP.
WWE Superstar Randy Orton celebrates defeating CM Punk (not pictured) during WrestleMania XXVII at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on. World-famous WWE wrestlers such as John Cena, Shaemus and champion Randy Orton are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital Riyadh. — Photo by AP.
WWE Superstar Randy Orton celebrates defeating CM Punk (not pictured) during WrestleMania XXVII at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on. World-famous WWE wrestlers such as John Cena, Shaemus and champion Randy Orton are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital Riyadh. — Photo by AP.

RIYADH: Pro wrestlers with the WWE, including John Cena and former champion Randy Orton, are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital, Riyadh.

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. says it is the first time its franchise has held matches in the conservative Muslim kingdom, home to Islam's holiest sites.

WWE is wildly popular across the Middle East. WWE has an Arabic website and debuted live in the region in Egypt in 2012.

Matches also have been held in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates since.

Ticketmaster says on its website the matches in Saudi Arabia are ''for males only.''

The state-run Saudi Press Agency says 35 U.S. wrestlers in total from WWE are in the kingdom for the matches that start Thursday.

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