GCW Bloodsport booker Josh Barnett has addressed the possibility of bringing the unique pro wrestling/MMA hybrid show to Saudi Arabia.
Earlier in the month, WWE confirmed what many had expected ahead of time that WrestleMania 43 would be taking place in the Kingdom in 2027. While the move received a sizeable amount of backlash from fans, it has also cast into doubt what the future holds for the many independent shows and events that also descend on the Mania host city to take advantage of the footfall in the local area.
While it appears doubtful that many of the big independent shows will be making the trip overseas in 2027, Barnett has also been asked about the likelihood of his signature Bloodsport show, which now frequently features contracted WWE talent, being put on in the country.
While speaking with MuscleManMalcolm, The Warmaster said the following when asked about the possibility:
“Look, I know that there is a controversial environmental around Saudi Arabia and pro wrestling and the companies going back and forth from there. I honestly doesn’t participate in any of that because I see the arguments and they’re not hard for me to understand, but ultimately, my opinion is wherever I go and whatever I do, I always do things with sincerity and I believe that I am a force for bringing the world more together than apart. While it’s not my duty or even necessarily my interest to try and use pro wrestling or whatever avenue I may be associated with to create universal peace and harmony in the world, I’m not taking that on as my responsibility but what I can do is bring something that is sincere, authentic, and really — what it does with something, let’s say in this case Bloodsport or if I was to bring an MMA event there or whatever, there’s more about this that is understood by everyone than less. We’re more alike in this degree. My hope would be that by coming down there, let’s say in this case with Bloodsport, we could do something to motivate or bring an approach that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Maybe from there, in time, we might see things change in a manner that is more suitable to those that are against the way they do things down there. I also sit back and try to not be — I don’t filter history through the lens of modernity and I don’t filter necessarily every other place in the world through mine. I realize that everywhere is going to be different, sometimes in small degrees and sometimes in great degrees. My job is not to go out there and tell the world how to exist, my job is to be an upright standing person who lives by his ethics and does for those what he says he’ll do.”
Josh Barnett Bringing Bloodsport To London
On September 28, Bloodsport will make its debut in the UK with the event set to air live from the Electric Ballroom in Camden. With Barnett set to be in action along with former Olympian and AEW wrestler Antony Ogogo, the current line-up for the show is as follows:
- Josh Barnett vs. Oli Thompson
- Heddi Karaoui vs. Kevin Lloyd
- Ryan Davies vs. James Pharrell
- Lou Nixon vs. Chris Bungard
- Anthony Ogogo vs. Brett Semtex
- Catch wrestling match: John Hathaway vs. Taylor McCann
- Roy Wood of Snake Pit Wigan will receive a lifetime achievement award
H/t to Fightful for the use of transcription.
Featured image: GCW
