Saudi Arabia hosts its first WWE women’s wrestling match

Saudi Arabia hosts its first WWE women’s wrestling match

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Saudi Arabia has hosted its first women’s wrestling match, as it takes steps towards relaxing strict rules on entertainment.

The contest, in Riyadh, featured WWE stars Natalya and Lacey Evans.

The pair fought in body suits and a t-shirt on top, in line with requirements for visitors to “dress modestly.”

In recent years Saudi Arabia has attempted to shake off its image as one of the most repressive countries in the world for women.

The government lifted a long-standing ban on women driving in 2018 and made changes to the male guardianship system this August, allowing women to apply for passports and travel independently without permission from a man.

However, women continue to face numerous restrictions on their lives, and several women’s rights activists who campaigned for the changes have been detained and put on trial. Some of them alleged to have been tortured in prison.

WWE Crown Jewel wrestling ring inside the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

(Agencies)