CM Punk and Kevin Owens’ absence from WWE Crown Jewel has prompted speculation, but Dave Meltzer says neither wrestler refused to travel to Saudi Arabia.

Questions arose after WWE announced that Punk and Owens would face off on the November 6 episode of SmackDown, rather than at Crown Jewel in Riyadh on November 7.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer dismissed suggestions that their match had been placed on television because they had declined to make the trip.

“There are stories around that some guys refused to go, and nobody refused to go. They think because the Punk match with Owens is on SmackDown that those two guys refused to go, and that is absolutely not true.”

According to Meltzer, the original Crown Jewel plans did not include the match. He said the only change involved replacing a planned six-man contest with a tag team title match.

“I got the original card. The only change is that the tag team title match was gonna be a six-man with Oba, Penta and Je’Von Evans against Bron Breakker, Austin Theory and Bronson Reed. They decided to make it a tag match.”

Meltzer suggested that the original match could still happen further down the line, although he stressed that this was speculation.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Oba and Bronson Reed end up interfering in that tag title match to set up the trios match at a point in the future. I’m not saying for sure that’ll happen.

“But that is the only change to the card from the card that was originally made a long time ago. So this was always the deal.”

While rejecting the claims about Punk and Owens, Meltzer acknowledged that some members of the roster were reluctant to travel.

“Now, if you have read that there’s talent that doesn’t want to go, of course there is, and that’s obviously accurate. I’ve heard from people too, and Sean (Ross) Sapp reported that the people they’ve talked to say they don’t want to go. Of course they don’t.”

He later added:

“Look, Roman’s going, and if Roman’s going, ain’t nobody saying no.”

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer also reported that neither star had originally been booked for Crown Jewel.

“There are no reports of any WWE talent pulling out or if there was even the option given. One top star in the company told us that, to put it in the nicest of terms, declining to go is something very much not being encouraged.

“There had been Internet theories on one or two stars speculated on not wanting to go based on them not being on the card, but we were told that they were not booked on the card and that nobody has declined to go.”

Separately, Fightful Select reported on Saturday that several WWE wrestlers had requested not to be booked for Crown Jewel because of safety concerns. Some talent already scheduled for the event had reportedly raised similar worries, with WWE officials assuring them that safety precautions would be a priority.

That report concerned requests over bookings and travel concerns, while Meltzer’s comments specifically disputed claims that Punk and Owens’ SmackDown match resulted from either man refusing to attend.

Punk and Owens will meet in a No Holds Barred match at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The contest will be taped on Monday, November 2, before airing on Friday, November 6.

Punk is also scheduled to challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship on Wednesday, when NXT goes head-to-head with AEW Blood & Guts.

Would you have preferred to see Punk and Owens face off at Crown Jewel, or are you pleased the match is airing on SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comments.