Daniel Bryan's loss to WWE Champion AJ Styles in their title match on this week's SmackDown Live was not a punishment for snubbing the company's Crown Jewel event. 

Bryan (who was meant to have his title match at the pay per view) was always scheduled to lose to Styles, with the finish seen on SmackDown being the same one planned for the Saudi show, according to Bryan Alvarez.

According to Alvarez, Bryan refused to work Crown Jewel after learning more about the country's strict laws against homosexuals, and saw the company's decision to not include Sami Zayn at April's Greatest Royal Rumble as racist. 

Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, was not including at GRR, alongside all female talent in the company. 

The report from Wrestling Observer Live also states that Bryan requested to lose to The Miz at Super Show-Down, which would have seen the A-Lister facing Styles at Crown Jewel instead.

Bryan isn't the only Superstar not appearing, with John Cena refusing to work the show, and being replaced in the World Cup tournament by Bobby Lashley.

Crown Jewel will take place November 2 at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will be the second show in a ten-year long deal between the WWE and the nation.

The company has been widely criticized for continuing with the show, after the disappearance murder of journalist and known critic of the Saudi royal family, Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly on the orders of the Saudi government. 

In a statement from WWE, the company said how they did consider postponing or moving the show, but decided to uphold their contractual obligations.