Jason Momoa brings children to ‘Street Fighter’ premiere in LA

Nearly nine years have passed since WWE last held a show in Abu Dhabi, with three-time champion Cody Rhodes expressing his desire for the wrestling company to return. In an interview with The National, Rhodes stated, "I love Abu Dhabi. I only get to stop in for a brief moment usually, but I feel like it’s been a minute because WWE has been over in the Middle East, but we haven’t really hit Abu Dhabi.

And we should." The last event in the UAE capital occurred in December 2017, featuring Roman Reigns at Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium. Since then, WWE has expanded its presence in Saudi Arabia, with the next major event, Crown Jewel, scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh, where Reigns is set to face Sami Zayn.

During a recent appearance alongside American comedian Andrew Schulz, co-star of the new Street Fighter film, Rhodes elaborated on his experience filming in Abu Dhabi. Schulz, who has performed at the Etihad Arena twice, remarked, "Abu Dhabi’s great. Some of the best comedy audiences in the world." In the film, Rhodes portrays US Air Force fighter Guile, while Schulz takes on the role of Dan Hibiki.

The movie, directed by Kitao Sakurai, is based on Capcom’s fighting-game series, set in 1993 and following Ryu and Ken Masters as they embark on a World Warrior Tournament.

Rhodes noted the challenge of performing without an audience, stating, "We’re not getting a big pop or a big laugh. So I think in some ways it’s like training yourself out of waiting for the reaction." He found a familiar environment during a tournament scene with hundreds of extras, drawing on his wrestling showmanship. Rhodes even challenged Schulz to an arm-wrestling contest.

Director Sakurai and Capcom representatives were present on set, offering feedback to the wrestlers, which helped them gauge the effectiveness of their interpretation of Guile and maintain fidelity to the character.

The film also allowed for creative experimentation, particularly when Rhodes and Schulz suggested humorous elements to the action. Inspired by aerial performers suspended above the set, the duo proposed an upside-down stunt during a conversation involving Guile, which was eventually incorporated into the final cut. Schulz explained, "They were very willing to just hear our absurd ideas."

In addition to his acting role, Rhodes brought a unique perspective to the production, as he was working with a different creative team than he had in his comedy career. Rhodes commented, "It was very cool to be in something where you trust the creators and you just go, ‘OK, for the first time in my career, I completely submit to what your creative is, and I’m going to try to execute that to the best of my ability.'"

The Street Fighter film features fellow professional wrestlers Roman Reigns and Hirooki Goto, with WWE supporting the adaptation through promotional efforts, including Rhodes wearing Guile-inspired ring gear during his SummerSlam entrance in August.