WWE’s debut at the brand new Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, Ontario, Canada on February 9th, 2018 has been cancelled after new regulations banning all forms of combat sports were enacted by the Edmonton City Council following the death of former mixed martial arts star turned boxer Tim Hague, who fought at 4 UFC pay-per-view events during his career.

There has been criticism of the Edmonton City Council since the death of Hague, as the UFC held an event in September in the city, with people believing that the Edmonton City Council waited until after that event instead of immediately issuing the ban. The announcement made by the city council on December 8th stated that they were placing a one-year moratorium on new permits or licenses for anything that fell under the umbrella of combat sports, standing until December 8th, 2018.

A statement from the Rogers Place arena regarding the cancellation of the event reads, “Following new guidelines established by Edmonton’s city council, WWE’s event on Friday, February 9 at Rogers Place has been postponed. The WWE is working closely with the local Commission, and hope to return with their sports entertainment events to Edmonton in the near future.”