Women WWE stars grace billboards in Saudi Arabia for first time

Women fighters from the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) franchise currently feature on billboards in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever.

The adverts were promoting the WWE Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event in Jeddah on 19 February.

"These landmark billboards... present a major cultural milestone in Saudi Arabia," WWE said on Friday.

The posters feature Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famer Lita.

The adverts present a head-and-shoulder profile of the women - without the sparing outfits wrestlers of all genders wear while in the ring.

Women in Saudi Arabia must wear modest attire while out in public, though the application of the rules varies across the country.

Jeddah is known as a relatively liberal city, with more relaxed dress codes.

WWE held its Crown Jewel tournament in the Saudi capital Riyadh in October. The event included several female wrestlers.

Human rights groups have condemned sports event organisers for hosting events in the Gulf kingdom because of its damning rights abuse record.