The Grandest Stage Goes Global: WrestleMania 43 Heads to Saudi Arabia

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced a landmark decision that will reshape the future of sports entertainment. For the first time in its storied history, WrestleMania, the company’s flagship annual extravaganza, will be staged outside North America. In 2027, the monumental WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia, marking a bold expansion of “The Grandest Stage of Them All” onto a truly global platform.

This historic move represents far more than another international stop on WWE’s calendar. It signifies a transformative chapter, redefining the event’s cultural and economic footprint worldwide.

WrestleMania Meets Riyadh Season

Saudi Arabia will not simply host WrestleMania; it will weave the event into the fabric of Riyadh Season, the Kingdom’s premier cultural, entertainment, and sporting festival. The partnership promises an electrifying backdrop for WWE’s grandest spectacle.

Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), underlined the significance of this milestone.

“WrestleMania is already the biggest date on the wrestling calendar, and this announcement marks a significant moment in our partnership with WWE,” said Alalshikh. “As part of Riyadh Season in 2027, our vision is to elevate this iconic event to unprecedented heights and deliver a WrestleMania unlike anything the world has ever seen.”

A Decade-Long Alliance: WWE and Saudi Arabia

The Riyadh announcement is the culmination of a steadily deepening relationship between WWE and Saudi Arabia. Since 2018, when the GEA signed a 10-year deal with WWE to host live events, the Kingdom has become a regular stop for major shows. In 2019, the agreement was extended through 2027, guaranteeing at least two “large-scale events” annually.

Saudi Arabia has since hosted high-profile WWE productions, including Crown Jewel, Night of Champions, SmackDown, and Monday Night Raw. The 2026 Royal Rumble is also confirmed for Riyadh, laying the groundwork for WrestleMania’s arrival the following year.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque praised the collaboration:

“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and GEA have made a massive impact on the world of sports and entertainment. They’ve been phenomenal partners, and we look forward to working with them to bring WrestleMania 43 to new heights.”

Strategic and Economic Significance

WrestleMania is far more than a wrestling event; it is an economic powerhouse. The most recent edition, WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, shattered company records, becoming the highest-grossing WWE event of all time. In the past decade alone, the spectacle has generated over US$1.5 billion in economic impact for host cities.

By bringing WrestleMania to Riyadh, WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holding,s are strategically aligning with a market eager to cement itself as a global entertainment hub. This move also mirrors TKO’s broader Middle Eastern initiatives, with the UFC previously hosting events in the region. Additionally, Alalshikh is collaborating with TKO and Sela on Zuffa Boxing, underscoring the expanding sports-entertainment synergy between the two sides.

Opportunity and Scrutiny

While the financial rewards of staging WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia are undeniable, the decision has sparked debate among WWE’s global fanbase. Critics argue that the move may be an example of “sportswashing,” with the Kingdom leveraging high-profile events to bolster its international image.

Many point out that WWE could have chosen cities across Europe or North America with proven infrastructure for hosting global events. Instead, doubling down on its Saudi partnership signals a deliberate, long-term strategy—one that prioritizes growth in a market eager to host landmark spectacles.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, WrestleMania 43 stands at the intersection of financial triumph and ethical debate. It will undoubtedly deliver historic economic impact and global exposure, but it will also be scrutinized closely by fans, analysts, and cultural commentators alike.

A Defining Moment

WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia is more than just a venue change it is a redefinition of scale, ambition, and influence. By stepping onto a global stage in an unprecedented way, WWE is embracing both unparalleled opportunity and heightened accountability.

Whether celebrated as a groundbreaking expansion or questioned for its implications, this moment will be remembered as a defining chapter in WrestleMania’s storied legacy.