WrestleMania travels abroad for the first time to Saudi Arabia.
The company announced Friday that its signature show will be held in Saudi Arabia as part of its Riyadh season, for Wrestlemania 43 in 2027, its first departure from North America.
This is the second major WWE premium live event in Saudi Arabia as the Royal Rumble will be held in the capital in January.
WWE travels to Saudi Arabia every year. Zuffa LLC by Getty Images
According to Wrestlenomics, WWE has been holding PLES in the country because it agreed to a 10-year contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, worth about $50 million and a performance of about $50 million, according to Wrestlenomics, reaching $100 million a year. It held a championship night there in June.
Mark Shapiro, chief operating officer of WWE parent company TKO, said at JPMorgan’s Global Technology Media and Communications Conference in May that TKO will expand its ties with Saudi Arabia within the next 6 to 12 months.
The company announced its own boxing promotion, released in March by UFC CEO Dana White, Saudi Arabian boxing financier Turki Alalshikh and WWE President Nick Khan.
John Cena defeated the American wrestler CM Punk fight in the undisputed WWE Championship at Riyadh on June 28, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
It was the main promotion of the big knockout round Saturday between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, participating in the undisputed super middleweight title.
TKO will now bring its major professional wrestling activities to Saudi Arabia. Wrestlemania was held in 2025 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and plans to return there next year after the New Orleans hub.
Turki Alalshikh and Triple-H announced that WWE will bring WrestleMania overseas. WWE/YouTube
The performance in Saudi Arabia has undoubtedly opened the door for more international wrestling sports in the future.