All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is reportedly preparing for a major event in spring 2027, aiming to compete directly with WWE’s WrestleMania 43 Saudi, which was recently announced to take place in Saudi Arabia. This move reflects AEW’s ambitions to challenge the wrestling giant on its own turf and capitalize on the growing popularity of pro wrestling in the region.
The announcement of WrestleMania 43 Saudi by WWE took place just days ago during a live event, where Triple H and Turki Al-Sheikh, a Saudi Arabian official, revealed plans for the event scheduled for 2027. This high-profile wrestling event is setting the stage for an intense rivalry, encouraging AEW to devise a significant spectacle to match WWE’s anticipated show.
AEW’s Commitment to a Landmark Event in 2027
At the recent All Out media call, Tony Khan, AEW’s president based in Jacksonville, addressed questions about AEW’s plans for spring 2027, signaling strong interest in countering WWE’s WrestleMania 43 Saudi. He promised fans a large-scale event during that period, emphasizing AEW’s ongoing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, which is fueling the promotion’s growth and production capabilities.
“I have a lot of interest in it and I can promise we’re gonna run a huge event in the spring of 2027. I think spring 2027 is gonna be a great time for AEW. We’re still gonna be in the peak of this massive media deal that we’ve done with Warner Bros. Discovery. We’re gonna be delivering great shows… There’s gonna be a huge pay-per-view for sure, and one pay-per-view I can tell you is gonna be huge in spring of 2027 that has done huge things for us in AEW and I think some really historic things in pro-wrestling is AEW Revolution. We’ll have a huge Revolution… People ask about the spring of 2027, I can promise we’ll have a huge AEW Revolution and a lot of big plans for then and obviously very focused right now on 2025. That’s looking very far ahead but, there’s definitely some potential for us to do some big thing in the spring of 2027.”
Tony Khan, AEW President
This follows AEW’s tradition of delivering impactful events in the spring, notably Revolution, which in 2025 featured Jon Moxley in a title match alongside Christian Cage and Cope. Although that match received mixed reviews, it underscores AEW’s desire to set a benchmark in the competitive wrestling calendar.
Reflections on Chris Jericho’s Role and Future in AEW
Anthony “Tony” Khan also candidly shared his thoughts on Chris Jericho, an original AEW star and multiple-time world champion, who has been absent from television for several months and is expected to leave the company when his contract expires later this year. Khan expressed profound respect and gratitude for Jericho’s contributions to AEW and professional wrestling as a whole.
“I certainly could talk for a long time – I mentioned earlier being verbose – and I have to think Chris Jericho’s one of the greatest and most important people ever in AEW and has been a great two-time ROH World Champion. For somebody that’s won nine world championships in the sport of pro-wrestling, Chris Jericho is – it’s incredible to say – but has achieved so much in so many different promotions, and when you talk about him, you could talk about companies all over the world, but certainly we wouldn’t be as fortunate to be in this position – I would never be where I am in AEW without Chris Jericho, nor would we be in a position where I could have bought ROH, so I’m very grateful to Chris. I think the world of Chris, and I would love to have Chris back, and certainly he’s been a great, great star for us since the very beginning of AEW, and then here in ROH as well, as we talk about Death Before Dishonor and the great ROH events, Chris has come in and been involved in some great memorable matches. “I just got done talking about Bandido. I could talk for days about great Chris Jericho matches and memories. Last night we had a reunion of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, they’ve both had their great matches and altercations with Chris Jericho and he’s been a huge part of both of their careers and in the launch of AEW and where we are right now. “I have so much respect for Chris and I think the world of him. The first time I ever set foot in 2300 Arena was actually Chris’ last night in ECW and it was very important to me because I’d been a fan of Chris since I was a very, very young kid. Since I was 12 years old I would count Chris among my very favorite wrestlers for the past 30 years, and I’m very fortunate to work with him. So if and when the time presents itself, hopefully, would love to have Chris back, and I think the world of him, and Chris Jericho’s always in the highest of standing with me and with AEW and ROH, where he has been a great champion, a great ambassador, a great leader and a great friend to all of us, and Chris Jericho’s a huge part of our companies here. So thanks for asking.”
Tony Khan, AEW President
Khan’s remarks highlight Jericho’s impact not only inside AEW but also in Ring of Honor (ROH), which AEW now owns. Jericho’s legacy spans numerous promotions and championship reigns, making him one of the most influential figures in modern wrestling.
Recent Changes and Upcoming Priorities for AEW
Alongside plans for a significant event targeting WrestleMania 43 Saudi, AEW continues to navigate roster shifts. Kiera Hogan’s recent departure from AEW marks another change in the company’s talent landscape. Meanwhile, Khan remains focused on immediate goals, including AEW’s events in 2025, before turning full attention toward the 2027 opportunities.
The announced WrestleMania 43 Saudi Arabia event has stirred competition in the wrestling world, compelling AEW to explore new growth avenues. Heading into 2027, AEW’s planned large-scale event could redefine the wrestling landscape by providing a fresh, exciting alternative to WWE’s legacy show in the region, strengthening the promotion’s global presence and fan engagement in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
