WWE WrestleMania 43 is reportedly scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, according to Saudi Arabian advisor Turki Alalshikh. This marks the first time the flagship WWE event will be held outside North America, signaling a major shift in the company’s global event strategy.
In a Snapchat video, Alalshikh declared,
We are announcing that for the first time, WrestleMania will take place outside America. WrestleMania will be coming to Saudi Arabia in 2027.
However, WWE has yet to officially confirm this location for WrestleMania 43.
Alalshikh had earlier revealed in May 2024 plans to bring both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia eventually, with the 2026 Royal Rumble already scheduled to take place in the kingdom. Historically, WrestleMania has been held only in the United States and once in Canada, but never beyond North American borders.
Since March 2018, WWE and Saudi Arabia have maintained a ten-year partnership, resulting in multiple annual WWE events hosted within the country, further expanding WWE’s international presence.
AJ Styles Surprises Fans with Unfiltered Promo on WWE RAW
On the latest episode of WWE RAW, AJ Styles delivered a startling in-character promo during a commercial break that WWE did not air on the US Netflix release of the show. His comments suggested tensions backstage and implied that someone within WWE does not want him to succeed, adding a layer of intrigue and discomfort among fans.
Styles hinted at feeling isolated, saying he no longer has anyone watching his back, which contrasted with his usual confident persona. This unscripted, or “shoot,” promo took many by surprise due to its candid tone and tone of frustration from Styles.
Bully Ray, speaking on the Busted Open Radio podcast, reflected on the implications of Styles’ remarks:
I don’t know [who he’s talking about], but I’m shocked that AJ Styles went into business for himself and started shooting on the microphone. That normally doesn’t happen, but he did it last night, ’cause that was a straight up shoot, brother. Outside of the box, do you think this has something to do with TNA? There was an aspect of what AJ said that I did not like. AJ insinuated that he can’t win around here because he’s got nobody protecting him and nobody’s got his back. AJ is an uber babyface, white meat babyface, you don’t need anybody, you win on your own.
—Bully Ray
Regarding why WWE chose to cut the promo from the televised and Netflix versions, Bully Ray added,
He cut the promo on commercial break, obviously WWE didn’t want it on TV, they wanted it on social media. What they wanted to happen is exactly what we’re doing right now, we’re speculating. Hmm, who could he be talking about, and that’s what they want.
—Bully Ray
NXT Television Ratings Show Minor Dip Amidst WWE Spotlight
The September 9th episode of WWE NXT, aired on The CW Network, attracted 654,000 viewers, a slight decline from the 655,000 who watched the previous week. The key demographic of adults aged 18–49 maintained a consistent rating of 0.14, matching the week before.
This data reflects the steady but modest viewership trend for NXT while WWE continues to focus on major events and storylines that dominate the wrestling world’s attention.
The Broader Impact of These Developments on the Wrestling Industry
WWE’s expansion of WrestleMania into Saudi Arabia underscores the company’s strategy to grow its international footprint significantly, which may influence future venues and partnerships. The move challenges traditional fans’ expectations by shifting major events outside North America for the first time.
Meanwhile, AJ Styles’ RAW shoot promo indicates potential unrest or storyline complexities backstage, contributing to tension both on screen and possibly behind the scenes. Fans and insiders are left questioning the target and implications of his remarks, deepening the drama within WWE programming.
WWE’s decision to withhold Styles’ promo from official streams suggests a calculated approach to using controversy to generate buzz and social media speculation, which might impact how storylines evolve going forward.
As for NXT, the stable rating numbers show the brand’s continued role as WWE’s developmental showcase, even if it struggles to compete with flagship shows and live events that hold more sway over the fanbase.
