WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the WWE’s flagship event will be held outside the United States or Canada. The company plans to feature numerous wrestling legends and promises a card filled with major matches, aiming to create a historic spectacle for fans worldwide. This decision to relocate the Showcase of the Immortals has generated significant buzz within the wrestling community, especially amid ongoing competition between WWE and AEW.
AEW Faces New Challenges and Opportunities Amid WWE’s Global Expansion
For months, WWE and AEW have been locked in intense competition as the two primary American wrestling promotions battle for dominance. AEW President Tony Khan has worked to counter WWE’s efforts with his own strategies, maintaining his company’s footing despite WWE’s aggressive programming moves. WWE’s choice to stage WrestleMania 43 abroad may, paradoxically, offer AEW a chance to capitalize on the event’s absence from the American market.
Industry Voices Suggest AEW Could Seize a Counter-Programming Advantage
During an appearance on the podcast Busted Open, wrestling personality Bully Ray highlighted the potential for AEW to stage its own event aimed at the domestic audience during WrestleMania 43.
“This is your opportunity to put on an event for the United States where [you say], ‘Okay, wrestling fans, if they want to take their show all the way over there, fine. Here is what we’re doing.’ This would be a great opportunity for AEW to counter-program the biggest show on WWE’s calendar. And since the perception is the WWE is being greedy and they’re going after all the money, this is all about money, this decision to go to Saudi. What’s the opposite of going after the money and only being about money? The opposite is free,” he said. [H/T – Wrestling INC.]
Ray’s remarks underscore the idea that AEW could attract viewers by offering an accessible alternative during WrestleMania weekend, potentially challenging WWE’s international move by focusing on American fans.
Booker T Advises Caution Over Counter-Programming WrestleMania 43
Though the debate about counter-programming continues, former wrestling star Booker T shared his opinion on the matter via the Hall of Fame podcast, advising AEW against attempting to compete directly with WrestleMania 43.
“I wouldn’t even want to venture into doing something like that. Me personally. Just because I wouldn’t want to take that risk of losing and looking a certain way just because I was trying to do something because of… that’s just me. You might be shooting yourself in the foot,” he said.
Booker T’s warning highlights the risks involved for AEW if it tries to rival WWE’s biggest yearly event, suggesting such a move could damage AEW’s reputation if it fails to meet fan expectations.
The Ongoing Rivalry Between AEW and WWE Intensifies with New Strategies
The decision to host WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia adds a new layer to the intense rivalry between AEW and WWE. While WWE’s move amplifies its global reach, it simultaneously creates an opening for AEW to engage wrestling fans domestically in fresh ways. The contrasting approaches—WWE’s international showcase versus AEW’s potential domestic counter-programming—reflect the evolving dynamics of the professional wrestling industry.
As the date approaches, much attention will focus on whether Tony Khan and AEW will embrace the opportunity that WrestleMania 43’s location presents or choose to follow Booker T’s cautious advice. The outcome could significantly influence the balance of power between both wrestling companies and shape the future strategies of wrestling promotions worldwide.
