WWE‘s WrestleMania 43 is possibly set to mark a historic shift by being hosted outside North America for the first time, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a likely location. This development comes as WWE prepares to hold WrestleMania back in Las Vegas in 2026, making the 2027 event poised for a groundbreaking venue change.
Saudi Arabian Official Hints at Hosting a Major WWE Event
Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, has recently fueled speculation by indicating that a large-scale entertainment event will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027. While not explicitly naming WrestleMania 43, his message strongly suggests the involvement of WWE’s flagship show. In a post on X/Twitter, Al-Sheikh wrote,
“A huge entertainment event I signed a while ago in 2027, a big surprise I’ll announce soon… (Your happiness is our goal) 🇸🇦🔥❤️,”
signaling a significant forthcoming announcement.
When questioned if this event was WrestleMania, his response was playful but non-committal, replying only with emojis including an upside-down face and a cool face wearing sunglasses. These hints come as WWE has already confirmed that the 2026 Royal Rumble will take place in Riyadh, which adds credibility to the possibility of WrestleMania 43 taking place in Saudi Arabia.
Since 2019, WWE has held several premium live events in Saudi Arabia under a growing partnership, making the move to host their biggest event there plausible. This would represent a notable expansion beyond their traditional North American venues and align with WWE’s strategy to globalize its most prominent shows.
Unexpected WrestleMania 41 Match Cancellations Impacted WWE’s Lineup
Turning to past WrestleMania events, WrestleMania 41 featured a surprising outcome with Dominik Mysterio winning the Intercontinental Championship in a fatal four-way match. However, new details from Netflix’s WWE: Unreal docuseries revealed that Mysterio was initially scheduled to face Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny, a plan that was eventually canceled.
A whiteboard spotlighted in the series displayed several intended matchups, including the highly anticipated Bad Bunny vs. Dominik Mysterio bout. Despite the Grammy-winning artist‘s popularity, he did not appear at the event. Nevertheless, Dominik Mysterio remains the Intercontinental Champion and recently defended his title against AJ Styles at a SummerSlam premium live event, continuing to build his momentum within WWE.
Implications for WWE and the Global Wrestling Landscape
If WrestleMania 43 does indeed take place in Saudi Arabia, it would mark a significant milestone in WWE’s international expansion, breaking from decades of tradition focused on the United States and Canada. This could open new markets, enhance WWE’s global brand visibility, and create strategic partnerships with entertainment authorities like the one led by Turki Al-Sheikh.
The move would also reflect WWE’s ongoing commitment to hosting events in Saudi Arabia, following the momentum generated by the Riyadh Royal Rumble and other premium shows. Fans and industry observers alike will be eager for the official announcement, which will clarify the future direction of The Showcase of the Immortals beyond its North American roots.
