WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, marking the first occasion that WWE’s premier annual wrestling event is held beyond North American borders. This WrestleMania will be a full-scale show, rather than a special or one-off event, making it a landmark moment in WWE’s global expansion strategy.
Reports from Pwinsider confirm that the contract for WrestleMania 43 has been finalized, and an official announcement is expected within a day. The announcement timing coincides with the big fight event between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, further highlighting WWE’s connection to major sporting spectacles.
Saudi Arabia’s Historic Bid Linked to Kingdom’s 300th Anniversary Celebrations
Saudi Arabia’s successful negotiation to host WrestleMania 43 coincides with the Kingdom‘s significant 300th anniversary, commemorating the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727. The country is reportedly investing heavily to stage a memorable and extravagant event featuring WWE’s top talent and a grand production scale, emphasizing the event’s importance to Saudi Arabia’s national celebrations.
Unlike previous special events such as The Greatest Royal Rumble, this will be a “true WrestleMania” event, showcasing the full WWE experience in a new international market.
Upcoming WWE Events Leading to WrestleMania 43
Before the Saudi Arabia event, WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18–19, 2026, at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, which will host the event for two consecutive years—a first in WrestleMania history. WWE has also confirmed that the 2026 Royal Rumble will take place in Saudi Arabia in January, further cementing the company’s growing partnership with the Kingdom.
Future WrestleManias beyond 2027 are planned for Indianapolis and New Orleans, although the location for the 2028 event remains undisclosed.
Industry Voices Address WWE Storylines and Wrestler Dynamics
In a recent episode of the Something To Wrestle With podcast, former WWE star JBL discussed Ronda Rousey’s remarks about her feud with Alexa Bliss. Rousey had called the rivalry “silly” and suggested Bliss was chosen mainly because of her strong merchandise sales.
JBL responded by emphasizing the business side of professional wrestling, stating:
She obviously doesn’t understand business. Who do you want to fight? You want to find a guy who can’t sell a t-shirt? Or do you want to find the number one merch guy? And I don’t give a damn who he is. I don’t care if he’s some guy on the street corner that can sell — if he can sell more merch than anybody else, put me in the ring with him. We’ll make money. I guarantee we will, better than some guy that can wrestle that nobody cares about.
— JBL, Former WWE Superstar
On the reasons behind Rousey’s comments, JBL remarked:
I think it’s just naivety is what it is. And no offense to her, it’s just — you know, you come from a business that everything is a meritocracy. And you want to just fight the number one, next person in line. And I get that. But that’s the difference between guys like say, the Paul brothers. Or guys like Conor McGregor or Floyd Mayweather, who are also great fighters but are also great marketers. And that’s why they make so much money.
— JBL, Former WWE Superstar
When discussing Peter Rosenberg’s view that Rousey’s comments were disrespectful, JBL agreed and elaborated:
I just — I don’t appreciate it. And I think that that’s the mindset that that Pete was coming from. You know, we got Kurt Angle, he beat the entire world. He made guys look like a million dollars. He could have tied every one of us in knots. Kurt — when people say Kurt was really good? He wasn’t really good, he was better than 8 billion people. He’s alien level. I mean, he’s freaking one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He put a stupid little cowboy hat on his head and was singing with Stone Cold. He made guys that like a million freaking dollars. You can put Kurt out there with Spike Dudley — who’s a great worker, by the way. I’m not paying on Spike, but he’s small. You put Kurt out there with anybody, and Kurt makes a match out of it. That’s how good Kurt was. That is a professional. And unfortunately, I guess Ronda had a different thought about the business, I don’t know.
— JBL, Former WWE Superstar
Nikki Bella reflects on Reuniting with AJ Lee and Preparing for Asuka Match
During an episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki Bella discussed her recent WWE RAW reunion with AJ Lee, and the significance of their shared history in women’s wrestling. Nikki described their backstage conversation after her singles match against Asuka, underscoring the impact both women had on the Divas Championship era and the fans’ enthusiasm for their return.
On their RAW reunion, Nikki said:
It was great, AJ is back. She and I were chatting for a bit backstage and we were both just saying how crazy it is [that] you’re here when I’m back. I’m like, ‘No, I’m so happy you’re back.’ It was great talking to her. I actually hope we get a moment because when you think about it — everyone’s talking about it on the internet and it is true. I mean, we were so much of each other’s most important stories at that time with the Diva’s Championship before she had left, even with you and Paige. It was so much about us. We have to have a moment. I feel that even this Monday we should have a moment backstage. I’m hoping at some point we have that interaction because I know the fans would love it.
— Nikki Bella, WWE Superstar
Discussing her preparation for the match against Asuka, Nikki shared the extensive work she put into understanding her opponent, including reviewing Asuka’s entire match history during travel:
I was excited because Asuka is obviously one of the best wrestlers in the world for women. We never have had a match, but her and I were the final two of the first women’s Royal Rumble. I thought about how long ago that was, like, oh my gosh. So, my whole Sunday traveling to Milwaukee, I think I watched every Asuka match in history. It was great. I wanted to know all the little things about her, how she’s working right now. I wanted to see everything. I literally have caught like every single Asuka match ever, that was my full Sunday of travel.
— Nikki Bella, WWE Superstar
She also noted the support she received from WWE trainers and peers:
With this comeback, I want to continue to grow and show that growth. I just wanted to put some other things under my belt. Jason Jordan, who was our producer, he was so incredible. I also immediately texted Nattie and TJ both separately. I was like, okay, I don’t have as much preparation as I would want for this match because it’s Asuka and I want to perform at the top level. I just wanted to be so prepared in how I can prepare. What are the things I can control in this moment? I can control ideas I want to do for myself, I can have things in my pocket, I can reach out to the people that are most knowledgeable that can help me prep for this match in a day and a half. Gathering good ideas, doing as much physically. I do preparation all the time, I train every week, I have an incredible trainer that I’ve been working with for a few months.
— Nikki Bella, WWE Superstar
On how she felt after the match against Asuka, Nikki added:
I do have to say that after the match, I just felt good. I feel like every week, I’m growing, I’m getting better, I’m getting more comfortable. I received a lot of compliments after and some great feedback on like, you now know who you are, so go in there with that Nikki Bella confidence. You are back. That was the first time I ever got to work any of the Japanese wrestlers.
— Nikki Bella, WWE Superstar
WWE’s Ongoing Developments and Industry News
Beyond WrestleMania announcements, WWE continues to make various moves within the industry. Recent news includes revelations from MVP on why WWE never placed a world title on him and his reasons for switching to AEW. Meanwhile, WWE WrestlePalooza is scheduled for a special theater airing on September 20 via Fandango, targeting fans eager for unique viewing experiences.
Paramount is reportedly preparing a bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, which could have significant implications for WWE, AEW, and the broader wrestling landscape. Meanwhile, backstage updates on WrestleMania 43 indicate a substantial budget and several anticipated returns for the Saudi Arabia event, promising an unforgettable show.
Further, former NXT talent featured in recent WWE cuts have revealed that they were quickly contacted by top promotions after their release and are now earning more money, highlighting the dynamic nature of wrestler career paths.
Other trending topics include AJ Styles’ unexpected deviation from the WWE script during a RAW commercial break with a pipebomb promo on Triple H, confirmed AJ Lee WWE return matches, and reports of WWE talents facing disciplinary actions for reposting controversial photos of Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.
Significance of WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia and WWE’s International Expansion
Hosting WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia represents a pivotal moment for WWE as it broadens its footprint into the Middle East, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s initiative to boost its international entertainment profile. The event’s placement as part of the Kingdom’s 300th anniversary celebrations adds cultural and historical significance, elevating WWE beyond purely a wrestling promotion to a participant in global entertainment and national festivities.
This move not only strengthens WWE’s ongoing partnership with Saudi Arabia but also signals the company’s confidence in international markets as future growth areas. The presence of major WWE events like the 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia points to a long-term collaboration focused on expanding wrestling’s global accessibility and appeal.
As WrestleMania 43 approaches in 2027, expectations are high for the event to deliver a large-scale spectacle that matches the grandeur WWE fans associate with WrestleMania, while showcasing the unique cultural backdrop of Saudi Arabia, thereby setting a new precedent for future international events in the sport-entertainment industry.
