WWE‘s expanding international business has come into sharper focus following TKO Group Holdings’ release of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on February 25. The report revealed WWE’s total revenue for the year reached $1.709 billion, underscoring the company’s robust global footprint. Central to this growth is the WWE Royal Rumble, which generated $55 million from its 2026 Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia, maintaining parity with WWE’s prior Saudi Arabian shows.
Insights Into WWE’s Saudi Arabia Revenue
During an earnings call, TKO President Mark Shapiro provided clarity about WWE’s international earnings. As detailed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Shapiro confirmed that the 2026 Royal Rumble event, hosted in Riyadh, secured $55 million in revenue, matching the figures from previous Saudi Arabia Premium Live Events. This consistency surprised some analysts, who anticipated that the Royal Rumble’s prestige would command a higher payout given its established significance in WWE’s calendar.
Upcoming WrestleMania Expected to Attract Increased Funding
Looking ahead, WrestleMania 43 is slated to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2026, a decision WWE officially announced last September. Although official financial terms have yet to be disclosed, industry sources indicate the Saudi Public Investment Fund is prepared to offer a substantially larger sum—reportedly exceeding $100 million. If confirmed, this would mark a noteworthy increase in the scale of WWE’s Saudi-backed event revenue and signal a strategic escalation in the partnership.
Event Highlights from the 2026 Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble event had significant storyline implications, with Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan winning the men’s and women’s matches, respectively. Reigns earned the right to face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42, while Morgan is scheduled to challenge Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship during the two-night April Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia.
Market Impact and What to Expect Moving Forward
The steady $55 million revenue from the Royal Rumble confirms WWE’s strong foothold in the Saudi market, though it also highlights the company’s cautious valuation of marquee events like Royal Rumble within this partnership. The anticipated six-figure million payout for WrestleMania 43 reflects growing confidence and investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, potentially reshaping WWE’s revenue landscape with higher returns for future Saudi-hosted events.
“The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event brought in $55 million, the same revenue figure WWE has received for its previous Saudi Arabia PLEs.” ?Mark Shapiro, TKO President
