WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Events in Saudi Arabia are in doubt, with Dave Meltzer reporting that the July show is unlikely to take place amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meltzer wrote in the daily update that two more Saudi Arabia shows are scheduled for 2026 in addition to WrestleMania 43 planned for Riyadh in 2027, but all are contingent on the situation in the region changing.
“There were two more shows scheduled this year plus Mania next year,” Meltzer wrote. “All are contingent on the situation changing as right now big events scheduled for the country are not happening, whether it be Formula 1, UFC, boxing or WWE. For WWE, it’s a significant loss of expected income.”
Bryan Alvarez of the F4Wonline.com previously reported that internal discussions have taken place within WWE regarding the status of the remaining Saudi Arabia shows. Alvarez was clear that no decision has been made and that he was not reporting any cancellation, only that discussions about the status of the events have occurred within the company.
WWE held the Royal Rumble in Riyadh on January 31 as the first of three Saudi Arabia Premium Live Events planned for 2026. Two additional events are tentatively scheduled for May and November. WrestleMania 43, which would be the first WrestleMania held outside of North America, is planned for Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The financial stakes are significant. Each Saudi Arabia show is worth approximately $55 million to WWE under the company’s partnership with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, with the Royal Rumble believed to be worth more than that figure. Should the remaining 2026 events and WrestleMania 43 not take place, WWE would face a substantial loss of expected revenue across those deals.
The partnership between WWE and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority has been in place since 2018 and runs through at least 2027. WWE has held 14 events in Saudi Arabia since the partnership began, including the Royal Rumble in January. The deal has been one of the most lucrative in the company’s history, providing a guaranteed revenue stream that has been factored into WWE’s financial projections under TKO Group Holdings.
WWE has not made any official statement regarding the status of the remaining Saudi Arabia shows.
