In what appears to be a historic development for WWE, an accidentally distributed press release has indicated that the company’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania, will be held outside of North America for the first time ever. According to the release, which was quickly retracted, WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The news broke earlier today after a press release, written in Arabic, was sent out prematurely. The document explicitly stated that the 2027 edition of the “Showcase of the Immortals” would be hosted in Saudi Arabia. While the official release was pulled, the information is legitimate, with a formal public announcement from WWE expected to be made in the near future.
For its first 42 iterations, WWE’s flagship event has been held exclusively in the United States and Canada. This move represents a major step in the company’s global expansion and the culmination of a deep and financially significant partnership with the Kingdom.
The relationship between WWE and Saudi Arabia began in 2018, when the two parties entered into a 10-year strategic partnership as part of “Vision 2030,” Saudi Arabia’s social and economic reform program. The agreement called for WWE to produce two large-scale premium live events in the country each year.
This deal has been incredibly lucrative for WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings. According to financial reports and analysis from outlets like Wrestlenomics, WWE receives approximately $50 million from the Saudi government for each event held in the country. This totals around $100 million in revenue per year, a figure that, in 2018, accounted for more than 10% of WWE’s total annual revenue. The revenue from a single Saudi event often surpasses the live gate of a WrestleMania.
The business ties between the two entities extend beyond just WWE. TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded company formed by the merger of WWE and UFC under Endeavor, has also entered into partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Earlier this year, it was announced that TKO would be a managing partner in a new boxing league funded by the PIF, an endeavor aimed at reshaping the global boxing landscape.
The PIF, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has become a major player in global sports and entertainment in recent years. In addition to its partnership with TKO, the PIF is the financial backing behind the LIV Golf league and is the majority owner of the Premier League football club Newcastle United. These investments are part of a broader strategy to diversify the Saudi economy and increase its global influence.
Bringing WrestleMania, the crown jewel of the WWE calendar, to Saudi Arabia would be the most significant step yet in this multi-billion dollar partnership. It represents a new level of commitment between TKO and the Kingdom and a major moment in the globalization of WWE’s premier brand.
