https://arab.news/w9mca
LAS VEGAS: WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh in 2027, it was announced on Friday.
It will be the first time the event, which has become a cultural phenomenon, will be staged outside North America.
The announcement was made by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and president of the n Boxing Federation, and World Wrestling Entertainment Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, also known by his ring name, Triple H. They were joined by several of wrestling’s biggest stars.
Alalshikh said he was delivering on a promise he made in 2018 to “change the future by doing big projects together” in .
“WrestleMania is already the biggest date on the wrestling calendar and this announcement marks a significant moment in our partnership with WWE,” he said during a press announcement at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Alalshikh is currently in Las Vegas to launch what he described as “the biggest fight in the history of boxing,” featuring undefeated champions Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and challenger Terence Crawford, which takes place on Saturday.
He added: “We deeply respect the legacy of WrestleMania and the global prestige it holds among wrestling fans around the world. As part of Riyadh Season in 2027, our vision is to elevate this iconic event to unprecedented heights and deliver a WrestleMania unlike anything the world has ever seen.”
WrestleMania is a week-long celebration that includes fan events, Friday Night SmackDown, Monday Night Raw, NXT and other community outreach initiatives. Fans from more than 60 countries attend each year.
Alalshikh said WWE had generated more than $1.5 billion for hosting cities over the last decade and attracted more than 200,000 people to Las Vegas in the past four months alone.
Triple H described Alalshikh as someone who was making a “massive impact on the world of sports and entertainment.” The former champion added that the passion Saudis had for WWE would benefit both countries.
“They (Alalshikh and GEA) have been phenomenal partners to WWE and we look forward to working with them to bring WrestleMania 43 to new heights,” he added.
WWE’s collaboration with GEA was established in 2018 and has already delivered record-breaking events in including Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, King & Queen of the Ring, Night of Champions, Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw.
Friday’s announcement follows WrestleMania 41, which took place in Las Vegas last April and became the most successful and highest-grossing event in WWE history. In January 2026, the 39th annual Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh and is set to be broadcast live on ESPN platforms in the US and Netflix globally.
Alalshikh and Triple H were joined on stage by retired wrestlers Shawn “The Heartbreak Kid” Michaels and Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway, along with current fighters Queen Charlotte Flair, and Bianca Belair. Also on stage were professional wrestlers Liv Morgan, Stephanie McMahon, Logan Pau and world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.