KSAsportz report
RIYADH — In a groundbreaking development, Riyadh Season is set to host WrestleMania 43 in 2027, marking the first time this iconic wrestling event will be held outside of North America. This landmark decision reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitious efforts to bolster its international entertainment profile.
On Friday, WWE, a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, confirmed the partnership with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) to bring this event to the Kingdom. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s role in the global entertainment landscape.
In a statement, GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “WrestleMania is already the biggest date on the wrestling calendar, and this announcement marks a significant moment in our collaboration with WWE. Our vision is to elevate this iconic event to unprecedented heights and deliver a WrestleMania unlike anything the world has ever seen.”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque praised the collaboration, noting, “Turki Alalshikh and GEA have made a massive impact on the world of sports and entertainment. They have been phenomenal partners to WWE, and we look forward to bringing WrestleMania 43 to new heights.”
This announcement underscores the deepening ties between WWE and Saudi Arabia, dating back to 2018, which have resulted in record-breaking events such as Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, King & Queen of the Ring, and Night of Champions.
Additionally, Riyadh will host the 39th annual Royal Rumble this January, which will be broadcast live on ESPN in the United States and on Netflix globally.
WrestleMania features a week-long celebration that includes fan festivals, Friday Night SmackDown, Monday Night Raw, NXT, and community outreach initiatives, attracting fans from over 60 countries and generating over $1.5 billion in economic impact for host cities over the past decade.
The announcement follows the record-breaking WrestleMania 41, held in Las Vegas earlier this year, which became the most successful and highest-grossing event in WWE history, drawing more than 150,000 fans over the weekend.