In a move that might just make wrestling history, Saudi Arabia is not just dipping its toes but potentially diving headfirst into the deep end of WWE’s event pool. With the ink still drying on a decade-long deal with WWE, the sands of the Middle East might soon sparkle with the grandeur of not one, but two of wrestling’s most storied spectacles: the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.
Mike Coppinger of ESPN threw down the gauntlet on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that Turki Alalshikh, the current Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is poised to supercharge the nation’s wrestling game. According to Coppinger, an “enhancement” to the existing WWE agreement is set to be announced, with aspirations to host January’s Royal Rumble and the crème de la crème, WrestleMania, on Saudi soil.
Since its wrestling debut in 2018 with the Greatest Royal Rumble—remember that jaw-dropping 50-man showdown?—Saudi Arabia has been on a steady climb up the WWE ladder. From Crown Jewel to the Elimination Chamber, the Kingdom has hosted a slew of premium live events, but snaring the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania would be akin to winning the championship belt in the world of international event hosting.
This ambitious pitch aligns with a broader entertainment offensive, following closely on the heels of the high-profile Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk boxing match in Riyadh. With the upcoming King and Queen of the Ring slated for May 25 in Jeddah, it’s clear that Saudi Arabia is looking to pin down a premium spot on the global sports map.
If this deal goes through, it could mark the first time both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania are held outside North America, breaking new ground for WWE and wrestling fans worldwide. As the countdown to the official announcement ticks away, the wrestling world watches with bated breath, ready for the bell to ring on a new era in sports entertainment.