Big changes, folks. WWE is shaking up its Saudi Arabia schedule, and the Kingdom is about to get a lot more—or a lot less—Premium Live Events, depending on the year.
Here’s the deal:
📉 Only ONE WWE Saudi PLE in 2025 (Sad!)
📈 THREE WWE Saudi PLEs in 2026 (Huge!) – including the Royal Rumble!
Yes, you read that right. The 2026 Royal Rumble will take place in Saudi Arabia. That’s one of WWE’s biggest events of the year, in a location that has already hosted multiple Crown Jewels, Night of Champions, and Super ShowDowns.
WHY THE SWITCH-UP?
On WWE’s Q4 earnings call, TKO Group CFO Andrew Schleimer said WWE was temporarily pulling back in 2025—only running one Saudi PLE instead of two. And yes, this means a hit to WWE’s revenue. How much? Oh, just a casual $55 million. (Pocket change, right?)
But don’t worry, 2026 will more than make up for it. Schleimer confirmed the company will go from one Saudi PLE in 2025 to THREE in 2026, with one of them being the actual, official Royal Rumble.
SAUDI ARABIA IS GETTING BIGGER WWE SHOWS
For years, Saudi PLEs were spectacle-driven mega-shows—big on legends, super fights, and custom-built dream matches (Goldberg vs. Undertaker, anyone?). But now? They’re getting the full WWE calendar treatment.
This move proves that WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is evolving from one-off special events to mainstay, major shows.
WWE’S INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION CONTINUES
Saudi Arabia isn’t WWE’s only international focus. In the past few years, WWE has spread PLEs across the globe, including:
🌍 Clash at the Castle (Wales, Scotland)
🇦🇺 Elimination Chamber (Australia)
🇫🇷 Clash in Paris (August 2024)
🇩🇪 Bash in Berlin (August 2024)
🌴 Backlash (Puerto Rico)
WWE is clearly shifting into global takeover mode, and Saudi Arabia will play an even bigger role going forward.
FINAL THOUGHTS: ROYAL RUMBLE IN SAUDI ARABIA—GOOD MOVE?
This is HUGE, folks. WWE putting one of its Big Four PLEs in Saudi Arabia means they’re all-in on the partnership. But will the 30-man and 30-woman Royal Rumbles deliver in an international stadium setting? Will the traveling WWE fans show up in full force like they do for WrestleMania?
We’ll find out in 2026. But first, we wait for that one lonely Saudi PLE in 2025.