Overview

• WWE officially confirmed WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh during the 2027 Riyadh Season, marking the first WrestleMania held outside North America.
• Fans at the Worlds Collide event in Las Vegas booed a hype video and chanted “You sold out” after the announcement, with the reaction audible on the live stream.
• Reports from Wrestling Observer say talks are advancing to secure Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for the main event, with sources indicating his participation could influence the event’s overall payment and deliver a record individual payoff.
• Media and talent-agency reports describe nine-figure fees tied to Saudi events, including claims of about $100 million for the 2026 Royal Rumble and $200–$250 million for WrestleMania 43, figures not confirmed by WWE.
• Industry chatter points to outreach to multiple legends such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels, as former WWE personalities publicly criticize the decision for its impact on tradition, accessibility, and the wider wrestling ecosystem.