WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will see their lucrative 10-year strategic partnership run through 2027. An extension is likely as the alliance continues to bring unprecedented happenings to the WWE Universe, and now the Kingdom may host the in-ring return of The Rock, along with an absolute game-changer for the future of The Grandest Stage of Them All.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced changes to the schedule in 2020 and 2021, but WWE has presented two Premium Live Events per year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the aforementioned deal. The schedule had just one 2025 date: Night of Champions, which was held on June 28 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. This led to the company planning three PLEs from Saudi Arabia in 2026, beginning with the inaugural Royal Rumble from the country in January.
After the history-making Royal Rumble, WWE is planning to return to Saudi Arabia in May and November of next year. This comes after a massive PLE deal was announced this week. While no additional details have been confirmed, potential events include Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, and Night of Champions. With that said, there is growing evidence that WWE may be taking WrestleMania to the Kingdom for the first time.
Turki Al-Sheikh has become a major player in the world of sports and entertainment in recent years, especially combat sports. Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority is launching TKO Boxing with Dana White later this year, and has been instrumental in WWE establishing a significant presence in the country, going back to Vince McMahon’s early talks for the current deal. The Saudi Royal Court adviser is good friends with Nick Khan, and recently gave public praise to the WWE President, while making a major revelation on the Netflix relationship.
Al-Sheikh fueled heated debates within the WWE Universe this week when he teased an upcoming announcement on a “huge entertainment event” that will take place in the Kingdom in 2027, indicating that the deal has been done for a while.
“A huge entertainment event I signed a while ago in 2027, a big surprise I’ll announce soon… (Your happiness is our goal) [Saudi Arabia flag emoji] [fire emoji] [heart emoji],” wrote Turki Al-Sheikh via X Translate.
حدث ترفيهي ضخم وقعته قبل شوي في ٢٠٢٧م مفاجأة كبيره بعلن عنها قريب …(سعادتكم هدفنا )🇸🇦🔥❤️
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) August 6, 2025
Al-Sheikh responded with the upside down face emoji and the smiling face with sunglasses emoji when a fan asked if the announcement was for WrestleMania. Now there’s a promising update from within WWE.
The Rock Wanted For WWE WrestleMania In Saudi Arabia
Turki Al-Sheikh is set to announce a major 2027 entertainment event for Saudi Arabia soon, and the strongest speculation seems to be that this will be confirmation on the first-ever WrestleMania from the Kingdom. The Chairman of KSA’s General Entertainment Authority noted in May 2024 that there were talks for the country to host a Royal Rumble or WrestleMania in 2026 or 2027, and he was not bluffing as months later the 39th annual Royal Rumble was confirmed for Riyadh in January 2026.
There are people close to the situation within Saudi Arabia who believe the upcoming announcement is for The Showcase of The Immortals, according to The Wrestling Observer. If true, this event could be WrestleMania 43, but there’s also talk of a separate WrestleMania event taking place for the Kingdom, perhaps two in the same year. This implies the Saudi WrestleMania may not follow the traditional numerology that past events have used.
Saudi officials are known to pay big money for the WWE events, and even bigger money for talent. Sources who believe WrestleMania is coming to the Middle East add that officials are pushing for The Rock to headline the big event. It remains to be seen if Rock would wrestle either Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes in singles action, or some other type of match.
It’s no secret that KSA officials are pushing WWE to bring WrestleMania to the country, and now sources are acknowledging how the government is willing to pay “a giant fee” to make the historic event happen. The Observer points to how this would make WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia the most lucrative ‘Mania of all-time.
The idea of holding two WrestleMania events per year is only so that Saudi Arabia can have its own. Local officials in London, England are still hoping to host The Grandest Stage of Them All as well.