WrestleMania Goes To Saudi – Is It The Right Move?

WWE has now confirmed that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as we look at the implications of this.

The Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, had announced the news, alongside WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H,” stating that it would be part of Riyadh Season. This is the first time WWE’s Wrestlemania will be hosted out of the US and Canada. It also marks another milestone for the Saudis, who have invested heavily in various combat sports, as they add WWE to their list. 

“Thanks to our partners with the GEA and Riyadh season, we just could not be more excited for this opportunity. This is an opportunity to show the world, what I think most people already know, that WWE is a global brand that reaches every corner of the world and excites fans from everywhere,” Triple H

Implications

From a business perspective, bringing WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia is an excellent move for WWE. This is the first time the company’s flagship event will be held outside of the U.S. and Canada, which demonstrates a commitment to breaking into new, lucrative markets. The move also makes sense financially. The Saudis have a track record of staging big productions for events like the Crown Jewel and Greatest Royal Rumble, so fans can expect a visually stunning WrestleMania.

Despite the business benefits, the decision is widely viewed as a negative. Many critics and fans accuse the Saudi government of using these high-profile sporting events for “sportswashing”—an attempt to distract from the country’s controversial human rights record.

Furthermore, the decision alienates WWE’s long-standing, core fanbase in North America. WrestleMania is a yearly event for many fans in the U.S. and Canada, who have grown accustomed to the event being within reasonable travel distance. Moving it to Riyadh makes it logistically and financially impossible for a vast number of these fans to attend.