Nick Khan actually thinks WWE fans will travel to Saudi Arabia for WrestleMania 43

WWE’s disgusting business relationship with the Saudi Arabian government is reaching a peak over the next two years, with Royal Rumble heading there in 2026, and then WrestleMania 43 following suit in 2027. It’s the first time ever that WrestleMania will take place outside of the United States or Canada.

During an interview at Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, WWE President Nick Khan said taking WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia is the next logical step of WWE’s ongoing strategy to schedule more of its Premium Live Events overseas. What’s more is that he actually thinks WWE fans will travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the most-star-studded sports entertainment spectacle of all-time.

“It was a natural next step for us. I think at WWE, we realized a number of years ago, you can’t simply pipe American product out globally and hope to be a global product. You actually have to have boots on the ground. So if you look at what we’ve done with our Premium Live Events, formerly known as pay-per-views, over the last few years, about half of those now take place outside of the United States.

We’re in the eighth year of a long-term partnership with Turki Alalshikh, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and [the General Entertainment Authority]. We’re bringing Royal Rumble here at the end of January [2026]. It’s the first time Royal Rumble, which is our second or third biggest event, will take place outside of the United States or Canada. And WrestleMania 2027, as you just mentioned, will be here in April of that year. First time ever WrestleMania, as you also said, [is] outside of the U.S. or Canada. We’re excited. We think viewership is going to be strong. We think people will come to the Kingdom to see our show, and we’re gonna put on a spectacle.”

Given Khan’s expectations about WWE fans flocking to Saudi Arabia, I guess the indie collective of events has nothing to worry about as long as they get their asses over to WrestleMania week in Saudi Arabia too.

Do you know any WWE fans who go to WrestleMania each year and are super excited about traveling to Saudi Arabia for the 2027 extravaganza? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.