Saudi Arabia May Host WWE WrestleMania 42
Saudi Arabia could reportedly be revealed as the new host of next year’s WrestleMania.
Earlier this year, WWE had The Rock appear on a SmackDown episode to announce New Orleans as the host of the next WrestleMania.
However, in recent weeks, it has been reported that the company has reconsidered the decision, with some suggesting Las Vegas, Nevada, will host it for a second consecutive year.
The Stamford-based company has never hosted “The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment” outside North America to date. Amid all the commotion, whispers have been heard about Saudi Arabia.
WWE has already announced that the 2026 Royal Rumble will be held internationally, with Riyadh set to host it. This will be the first time the Royal Rumble leaves North America.
Will the company treat WrestleMania 2026 the same way? A former Raw manager shares his insight.
WWE WrestleMania Headed to Saudi Arabia?
On a recent episode of Eric Bischoff’s 83 Weeks podcast, the Hall of Famer’s co-host, Conrad Thompson, claimed disclosed that a source around WWE told him that WrestleMania 42 might be held in Saudi Arabia:
We just recently heard that the WWE is in fact rescinding the announcement that they’re going to take WrestleMania to New Orleans next year. And a lot of people are of the belief that, well, that means Las Vegas is getting WrestleMania again. And I have to admit that’s what I thought too, and maybe that still is the case. Maybe that is where it lands. Bust through the wrestler whisper campaign, I heard, and again not directly from WWE but from someone around, WWE might be doing WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia next year.
When asked whether he would be surprised if the reports turned out to be true, Bischoff had the following to say:
Yes. I mean, it’s like the NFL. Are we surprised when the NFL has games over in Europe? No. When they play in Mexico, are we surprised? No. But if they moved the Super Bowl there? That’s a little different. That’d be a big move. And I think somewhat risky in the sense that your core audience would feel somewhat disenfranchised. WWE is an American entertainment brand.
Saudi Arabia is set to host Night of Champions next month. Three PLEs, including Royal Rumble, are also scheduled to take place in the Arab country in 2026.