WWE confirmed that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027, marking the first time the company’s flagship event takes place outside the United States or Canada.
The announcement came as part of WWE’s partnership with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, led by Turki Alalshikh, and connected to the country’s annual Riyadh Season festival.
The move follows several other Premium Live Events in Saudi Arabia under a long-term deal signed in 2018, but WrestleMania’s relocation has triggered significant backlash.
At the Worlds Collide show in Las Vegas, fans booed the announcement video and chanted, “You sold out.” Likewise, WWE’s social networks, including Triple H’s accounts, are flooded with fan comments proclaiming they are sellouts.
"You sold out" chant breaks out during Saudi Wrestlemania commercial. You gotta love it! #WorldsCollide #wwe #wrestlemania pic.twitter.com/5swOkhTzTy
— BashAtTheBastian (@Fantasmick) September 13, 2025
Eric Bischoff Reacts
Former WCW President and WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff weighed in on his 83 Weeks podcast. While acknowledging the financial logic behind the decision, he described it as “a little disappointing.”
“You know, professional wrestling truly is an American phenomenon,” Bischoff said. “Canada doesn’t count. It’s just like another state… and it’s easily accessible by people in the United States for the most part. So, taking it to the other side of the planet is a big move, and it’s going to come with a cost. You’re going to have people disappointed in this decision.”
Bischoff also cautioned that WWE could face a cost beyond the financials: “It’s probably going to get some negative publicity because, well, that’s just the way people are, particularly in social media. So to me, it’s a little bit of both. It’s inevitable for a publicly held company for the reasons that Raj pointed out. But it’s also a little disappointing for me.”
Fan and Public Response
Reaction online has also been strongly negative. Fans cited concerns about accessibility, travel distance, and the cultural implications of holding the event in Saudi Arabia. Critics have accused WWE of prioritizing money over tradition, with social media hashtags calling for boycotts trending soon after the announcement.
Many UK fans expressed frustration that London or another European city was passed over in favor of Riyadh. Others raised ongoing ethical criticisms tied to Saudi Arabia, saying the move amounts to “sportswashing.”
Whatever made WWE pivot from things before, fans must do it again. This SaudiMania shit is garbage. It must not happen, boo and hijack the shows. Start fuck WWE chants or whatever. This is crazy. TKO ruined everything
— A (@adcfcmffl) September 12, 2025
#boycottWWE here is more proof today that wwe is all about the money and not what's special for the fans. It's John's hometown and because of money there gona tarnish his legacy! I'm so glad I didn't pay the crazy prices they want for tickets! I bought bound for glory for half$ pic.twitter.com/onmPcrFS3p
— Ape from 8:01 (@Ape801wareMA) September 12, 2025
ESPN Streaming Deal
On top of that, the controversy comes just weeks after WWE confirmed that its Premium Live Events will move from Peacock to ESPN starting with Wrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025, which pits John Cena vs Brock Lesnar. Peacock’s last WWE event was Clash in Paris on August 31.
Fans are upset that ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service will cost fans significantly more than Peacock, which bundles WWE programming with a wider library for under $10 per month. ESPN’s Unlimited tier runs around $29.99 per month, with additional bundle options through Disney or cable providers. Fans have complained about higher costs, streaming fatigue, and confusion over which events and archives will be included.
wwe trying to get people to pay $30 per month for an espn subscription…….pic.twitter.com/mEUpUEnQTE
— fi 🍀 (@phantomthr3ad) September 9, 2025
WWE in total if you add it up is
— aaronloveswrestling (@A_L_W_podcast) September 4, 2025
$15 for Netflix (RAW and exclusive content)
$10 for Peacock (NXT PLE’s and exclusive content)
$30 for ESPN WWE PLE’s
$50 for cable to watch SmackDown
= $105 total if you’re trying to watch everything WWE.
AEW on HBO is lower by $50 at a total…
Money Over Fans?
Together, the Saudi WrestleMania deal and the ESPN streaming move have fueled a growing perception among fans that WWE is chasing revenue at the expense of accessibility and tradition. While executives frame the changes as part of global expansion, critics warn the company risks alienating its core audience.
Adding to the criticism, parent company TKO has taken a different approach with UFC, moving it from ESPN to Paramount+, which is cheaper. Fans have contrasted that decision with WWE’s move in the opposite direction, from the less expensive Peacock to the more expensive ESPN. The comparison has fueled speculation that TKO views UFC as the bigger priority, leaving WWE fans to shoulder higher costs.
Some fans are even calling for the return of Vince McMahon, who is said to have looked at WWE as more of a family-friendly even and kept costs down, while TKO has jacked prices.
COO of TKO Mark Shapiro inadvertently making Vince McMahon look like a reasonable person because Vince priced tickets “for families” and Shapiro is like “nah, fuck that” when asked about the rising #WWE prices. Rich people are fucking sociopaths. pic.twitter.com/MR9pcJXrfW
— Mark Lawson (@Born2beSlicker) September 10, 2025
