Tag: wwe in saudi arabia

New report reveals planned WWE Night of Champions date for Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Josh Nason

Amid the uncertainty of the conflict in the Middle East comes a new report about the planned date for WWE Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.

First reported by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston for Post Wrestling, the date currently penciled in for the show is Saturday, June 27.

Our Bryan Alvarez reported several days ago that there have been discussions about WWE’s next two events in Saudi Arabia planned for both this year and next April’s WrestleMania 43, believed to be prompted by the current US/Israel/Iran war that is causing issues for several other countries that includes Saudi Arabia. No decisions have been made.

Thurston noted that according to one source, Night of Champions is being tabbed for Riyadh as has been other recent WWE events. WWE hasn’t run in Jeddah since May 2024.

Saudi Arabia pays WWE at least $50 million per event as part of a new decade-long deal that kicked off in 2018. The Royal Rumble was held in Riyadh for the first time this year with WWE’s biggest events of the year planned to head there next year.

This past weekend, F1 canceled two races set for April in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

WWE confirms 2026 Royal Rumble to be held in Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time since the very first edition, the WWE Royal Rumble will be held on international soil as the company officially announced the 2026 premium live event will emanate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The news confirms Friday night’s PWInsider report and validates comments Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alsheikh made last May about talks to host the Rumble and/or WrestleMania in either 2026 or 2027.

The event will take place in January 2026 as part of the country’s Riyadh Season celebration. It will be the first-ever Rumble held outside North America and the first outside the United States since the inaugural one in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1988.

No official date or start time was announced.

It’s the latest development in a growing, and sometimes contoversial, relationship between WWE, their parent company TKO, and the Saudis which began in 2018 with two annual events with the exception of 2020 and 2021 (one each). In addition to exclusive shows like the Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel and 2024’s King & Queen of the Ring, PLEs like Elimination Chamber (2022) and Night of Champions (2023) have also been held there.

Based on previous SEC reports, WWE is believed to take in $50 million per show as part of the deal. Based on the verbiage of the press release, it’s assumed the Royal Rumble will be held in addition to the other bi-annual shows. There has been no reporting as to what WWE/TKO will generate for this deal.

Impending WWE & Saudi Arabia contract ‘enhancement’ could include major PLE

Posted on by Josh Nason

According to the chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, an “enhancement” to the existing deal between WWE and the Saudis will be announced this month: one that could see a major WWE PLE head overseas.

It’s assumed the new deal will be announced during King & Queen of the Ring which comes to Jeddah on May 25th.

ESPN’s Mike Coppinger posted on X that Turki Alsheikh is “is looking to bring January’s annual Royal Rumble or WWE’s top event, WrestleMania, to Saudi Arabia.”

The news comes on the heels of the UFC and the Saudis announcing an extension of their existing deal, one that will see both UFC and Power Slap return to the country during their annual Riyadh Season festival (October through March) in addition to sponsorship of the UFC’s debut at The Sphere in Las Vegas for UFC 306 this September.

The UFC will debut in Saudi Arabia this June.

WWE and Saudi Arabia’s controversial partnership began in 2018 with two events brought there annually with the exception of 2020 and 2021 (one each). While shows like the Greatest Royal Rumble and Crown Jewel are exclusive to Saudi Arabia, PLEs like Elimination Chamber (2022) and Night of Champions (2023) have also been held there.

Based on previous SEC reports, WWE is believed to take in $50 million per show as part of the deal. Of note, Vince McMahon, the man that orchestrated that deal and also helped in a connection with the UFC’s debut there, is no longer with TKO after he stepped down as TKO executive chairman following the emergence of the current Janel Grant lawsuit.

Universal title match, World Cup tournament set for WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A Universal title match, along with a World Cup tournament, have been announced for WWE Crown Jewel.

The Universal title match was set up on tonight’s Raw when Roman Reigns came out to call Brock Lesnar following last night’s attack at Hell in a Cell. Braun Strowman came out instead, wanting to settle things. Acting Raw General Manager Baron Corbin came out and made a triple threat match for the Universal title, with Roman Reigns defending against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match.

WWE’s website also announced that a WWE World Cup tournament would also be taking place on the show. It didn’t give out any details on what kind of tournament it would be other than it would decide the best in the world.

WWE Crown Jewel will take place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 2. It will be streaming live on the WWE Network, and will also be on pay-per-view outside of the Middle East.