WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia: The Sellout of the Century?

WWE has made it official — WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, and the wrestling world is divided. For decades, WrestleMania has been the crown jewel of WWE, hosted in iconic American venues from Madison Square Garden to SoFi Stadium. Now, for the first time ever, WWE’s biggest stage is leaving home — and heading to Riyadh.
In this episode of The Tristen Law Show, we dive into every angle of this controversial decision: the massive payday brokered by Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, what it means for WrestleMania’s identity, and how it compares to past events like Crown Jewel and the Greatest Royal Rumble. We’ll explore the impact on women’s wrestling under Saudi restrictions, revisit the infamous 2019 travel fiasco that left WWE talent stranded, and examine how this fits into Saudi Arabia’s larger sportswashing strategy alongside LIV Golf, boxing super fights, and global soccer deals with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Fans have already spoken — backlash has been fierce, with many calling this “the sellout of the century.” Some argue WrestleMania should always belong to the U.S., while others say WWE is simply following the money and expanding worldwide.
So the question remains: is WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia a sign of progress, or proof that WWE just sold its soul?
#wwe #wrestlemania #saudiarabia
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00:00 Intro
02:02 America Boos & Saudi Arabia Buys
08:19 WrestleMania's Identity Crisis
17:08 Women's Wrestling in Saudi Arabia
29:36 The Baggage of WWE's Saudi Deal
32:56 Saudi Arabia the Future Home of Global Sports
37:29 Fan Reactions
42:57 Final Thoughts
44:27 Outro
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