WWE Faces Backlash After Officially Announcing WrestleMania 43 for Saudi Arabia

WWE didn’t make history without ruffling some feathers.

WWE officially confirmed during a livestream on Friday from Las Vegas that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027. This will be part of the on-going Riyadh Season initiative.

The move has already sparked significant backlash online. The announcement video posted to WWE’s official YouTube channel received over 12,000 dislikes within hours. Fans spoke out to voice concern over the company’s growing ties to the Saudi government, and the fact that fans in the USA wouldn’t be able to easily get to the destination event.

The fan reaction to WWE’s decision to hold WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh has been overwhelmingly negative across social media. One user pointed out that WWE ignored previous calls to bring WrestleMania to London, referencing John Cena’s past appearance teasing the idea. He said that London had earned the showcase of the immortals.

Another fan questioned the practicality of expecting American fans to travel overseas, while someone else stated this will be the first WrestleMania they refuse to watch in over 30 years of fandom. Some fans didn’t seem happy about this news at all.

Other fans voiced disappointment that Saudi Arabia secured the event before the UK or Europe. One comment targeted WWE’s new ownership structure under TKO, accusing the company of prioritizing profit over fans.

Another directly tagged Triple H, asking, “WTF are you guys doing?” The backlash illustrates a growing divide between WWE’s global expansion strategy and its traditional fan base.

WWE has not commented publicly on the growing backlash, but fan response may continue to pressure the company as preparations for 2027 continue. Vince McMahon even got love during the conference. We will have to see if there is any further attention on this announcement that will cause future negative sentiment.

September 12, 2025 4:42 pm