Exciting developments are on the horizon for WWE fans as reports suggest a significant expansion of the partnership between WWE and Saudi Arabia. The chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alsheikh, has hinted at an upcoming announcement regarding an “enhancement” to the existing deal, potentially involving a major WWE event heading overseas.
With speculation swirling, fans are eagerly awaiting further details, expected to be unveiled during the upcoming King & Queen of the Ring event in Jeddah on May 25th, which will be one week after the Tyson Fury – Oleksandr Usyk Undisputed Heavyweight Championship boxing match in Riyadh.
Royal Rumble or WrestleMania to be held in Saudi Arabia?
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Alsheikh is keen on elevating the collaboration between WWE and Saudi Arabia by bringing one of WWE’s marquee events to the kingdom.
Among the speculated possibilities are the annual Royal Rumble in January or WWE’s flagship extravaganza, WrestleMania.
“Turki Alsheikh tells ESPN an enhancement to Saudi Arabia’s existing agreement with WWE will be announced later this month. Specifically, Alalshikh is looking to bring January’s annual Royal Rumble or WWE’s top event, WrestleMania, to Saudi Arabia.”
This ambitious endeavor underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing stature as a hub for global entertainment events and aligns with Alsheikh’s vision of expanding the country’s entertainment offerings.
WWE’s Big Money Deal with Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia pays WWE around $50 million for a single PLE, which means WWE makes around $100 million every year from their two Saudi events.
Parallel Developments with UFC
The anticipation surrounding WWE’s potential expansion coincides with recent announcements from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) regarding its own extended partnership with Saudi Arabia. The UFC’s agreement includes bringing both UFC events and Power Slap to Saudi Arabia as part of the annual Riyadh Season festival, spanning from October to March.
Furthermore, the sponsorship of UFC’s debut event at The Sphere in Las Vegas for UFC 306 in September adds another dimension to the burgeoning relationship between sports entertainment and Saudi Arabia.
Impending Debut of UFC in Saudi Arabia
Amidst the anticipation surrounding WWE’s potential expansion, the UFC is set to make its long-awaited debut in Saudi Arabia this June. This milestone event not only marks a significant moment for combat sports enthusiasts in the kingdom but also signals the country’s increasing appetite for diverse entertainment offerings on a global scale.
Below is the fight card for UFC’s debut event in Saudi Arabia (main card that will air on ABC / ESPN+):
– Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (UFC Middleweight Title eliminator)
– Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov in a Heavyweight bout
– Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir in a Light Heavyweight bout
– Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez in a Welterweight bout
Mike Coppinger also reported:
“Turki Alsheikh tells ESPN there are plans for a major UFC event in Riyadh in late ‘24/early ‘25. He said the event would be ‘something big’ compared to the June 22 card in Riyadh headlined by Robert Whittaker – Khamzat Chimaev.”
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