The prospect of the WWE Royal Rumble event taking place in Saudi Arabia was a topic of discussion during an appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, where the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) of Saudi Arabia was questioned about the possibility.
GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh, after initially revealing to ESPN intentions of bringing major WWE events like WrestleMania or Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia to expand their ongoing partnership, mentioned in the interview that discussions for hosting the Royal Rumble were centered around the years 2026 or 2027.
The ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and WWE for the past ten years has led to several special events such as Crown Jewel, The Greatest Royal Rumble, and featured premium live events like Elimination Chamber. Moreover, the highly anticipated King & Queen of the Ring event is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, following the premiere of SmackDown in Saudi Arabia on the previous night.
Previously, WWE President Nick Khan made a statement that the “big four” premium live events – the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series – were not envisioned to be held outside of North America, casting uncertainty over potential international locations for these events in the near future.
Source: Fightful
FAQs about WWE Royal Rumble Potentially Coming to Saudi Arabia
- Who confirmed the talks of bringing WWE Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia?
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, confirmed the discussions. - When is WWE Royal Rumble expected to come to Saudi Arabia?
The talks suggest that it might be in the years 2026 or 2027. - Why is Saudi Arabia considered for hosting WWE Royal Rumble?
Saudi Arabia is looking to enhance their current agreement with WWE, which has already brought several WWE events to the country. - What statement did WWE President Nick Khan make about hosting big events outside North America?
Nick Khan previously said that the “big four” premium live events were not expected to be hosted outside of North America.
Conclusion
The negotiation of hosting a WWE Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia aligns with the GEA’s intentions to boost the country’s profile as a destination for high-profile entertainment events under their partnership with WWE. Despite WWE President Nick Khan’s earlier assertion about keeping major events within North American borders, the ongoing talks suggest that an exception could be made for these landmark wrestling extravaganzas. The realization of such an event in Saudi Arabia would indeed mark a significant addition to the pro-wrestling calendar; however, an official confirmation is yet to be made.