Turki Alalshikh has made a major WWE announcement that could have a major impact on the company.
Alalshikh is a high-profile Saudi Arabian sports promoter and has become one of the leading figures driving their involvement in global sport.
His influence has been felt across several sports in recent years, including combat sports and football. Sports Illustrated even named him as the most influential figure in boxing in 2024, following Saudi Arabia's takeover of the Ring Magazine.
Alalshikh stepped back from a role in football earlier this year, as he passed his ownership of the Spanish club Almeria on to a Saudi Arabian investment group. Now, Alalshikh has turned his attention to wrestling, announcing that WrestleMania will head to Saudi Arabia in 2027.
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Although the news has not yet been officially confirmed by WWE, Alalshikh made the announcement during a Snapchat live video. And the respected reporter Mike Johnson from PWInsider later confirmed that the announcement is authentic.
Johnson added that a press release had been issued in Arabic earlier in the day, but it was pulled not long afterwards.
Should the announcement be confirmed, it would represent a landmark moment in WWE as the first time WrestleMania has left North America.
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Since its debut in 1985, WrestleMania has only every taken place in either the United State or Canada.
WWE have taken other shows on the road, including SummerSlam in 1992 at Wembley Stadium and more recently Clash at the Castle events.
Why is WWE going to Saudi Arabia?
Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia have paid around $100 million to host WrestleMania, a figure which would smash the previous record hosting deal.
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The country has also become a familiar destination for WWE more generally.
Back in 2018, WWE agreed a 10-year strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sport, which led them to host Premium Live Events in Saudi.
Saudi Arabia's efforts to host more sporting events form part of the wider Saudi Vision 2030.
It is a government initiative designed to diversify the country's economy away from oil, which it remains hugely dependent upon.
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Sport has been one of the key areas of focus for Saudi Arabia and bringing WrestleMania to the country would be the latest example of that.
While wrestling fans will now have to wait for an official announcement from WWE, it appears that WrestleMania will head to the Middle East.
It could also reshape where WrestleMania events are held in the future.
Topics: WWE, WrestleMania, Saudi Arabia, Wrestling
James Taylor