Turki Alalshikh Wants The Rock in the Main Event as WrestleMania 43 Officially Lands in Saudi Arabia

WWE has finally made it official that WrestleMania 43 is heading to Saudi Arabia as legends like The Rock are rumored to compete.

Turki Alalshikh Wants The Rock in the Main Event as WrestleMania 43 Officially Lands in Saudi Arabia

WrestleMania 43 official presser (via WWE Twitter)

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In what may be the worst-kept secret in recent memory, WWE has officially confirmed that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027. This marks the biggest milestone yet in WWE’s partnership with the Kingdom, which began in 2018. After previously hosting blockbuster events like The Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel, and Night of Champions, Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh has now secured the company’s biggest event.

It will be the first time the event is held outside the United States since WrestleMania 18 in 2002 at Toronto’s SkyDome. Triple H had teased a major announcement that would alter the course of professional wrestling, and he delivered. At a special press conference, the WWE CCO made it official, joined by legends and stars such as The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Seth Rollins, and Liv Morgan.

WrestleMania 43 will take place in Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season. History will undoubtedly be made again. [Turki Al-Sheikh is] making history a lot lately. Thanks to our partners at the GAA and Riyadh Season, we could just not be more excited for this opportunity.

Triple H via official press conference

TKO has fully embraced its partnership with Saudi Arabia, which has already hosted 13 WWE events. The Kingdom is already set to stage the 2026 Royal Rumble, and according to reporter Nick LoPiccolo, Saudi Arabia is paying WWE $100 million for the Rumble and a staggering $250 million for WrestleMania 43. 

The massive investment comes with one goal in mind: securing The Rock in the main event. Since news broke that Alalshikh hopes to lure wrestling legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker out of retirement for WrestleMania 43, speculation has run wild. Dave Meltzer reports in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that negotiations with The Rock are advancing and are close to being finalized.

If the deal goes through, Johnson is expected to receive the biggest individual payday in wrestling history, with the Saudis targeting him for a showdown against either Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns, both teased opponents from WrestleMania 40.

The move also opens the door for other international cities to host WrestleMania in the future, with London and Paris standing out as obvious contenders. Before then, WrestleMania 42 will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18–19, 2026, marking the second straight year the city hosts WWE’s biggest event. 

But taking WrestleMania, often called the wrestling world’s Super Bowl, outside of North America for the first time, simply because another country is willing to pay a premium to be the center of attention for a weekend, is a bold statement from TKO. Meanwhile, Indianapolis is also on WWE’s radar. 

Lucas Oil Stadium is locked in for a future WrestleMania after the city hosted this year’s Royal Rumble. Indianapolis will also stage WWE’s ESPN debut with Wrestlepalooza on September 20, and a future SummerSlam has already been promised.

The Undertaker reacts to Turki Alalshikh bringing WrestleMania 43 to Saudi Arabia

As noted, stars like The Undertaker were also on hand for the blockbuster announcement that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Saudi Arabia. While the Hall of Famer has taken on a more backstage role for AAA in recent years, it never seemed likely he would step back into the ring. 

Triple H, Turki Alalshikh and WrestleMania 43
Triple H, Turki Alalshikh, and WrestleMania 43 (via WWE and USA Network)

Still, with rumors swirling about legends returning, fans are starting to wonder if they have truly seen the last of ‘The Deadman’. The man behind the character, Mark Callaway, also weighed in on the news when host Joe Tessitore asked for his thoughts at the presser event.

Without a doubt, they’re in store for the incredible passion – I think WWE fans in general are known for their passion for WWE content, and I think people are gonna be blown away at that same passion that the people from Saudi Arabia have.

The Undertaker via official press conference

He went on to thank Turki Alalshikh for his partnership with WWE and for making it possible to take WrestleMania outside the United States for the first time in more than 20 years. The Undertaker even predicted that the event would be off the charts once it arrived in The Kingdom.

WrestleMania 43 has already become a hotbed of speculation. Could fans see a fourth clash between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin? Might Ric Flair step back into the ring for yet another farewell? Or could John Cena, whose retirement tour is scheduled to wrap up on December 13, extend his run for one final WrestleMania moment? For now, the answers remain unknown, but the possibilities are endless.

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