WWE Saudi Arabia deal to bring Royal Rumble or WrestleMania in middle-east country?

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WWE is expanding its reach in the international market by hosting multiple premium live events outside the territory of the United States and through the ten-year deal that they have with the sports authority of Saudi Arabia.

The Middle Eastern country usually hosts two WrestleMania-esque PLEs in a calendar year but the original Big-Four PLEs - Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series are mostly reserved within the USA. But this norm could be changed through a new deal.

Exciting developments have been teased as the latest reports suggest a significant expansion of the partnership between WWE and Saudi Arabia. The future deal is being made in a way where it could bring one of the Big-Four PLEs to the country.

The chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alsheikh has recently opened up about making an “enhancement” to the existing deal that would possibly include a major WWE event heading to the overseas country.

According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Alsheikh is keen on elevating the collaboration between WWE and Saudi Arabia so that one of the WWE’s marquee events heads to the kingdom. The annual Royal Rumble in January or WWE’s flagship show WrestleMania is being targeted.

“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.”

WWE originally signed a deal with Saudi Arabia in 2018 which offers a boost to Saudi Arabia’s growing potential as a hub for global entertainment events and aligns with Alsheikh’s vision where the country could offer more sporting and entertainment events.

Saudi Arabia pays WWE around $50 million for a single PLE, which allows WWE to rake up $100 million every year from their two Saudi events. The next PLE from their soil would be the King & Queen of the Ring PLE in Jeddah on May 25th.