Fans Chant “You Sold Out” After WrestleMania 43 Announcement

WrestleMania’s Saudi debut sparks debate over timing, access, and WWE’s priorities

WWE will stage WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. The move marks the first time its signature show will be held outside North America.

The announcement came Friday in Las Vegas, where Paul “Triple H” Levesque stood alongside Saudi officials, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. WWE called the deal a milestone in its global expansion.

Fans at Worlds Collide that night didn’t see it that way. When the arena screen played a hype video for Saudi Arabia, the crowd booed and chanted “You sold out.”

Reaction online was swift. Some complained WWE was chasing money at the expense of tradition. Others said London or another European city should have hosted the first international WrestleMania. Critics also pointed to the timing, one day after the Sept. 11 anniversary, as tone deaf.

WWE did not address the backlash directly.

Sources:

• New York Post, WrestleMania 43 is headed to Saudi Arabia in a WWE first

• Cageside Seats, Saudi WrestleMania announcement booed with ‘You sold out’ chant at Worlds Collide

• Cageside Seats, Fan reaction to WrestleMania 43 announcement in Saudi Arabia