Brett Lauderdale Addresses GCW’s Plans for WrestleMania 43, Says Holding Events in Saudi Arabia ‘Is Not Realistic’

During a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale discussed plans for the indie wrestling promotion during WrestleMania 43 weekend. However, WWE plans to hold its first-ever overseas WrestleMania in history for next year’s premium live event.

Typically, GCW and other indie promotions will hold multiple events the same weekend as WrestleMania 43 in the same town. The issue is that WrestleMania 43 is being held in Saudi Arabia, which makes those logistics more difficult.

Lauderdale also explained that while there have been discussions about what GCW intends to do that weekend, it’s not realistic to hold shows in Saudi Arabia. Below are some highlights from Fightful:

Brett Lauderdale on Plans for WrestleMania 43 Weekend

“Of course there’s been discussions about all of those options. Saudi Arabia, of course, is not realistic, and I highly doubt that anything is going to be happening over there in an indie wrestling level. But there’s tons of possibilities and options that have been floated, and I’ve heard lots of things that both include us and don’t include us, meaning other people also planning for a weekend of that magnitude.”

On how It’s Difficult To Make Plans Without a Date for the Event

“It’s really hard to plan anything without knowing a date, which, as you said, they haven’t given us even a date yet. So it’s super hard to start planning a location or start putting anything together when you don’t know when it’s going to happen. Of course, I know who I would want to work with. I know how we would want to do it, but it’s all just tentative until we have something firm to plan around. I think something will happen. I just don’t know what it’s going to be and where it’s going to be yet.”

As previously reported, AEW CEO Tony Khan has spoken about holding a major event in the U.S. in Spring 2027 around the same time as WrestleMania Weekend.