Backstage Details on How Much Money WWE Is Receiving for WrestleMania 43

There’s an update on how much money WWE is reportedly receiving for bringing WrestleMania 43 to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As noted, there have been many questions and concerns as of late about WWE’s plans for Crown Jewel 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to the escalating violence in the region. As previously reported, the United States Embassy & Consulates in Riyadh issued multiple security alerts due to attacks by the Houthis in the region. U.S. citizens have also been advised not to travel to Saudi Arabia.

During a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke about WWE continuing to advertise and push forward with Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. Meltzer explained that WWE doesn’t want to risk damaging its relationship with the Saudi Arabian government, due to how much money is on the line for WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh next year.

According to Meltzer, the Saudi General Entertainment Authority is paying WWE north of $100 million to bring WrestleMania to Riyadh. He stated (via WrestlingInc.com), “It looks like the WrestleMania price is $150 million. I knew it was over $100 [million] because people in Saudi Arabia told me it’s north of $100 million. Usually, they get $55 [million] to go. … [They] don’t want to put that in jeopardy.”

Meltzer also reported that WWE does have “contingency plans” in place in the event that WWE can not make its scheduled date for Crown Jewel. Last month, the U.S. Department of State issued a level three travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, advising citizens to reconsider traveling to the country. Some areas of Saudi Arabia are under a level four advisory, which means that U.S. citizens are advised to leave the country.

Meltzer expressed his belief that if the U.S. government were to raise the advisory to Level 4, it would give WWE a “bail-out” for Crown Jewel, since the decision would be out of the company’s hands at that point. It would also apparently allow WWE to save face and avoid insulting the Saudi GEA Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh.

For now, WWE Crown Jewel 2026 is still scheduled for November 7 at the Riyadh Season Stadium at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WrestleMania 43 is slated for Riyadh in April 2027.