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WWE Royal Rumble Leaving North America in 2026 for First-Time Ever

The 2025 Royal Rumble is just a few weeks away, but today, it is the upcoming 2026 edition making headlines as WWE announced plans to bring the Royal Rumble to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event marks the first time in its nearly 40-year history that the rumble will be held outside of North America.

WWE Bringing Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia in 2026

WWE, in partnership with The General Entertainment Authority, announced the news  of WWE bringing Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia in a joint press release on Monday, January 6th. The release reads in part:

In a statement, HE Turki Alalshikh said, “Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America reflects the General Entertainment Authority’s ongoing commitment to bringing the world’s largest and most important entertainment events to the Kingdom. Through this partnership with WWE, we aim to enhance the entertainment sector and deliver a transformative experience that attracts a wide audience.”

He added, “We are excited to see this historic event as part of Riyadh Season’s activities and look forward to providing an exceptional experience for wrestling fans from around the world, whom we welcome to all events hosted in Saudi Arabia.”

“WWE is a global enterprise and it only made sense to expand our relationship with the Kingdom by bringing one of our biggest annual events to Riyadh in January of 2026,” said Nick Khan, WWE President.

The announcement of Royal Rumble being held in Riyadh in 2026 marks a continued expansion to the successful partnership between WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which has already seen record-breaking events including Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, King & Queen of the Ring, Night of Champions, SmackDown and Monday Night RAW.


About Last Word on Pro Wrestling

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About Marilee Gallagher, Manager

Marilee Gallagher is a Philadelphia native and lifelong sports fan with interests beyond just the major five U.S. sporting leagues. At Last Word on Sports, she is the Department Manager for Last Word on Pro Wrestling, helping lead a team that covers WWE, AEW, and indies both in the U.S. and internationally. Past writing experience includes time as a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and Rant Sports.

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