Wrestlemania makes controversial move out of North America

• WrestleMania will be held outside North America for the first time in its 41-event history, with Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host nation for 2027.
• This groundbreaking decision by WWE is contentious, as the flagship event has exclusively taken place in the United States and Canada since its 1985 inception.
• The move sees European cities like London and Paris, which have demonstrated strong wrestling fanbases and recently hosted successful WWE events, passed over for the honour.
• The announcement was made by WWE chief creative Triple H, confirming earlier claims by Saudi sports advisor Turki Alalshikh, formalising the deal on Friday.
• WWE's long-standing 10-year strategic deal with Saudi Arabia, signed in 2018, has been controversial due to the country's human rights record, despite the company continuing to stage events there.

IN FULL

Saudi Arabia beats London to host first-ever international WrestleMania in 2027