News that the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 event will be held in Saudi Arabia has angered fans as it is set to take place outside North America for the first time ever
Fans are not happy after WWE announced that Saudi Arabia would be hosting the 39th annual Royal Rumble. In January 2026, the wrestling event will be held outside of North America for the first time in its history.
The Premium Live Event includes a men’s and women’s match and sees the winners eliminating all opponents and securing a Championship opportunity at WrestleMania. This won’t be the first WWE event to be held in Saudi Arabia, however, as recent years have seen battles like Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber and Night of Champions hosted there.
WWE president Nick Khan said: “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.”
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However, fans are less than thrilled due to the time difference which may make it hard for those not in Saudi Arabia to watch live. One posted on X saying they wouldn’t be watching: “Even if I wanted to, I more than likely will sleep through it.” Another said: “The first Royal Rumble I will miss. The event is going to be too early and not watching them live doesn’t hit the same.”
Others were critical of the decision to host the event in a country which has been criticised for its human rights record. One posted: “I know quite a few people are taking a stand and refusing to watch any events held in that country. I may join them and I think many more will too.” Another said: “Worst news ever to be dropped in 2025 and its only been six days.”
In 2018, Saudi Arabia’s sport authority apologised for pictures of “indecent” women being broadcast on big screens at a WWE Great Royal Rumble event in Jeddah. Despite the fact that female wrestlers were banned from the event, videos of stars like Carmella, Bayley and Sasha Banks wearing tank tops and bras were played. The Saudi General Sports Authority later said in a statement that is had made sure to “ban showing of any segment that involves women wrestling or any scenes related to it”. However, in 2019 the country hosted its first women’s wrestling match in Riyadh featuring Natalya and Lacey Evans.
Also in 2018, John Cena and Daniel Bryan pulled out of a WWE event in Saudi Arabia. Though they did not give a reason, some suggested it was due to the way the country handled the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government who was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a month before.
Another sporting body, Fifa, came under fire in December for announcing that Saudi Arabia would be hosting the 2034 football world cup. Human rights group Amnesty International called on Fifa to halt the process of awarding the country the tournament “unless major human rights reforms are announced”.