Brett Lauderdale Says He’s Been Contacted By Indies Promoters About GCW In Saudi Arabia For WrestleMania 43 Week

As noted before, WWE’s WrestleMania 43 event in 2027 will be taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This will be the first time that WWE will be holding a WrestleMania event outside of North America. The status of indie promotions running their traditional WrestleMania week events in Saudi Arabia is currently in serious doubt.

A recent episode of The Business of the Business podcast featured Game Changer Wrestling owner Brett Lauderdale as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Lauderdale’s thoughts about how several indies promoters have reached out to him regarding WrestleMania week in Riyadh in 2027 and how he thinks it might be something unrealistic to do that year.

“There’s absolutely been people that have reached out to us. I’ve exchanged pleasantries, but, I’m just not sure how realistic it is and… it’s such a wildcard, you know? Let’s say we did do something in Saudi Arabia. Who would even go? Are there people there that know what GCW is?… If some sheik, oil person came in and said, I’ll give you 50 million dollars to bring your indie show here, I’ll just tell you right here, straight up, I will say yes to that. I will say yes, if one of those guys offers me 50 million dollars. I will absolutely be there. If some guy says, oh, I can help put you in touch with a venue and it’ll cost you this much or whatever, I mean, that’s something that’s not even gonna move the needle because again, it’s not even a matter of, oh, what would it cost? How much to do it? It’s just, first of all, can you even do it? Is it even legal? Can I even go over there and run an event? This seems like there’s so many variables… What is there even to talk about? Is this even realistic or worth our time? So, if somebody wants to offer me 50 million dollars, I will take your private jet to Riyadh and we can discuss it but, I’m really not sure how much is realistic beyond that.”

In response to comments by the co-host about how some would have said there is no amount of money that could get them to go to Saudi Arabia, Lauderdale responded stating:

“And I would like to have high ground. But for 50 million dollars, I’ll get on my sled and I’ll go to the lower ground, and if I can change my family’s life for generations to come, and I’ll tell you right now, if somebody gives me 50 million dollars, I’ll be happy to make a sizeable donation to EFFY to stay home and I’ll be happy to pay off all of EFFY’s friends with millions of dollars. So, I don’t see it happening but listen, if it happens, let’s go. Let’s redistribute some Saudi wealth.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com