How much longer can TKO / WWE count on the government of Saudi Arabia paying them well over 100 million dollars per year? Let’s see what today’s rumors have to say about it!
Top rumor of the day: Will Saudi Arabia end its business relationship with WWE?
WWE’s current business deal with the government of Saudi Arabia began under Vince McMahon’s leadership in 2018. As of 2026, the Saudis pay WWE roughly 55 to 60 million dollars for each PLE, of which there are two per year. However, the deal that Vince signed was for 10 years, which means it is set to expire soon.
Sean Ross Sapp
briefly discussed this situation on Fightful’s The Hump, where he said the Saudi government has “ceased a lot of their sportswashing investments.” As a result, Sapp thinks the Saudi government is “probably not going to renew” or reach a new deal with WWE “after next year.”
It sounds like landing a WrestleMania event was one of the most important aspects of the deal for the Saudis. WWE once offered to run a “Super WrestleMania” show there, which was a concept similar to 2018’s Greatest Royal Rumble. The Saudi government rejected that idea because they “wanted a real WrestleMania.”
Now that we’re approaching the 10 year mark and the Saudis are indeed getting a real WrestleMania in 2027, this could be the beginning of the end of their business relationship with WWE.
Can you imagine how nervous TKO shareholders will get if that actually happens?
The rest of the rumors!
- F4WOnline’s Bryan Alvarez clarified that Bronson Reed is stuck in a Saudi Arabia hospital with “multiple broken ribs and a lacerated kidney, not a punctured lung” following WWE Crown Jewel. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp added that WWE is being “very tight-lipped” about the “scary situation,” other than making it clear that taking care of Reed is a “priority.”
- Sapp heard that MJF will return to AEW soon. He speculated that MJF will go right into a “top program” when he is back, and it could possibly happen at this weekend’s Full Gear pay-per-view.
- While discussing WWE parting ways with The Creeds, Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer said Julius Creed was once seen as a future WrestleMania main event star by people in the company.
- Sapp said The Creeds’ exit was “called a mutual departure internally.” He did not hear about any issues with The Creeds backstage. It appears to be a case where “WWE just refused to use them” for no specific reason.
- For whatever it’s worth, Sapp said “I don’t have a definitive answer” yet on whether or not Mark Briscoe is leaving AEW, but he doesn’t expect it will happen, in part due to WWE’s apparent lack of interest.
Discuss these rumors and others in the comments below, and share your takes on any topic in The Feed!
