Some familiar WrestleMania festivities could be on their way to the Middle East.
With WWE’s recent announcement that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027, many fans have questioned whether the usual flock of independent shows around WrestleMania week will be present.
Brandon Thurston and John Pollock of POST Wrestling have now provided an insight into that prospect, revealing that GCW owner Brett Lauderdale has been approached regarding holding shows in the Middle East, though it remains unclear whether these plans will materialise.
“GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale, who traditionally oversees “The Collective” during WrestleMania week, told us he has been approached by two organizations that stage events in the Middle East region, who have offered to host GCW. He also emphasized that, with the 2027 WrestleMania eighteen months away, it’s too early to say whether such plans are realistic.”
-POST Wrestling
The report additionally notes that Lauderdale acknowledged potential restrictions on how their shows would be presented if they were held in Saudi Arabia.
GCW’s “The Collective” is widely regarded as one of the most high-profile series of events held during WrestleMania week in the host city, showcasing a diverse slate of shows such as “Bloodsport,” “Joey Janela’s Spring Break,” and “Effy’s Big Gay Brunch.”
The latter, which typically feature gay and transgender talent openly celebrating their identity, is highly likely to be difficult to stage in Saudi Arabia due to same-sex sexual activity and transgender expression criminalised under Sharia law.
POST Wrestling added that they had reached out to Effy for comment regarding the story but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Elsewhere within the report, POST Wrestling revealed that Highspots owner Michael Bochicchio claimed it’s “highly unlikely” that WrestleCon will be coming to Saudi Arabia in 2027. You can read more about that here.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the prospect of GCW heading to the Middle East for WrestleMania week in 2027 as soon as we hear more.
