Imagine tuning into one of the most anticipated events in the wrestling calendar, only to be greeted by rows upon rows of empty seats. That’s exactly what happened when WWE brought its iconic Royal Rumble to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, leaving fans and critics alike scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was this a misstep in event planning, or a symptom of deeper issues in WWE’s international strategy? Let’s dive in.
The Royal Rumble is often hailed as the second-biggest spectacle in WWE’s annual lineup, trailing only behind the legendary WrestleMania. This year, the event ventured overseas to Riyadh, a move that promised to bring the electrifying energy of WWE to a global audience. However, instead of the buzz surrounding Roman Reigns’ return or Brock Lesnar’s dominance, the spotlight fell on the glaringly empty seats in the temporary Riyadh Season Stadium. Built in just 35 days, the venue had a capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 fans, yet many seats remained unoccupied throughout the event.
And this is the part most people miss: Fans pointed to a flawed ticketing system as the culprit. According to reports, tickets weren’t properly sold through official channels, instead finding their way to the black market, where prices skyrocketed. The cheapest ticket, originally priced at 80 Saudi Riyals (about $21), was resold for up to 1,012 Riyals ($270). This price gouging likely deterred many fans from attending, leaving the stadium half-empty even during WWE’s Friday night SmackDown episode, which was also filmed at the venue.
At the start of Saturday’s Royal Rumble, announcers claimed over 25,000 fans were expected. However, wide-angle camera shots told a different story, revealing swaths of empty seats. While the crowd grew slightly as the show progressed, the stadium never came close to full capacity. Fans on social media were quick to notice, with one tweeting, ‘Am I tripping? It looks like there’s about 3,000 people at the #RoyalRumble.’ Another fan quipped, ‘This #RoyalRumble has about as much atmosphere as a funeral.’
The backlash was swift and unforgiving. One fan on X summed it up: ‘Nothing screams Royal Rumble like a Saturday afternoon and a bunch of empty seats. This is bad. Never again, please.’ The debacle raises questions about WWE’s future plans, particularly its rumored intention to host WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia as early as 2027. If the Royal Rumble is any indication, the company may need to reevaluate its approach to international events.
Here’s the bold question: Is WWE prioritizing profit over fan experience by partnering with regions where ticketing and logistics are poorly managed? Or is this an isolated incident that can be corrected with better planning? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. One thing’s for sure—if WWE wants to maintain its global appeal, it can’t afford to let its biggest events fall flat like this again.
