With WrestleMania 43 now two years away, word is that Saudi Arabia is prepared to “put up an incredible amount of money” to secure marquee matches with WWE’s most iconic names. The specific legends being discussed are The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels.
Actually booking any of them remains a long shot. Both The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels have shown little interest in another match, particularly after their tag team bout in Saudi Arabia years ago was seen internally as a disaster. For The Rock, WWE has been hesitant to book a title run due to his post-event Hollywood commitments, though a non-wrestling appearance is always possible. Steve Austin, who last competed at WrestleMania 38, remains the most plausible option, but his return would depend on the right storyline and financial offer.
According to Dave Meltzer, the potential payday could be the deciding factor. “Neither Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels nor Rock vs. Austin are matches I’ve heard specifically. But I would presume all of those people will be contacted. And if they want to do it—even if it’s just for the payday—they’ll be able to do it.” While landing any of these icons seems unlikely given the timeframe, the sheer scale of the financial investment is driving these conversations.
The Official WrestleMania 43 Location
This speculation is fueled by the recent confirmation that WrestleMania 43 will be the first installment of the event ever held outside of North America.
The news was accidentally leaked by Turki Al-Sheikh, the Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, in a Snapchat video, with an official announcement from WWE expected to happen this Friday in Las Vegas. The goal is to create the most star-studded card in history.