With WWE set to take WrestleMania overseas for the first time in 2027, the North American wrestling calendar will be left without its traditional centerpiece. One WWE Hall of Famer believes that void represents a rare chance for All Elite Wrestling.
On the Busted Open Podcast, Bully Ray outlined what he sees as a blueprint for Tony Khan to counter-program WWE’s international move. He argued that AEW should stage its own large-scale event in the United States, giving domestic fans an alternative that same weekend.
“The opportunity for Tony Khan during WrestleMania of 2027 is to put on an event in the United States, WrestleMania-esque,” Bully said. “For the people here, for WrestleCon to piggyback off of, for the independent wrestling companies to piggyback off of—it’s right there in front of him, man.”
He went further, pointing to Chicago as an ideal location. “Do the show in a place like Chicago, right? The middle of the United States where everybody can come from all over… This is your opportunity to put on an event for the United States where, okay, wrestling fans—if they want to take their show all the way over there, fine. Here is what we’re doing.”
Bully’s pitch extends beyond one card. He called for AEW to partner with independent promotions and conventions, creating a full-scale wrestling festival to anchor the weekend. “There is a prime opportunity for Tony to do something, in conjunction with other independents, in conjunction with WrestleCon… to put on an event in the United States that will take the place of WrestleMania,” he said, stressing that long-term planning must start immediately to build momentum.
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The idea directly responds to WWE’s controversial decision to hold WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh as part of Saudi Arabia’s 300-year anniversary celebrations. The move has faced criticism tied to accusations of “sportswashing,” and WWE has confirmed it will be the only WrestleMania held that year, leaving no companion show in North America.
Though 2027 remains distant, Bully Ray’s challenge lays out a clear opportunity. If AEW acts, it could use WWE’s boldest gamble as a springboard to deliver a landmark moment on U.S. soil.