When WWE created its controversial trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the Crown Jewel last weekendit was widely believed that the promotion would use the event to announce the dates for WrestleMania 43, which will take place next spring in Riyadh. But very similar the upcoming GUNTHER – Finn Balor matchThe WrestleMania announcement was nowhere to be found on the Crown Jewel, and it appears to be related to AEW. Crown Jewel review “Wrestling Observer Radio”, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE most likely wanted to hold WrestleMania on April 10th and 11th, but kept the dates quiet due to a bit of political gamesmanship with AEW.
“It’s the same reason we didn’t have a Royal Rumble match until a few days ago,” Meltzer said. “All this is a political comedy. You want to not confirm it untilā¦ especially now because they don’t have to sell tickets. So what’s the point of confirming this months ago? Usually you put the date on so you could sell tickets and people could make arrangements to go and all that. It’s not even a deal for the show.
āSo it’s just a matter of them not wanting it out and keeping people guessing because obviously everyone expects Tony Khan to do a competition show. And they want to give it to him because they have to announce it a few months in advance, but maybe they don’t want to announce it six months in advance. Who knows?
With WrestleMania coming from North America for the first time, many have speculated that AEW could fill the void with their own main event. WWE previously announced this viewing parties and events from AAA and “NXT” will take place in New York City next Aprilwhich some saw as a local counter to a possible AEW show if it took place in the New York area. While Khan has never confirmed the show, he has hinted that it could be in the works when asked about it at AEW press conferences.
If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio and credit ah/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
