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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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According to the latest "Wrestling Observer Newsletter," negotiations are underway to bring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to the main event of WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. The event is set to be the first WrestleMania held outside of the United States, with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) of Saudi Arabia involved in organizing the show.
"Wrestling Observer" editor Dave Meltzer reported that sources close to the GEA, led by Turki Alalshikh, have indicated that the show is official and that talks with Johnson are advancing. Meltzer noted that those close to the matter believe the deal is close to being finalized, though WWE has not confirmed this information.
A Record-Setting Payday
Meltzer added that the financial structure of the event may depend heavily on Johnson's participation. "The impression is that the final payment number for the show will be affected by whether or not they get The Rock in the main event. The idea is that the individual payoff for Johnson would be multiple times that of any pro wrestler for any event in history," Meltzer wrote.
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The Rock headlined WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, teaming with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 before playing a role in the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2.
His involvement generated mainstream attention and was credited with boosting WWE's business during WrestleMania season. He has not wrestled since then and he did not appear at this year's WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
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WWE's Partnership with Saudi Arabia
WWE's deal with Saudi Arabia, established in 2018, calls for two premium live events per year in the country as part of a multi-year partnership. Adding WrestleMania to the lineup marks an expansion of the agreement and underscores Saudi Arabia's push to host high-profile global sports and entertainment events. If finalized, Johnson's reported payout would set a new record for professional wrestling compensation.
At this time, WWE has not commented on The Rock's potential involvement in WrestleMania 43. The official WrestleMania 43 announcement from WWE is expected soon.
More WWE News:
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- Released WWE Star Breaks Silence On Departure
- Released WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
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