WWE is not expected to repeat the elaborate LED lighting setup used for the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For the 2026 Royal Rumble, WWE constructed a custom, temporary outdoor stadium in Riyadh within a month, fitting many of the seats with LED lighting designed to enhance the visual presentation throughout the Premium Live Event. While the effects played well inside the venue, the lighting had an unintended consequence on television, making the arena appear sparsely attended despite being full.
According to PWInsider, WWE sources claimed approximately 25,000 tickets were distributed for the event. One source noted that the company does not expect to use the LED lighting again when it returns to Saudi Arabia, with officials feeling the effect did not translate well on the broadcast compared to how it looked live in the stadium.
The temporary stadium was required because WWE’s usual venues in Riyadh were unavailable due to football commitments.
How Did Fans React To The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble?
Reaction to the Royal Rumble itself was mixed, with Paul “Triple H” Levesque receiving “We want Vince”, “You f**ked up”, and “AEW” chants during the post-show segment. Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan emerged as the winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches.
The company is currently expected to stage two further events in Saudi Arabia in 2026, after holding only one show in the country during 2025. And they will host WrestleMania 43 in the Kingdom in 2027, marking the first time WrestleMania will ever be held outside of North America.
