WWE Reportedly Want Rock, Stone Cold, More Legends for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia

Amid rumors of WrestleMania taking place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, multiple WWE legends are reportedly expected to be contacted about participating in the event.

Speaking Thursday on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk) said he "would presume" that The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels will all be approached about having matches at WrestleMania 43 should it be held in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh said in a since-deleted Snapchat live video that WrestleMania 43 is coming to Saudi Arabia in 2027.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson later confirmed the validity of the announcement, noting that a "100 percent legitimate" press release was sent out about WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia before being pulled.

Per Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk), WWE originally wanted to wait until 2028 to hold WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, but Saudi Arabia pushed for 2027 since it will be the country's 300th anniversary.

Meltzer added that there are desired matches involving WWE legends that Saudi Arabia is "working really, really hard to get," although no specific matchups were mentioned.

He went on to say that if any high-profile, Hall-of-Fame-caliber legends in the vein of The Rock, Austin, The Undertaker or Michaels are interested in wrestling at WrestleMania 43 and getting a big payday, they'll "be able to get it on that show."

The Rock is part of the TKO board of directors, and he has had a presence on WWE programming at times in recent years.

Most notably, he returned leading up to WrestleMania 40 and was initially slated to face his cousin, Roman Reigns, for the WWE Championship before the decision was made to go with Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes instead.

Still, The Final Boss competed at WrestleMania 40, teaming with Reigns in a winning effort against Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of Night 1.

The Rock vs. Reigns arguably remains the biggest dream match that hasn't yet happened, and it stands to reason that it is a bout Saudi Arabian officials would like to have on a major show like WrestleMania 43.

Another dream match that may still be possible is that of Austin vs. CM Punk, which was teased well over a decade ago during Punk's first run with the company.

It never came to fruition, and it seemed like Austin was retired for good, but he came back a few years ago at WrestleMania 38, beating Kevin Owens in the main event of Night 1.

Austin is 60 years old now and it is unclear if he has any interest in having one more match, but Stone Cold vs. Punk is a bout fans have long called for due to the dichotomy of their characters.

The Undertaker is also 60, and he hasn't wrestled since beating AJ Styles in the Boneyard Match at WrestleMania 36 in 2020.

Since it took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that match did not occur in front of a live crowd, so it is fair to wonder if Taker would have interest in coming out of retirement to end his career in a more traditional way.

Michaels, 60, retired after WrestleMania 26 in 2010, only to come out of retirement eight years later at Crown Jewel 2018 to compete in a tag team match pitting him and Triple H against The Undertaker and Kane.

The match was an unmitigated disaster due to Triple H getting injured early on and Kane losing his mask, so it is fair to say HBK didn't go out on a high note.

Competing at WrestleMania 43 would give him a chance to write a better final chapter, and since he is in charge of NXT, he could potentially put over one of his guys in the process.