Natalya credits Vince McMahon for paving the way for female WWE superstars to compete in Saudi Arabia.
WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia has reached unprecedented heights since 2018, when Vince McMahon brought the Greatest Royal Rumble to Jeddah. The main event saw Braun Strowman win the 50-man Royal Rumble for the Greatest Royal Rumble Trophy and Championship.
McMahon may have left the company in the aftermath of the ongoing lawsuit involving Janel Grant, but the former chairman of the board continues to be credited by superstars for opening the door for female WWE talent to compete in the Kingdom.
Natalya praises Vince McMahon for fighting hard for greater women’s visibility in Saudi Arabia
During a recent appearance on the Ring the Belle podcast, Natalya revealed that Vince McMahon fought hard for greater women’s visibility in Saudi Arabia.
“I just feel like the women have come such a long way, and Vince McMahon gave me so many opportunities,” Natalya said. “The Saudi Arabia match, I said to Vince McMahon, when WWE first started doing stuff in Saudi Arabia, I said, ‘Vince, I really want to go. I want to be the first woman to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.’
“Vince made it happen. I think Vince really wanted women to wrestle there, too, and he really wanted us to have more visibility there, to be able to do what we love. So I will always be so grateful to Vince for that moment, because he fought for the women to have more visibility in Saudi Arabia. He had to fight. So, look at us now.“
Saudi Arabia will host WWE WrestleMania 43 as part of Riyadh Season in 2027. The official announcement was made by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque in the presence of Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, among others.
Also read: Top WWE Star Shares Excitement For WrestleMania 43 In Saudi Arabia
