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Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter says WWE is holding back the WrestleMania 43 dates on purpose, to give AEW as little time as possible to plan a competing show that weekend.
Meltzer gave his take on the November 8 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. WWE held Crown Jewel in Riyadh on November 7, the same city already named as the host of WrestleMania 43, and said nothing about the dates for the show. Meltzer believes the silence is a deliberate move against AEW president Tony Khan.
“It is the same reason why we did not have a Royal Rumble date until a couple days ago. It is all political jockeying. You want to not confirm it until,” Meltzer said. “They do not want it out and keep people guessing because obviously everyone expects Tony Khan to do a competitive show head to head, and they want to give him as little time as possible.”
Meltzer said the April 10 and 11, 2027 dates that have been reported are probably right, but WWE has not confirmed them. Riyadh is confirmed as the host city. The company has not said publicly why it has not announced the dates, so Meltzer’s read is his own and not a company statement.
WWE and AEW have run shows close together more than once in recent weeks, and the two companies are set to clash again in early 2027. The Royal Rumble is set for February 6 and 7, 2027 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with AEW Dynasty in Liverpool the next day.
WrestleMania 43 is expected in April 2027, and WWE will have to announce the dates a couple of months ahead of the show at the latest. For now, the dates stay unconfirmed.
What is confirmed is that Riyadh will host WrestleMania 43 and that WWE said nothing about the dates at Crown Jewel. What is not confirmed is the April 10 and 11 dates, or whether keeping AEW guessing is the real reason for the delay.
Source: Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio, November 8, 2026 (via Khel Now)
