AEW could have a significant decision to make around WrestleMania 43 weekend in 2027, and referee Bryce Remsburg has offered a measured indication that internal discussions have already begun.
WWE is set to take WrestleMania 43 to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, creating an unusual situation for the professional wrestling calendar. WrestleMania weekend has traditionally concentrated much of the industry in one United States market, with WWE programming, independent events, conventions, fan gatherings, and promotions from across the wrestling landscape often operating in close proximity. A WrestleMania staged overseas changes that equation, potentially leaving room for major wrestling events to be held in the United States at the same time.
AEW President Tony Khan has not announced a show for that weekend. He has, however, acknowledged that the possibility is something worth considering. Remsburg, speaking on The Certified Mark Show, was asked about the potential for AEW to run against WrestleMania weekend and did not offer a definitive answer. Still, his comments made clear that the subject is being actively discussed.
“I think I can say that conversations are being had around what we might do that weekend, how about that?” Remsburg said on The Certified Mark Show. “There are some factors out of our control that would contribute to our decisions, so we'll kind of see what happens.”
For more background on this topic, read Matt Hardy Sees Fan Resistance as Potential Hurdle in Adam Copeland’s AEW Title Pursuit.
An Unusual WrestleMania Weekend Landscape
Remsburg’s wording leaves plenty of room for possibilities. He did not identify a host city, name an event, reveal a format, or state that AEW has made a final commitment to run a major show in the United States during WrestleMania 43 weekend. His reference to outside factors also underscores that the planning process is not solely dependent on AEW’s interest.
That uncertainty is understandable given the scale of the weekend and the fact that the dates themselves have not yet been officially announced. The April 10 and April 11 weekend has been reported as the likely target for WrestleMania 43, but WWE has not confirmed those dates as of this writing. Any promotion considering a major event would need clarity on the final schedule, travel demands, venue availability, local market conditions, and the wider slate of wrestling programming before committing to a plan.
WrestleMania being held in Riyadh is the central factor that distinguishes this weekend from the usual WrestleMania setup. Rather than placing WWE’s biggest annual event inside a North American wrestling hub, the company’s flagship show will be thousands of miles away from the United States. For AEW, independent promotions, and fans unable or unwilling to travel internationally, that creates an opening for domestic programming that would not normally exist in the same way.
In prior years, WrestleMania weekend has become a destination period for the entire wrestling industry. WWE’s own shows provide the anchor, while promotions large and small capitalize on the concentration of fans in the host region. The Saudi Arabia location means any U.S.-based alternative would not be physically tied to the WrestleMania host market. That could make it more challenging to reproduce the conventional festival atmosphere, but it could also allow a promotion to build an event around its own audience and its own preferred city.
WWE Already Has New York City Plans
WWE has already announced several New York City-based activities surrounding WrestleMania 43 weekend despite WrestleMania itself being scheduled for Riyadh. Those plans include a WrestleMania watch party, AAA Eternal Glory, and an edition of WWE NXT Stand & Deliver. WWE has also said that more fan experiences will be announced.
The New York City events demonstrate that WWE still intends to maintain a stateside presence during its biggest weekend of the year. That is important context for AEW and any independent promotion evaluating the opportunity. The United States will not be without WrestleMania-related programming; rather, it may feature a more distributed version of the annual wrestling weekend, with the main event in Saudi Arabia and affiliated attractions taking place in New York.
For AEW, the question is not simply whether to present a show while WrestleMania is happening. The key issue is whether there is a way to turn the altered geography into a meaningful event for its own fanbase. A major AEW card could provide an alternative destination for viewers and live attendees in the United States. It could also serve as a focal point for promotions and wrestlers who typically benefit from the attention surrounding WrestleMania season but may not be traveling to Riyadh.
At the same time, Remsburg’s caution is notable. The final WWE schedule, the scope of WWE’s New York activities, the availability of the right building, and AEW’s own touring calendar can all influence what is realistic. A conversation is not an announcement, and his comments should not be read as confirmation that an AEW pay-per-view, television special, or large-scale live event is set for that weekend.
AEW’s 2027 Calendar Begins to Take Shape
While WrestleMania weekend remains unresolved, AEW has begun establishing parts of its 2027 schedule. The company has announced AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash for Atlanta. It has also confirmed that AEW Dynasty will take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on February 7.
Those early announcements show that AEW is already mapping out major dates in the first portion of the year. Dynasty in Liverpool gives the company a notable international event well before the reported April WrestleMania window, while New Year’s Smash in Atlanta puts a prominent television event on the calendar at the start of the year. No AEW event has been announced for the weekend expected to include WrestleMania 43.
The spacing of those known dates may become relevant once WWE confirms its final WrestleMania schedule. AEW will need to assess how a potential April event fits within its existing television production, live-event operations, talent travel, and broader creative plans. The company regularly balances weekly programming with pay-per-view events and special editions of its shows, making the format of any WrestleMania-weekend response an open question.
There is also no indication yet that AEW has selected New York City, or any other specific market, as a possible location. WWE’s announced New York presence makes the city an obvious point of interest, but Remsburg did not connect AEW’s discussions to a location. Until a formal announcement is made, speculation about a venue or event type remains just that.
A Potential Opportunity Beyond One Promotion
The changed WrestleMania landscape could extend beyond AEW. Smaller independent promotions have long used WrestleMania season to reach fans looking for a packed weekend of wrestling. With WWE’s primary stadium spectacle in Saudi Arabia, American independents could see an opportunity to organize their own events and attractions for fans remaining in the United States.
Whether that becomes a concentrated multi-promotion destination or a collection of separate events in different cities will depend on decisions still to come. WWE’s New York programming will naturally draw attention, but the lack of a traditional domestic WrestleMania host city creates an opening that has rarely existed at this scale.
AEW’s involvement would immediately raise the profile of any U.S. wrestling alternative that weekend. The promotion has the roster depth, national television platform, and event experience to stage a substantial card if it chooses to do so. Yet Remsburg’s comments point to a process that remains exploratory rather than finalized.
For now, the clearest takeaway is that AEW is considering its options. Remsburg confirmed that conversations are taking place, while also emphasizing that factors outside the company’s control will help determine the outcome. With WrestleMania 43 dates still awaiting official confirmation and WWE continuing to reveal plans for New York City, AEW’s next move for April 2027 remains one of the more intriguing scheduling questions in professional wrestling.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.