TKO’s new Arizona deal opens the door for WWE Royal Rumble return

The agreement is expected to bring several major WWE and UFC events to Arizona over the next three years. While dates and venues have not yet been confirmed, the Royal Rumble immediately emerged as one of the most anticipated events tied to the partnership.

Over the last several years, WWE has expanded its reach far beyond the United States. Most recently, the Royal Rumble was held in Saudi Arabia in January, continuing WWE’s push to turn its premium live events into global attractions rather than strictly domestic endeavors.

Charlotte Flair celebrates winning Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Phoenix already holds a unique place in Royal Rumble history, hosting the annual event in January 2019 at Chase Field — marking the first time WWE held the event inside an MLB stadium. More than 48,000 fans attended, transforming the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks into one of WWE’s largest-ever venues for the spectacle.

The event stretched beyond a single night, turning downtown Phoenix into a multiday entertainment destination with RAW, SmackDown and NXT TakeOver surrounding Royal Rumble weekend.

Fireworks go off after Charlotte Flair won Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While the event provided a financial boost for both Arizona and WWE, it also represented a cultural milestone for the company. Chase Field’s scale allowed for larger production, expanded entrances and a stadium atmosphere outside of WrestleMania that later became standard for many of WWE’s premium live events.

Now, with the Valley slated to host some of WWE’s largest events over the next three years, fans will once again see their sports culture intertwined with professional wrestling. Whether in Glendale, Phoenix, Tempe or elsewhere, the continued expansion of combat sports into Arizona reinforces the state’s growing status as a major destination for major sporting events.

Roman Reigns gets introduced Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The return of the Royal Rumble would place Arizona back on the global sports stage while revisiting a city that already helped redefine what the spectacle could look like.