WWEs first-ever Royal Rumble in the Middle East was promoted as a massive milestonebut the optics inside Riyadh led to a lot of criticism. Now, we have an explanation for the noticeable empty sections seen during the broadcast.
According to PWInsider on February 1, 2026, sources within WWE claimed that the appearance of a low turnout was actually due to a new production experiment gone wrong. Specifically, the use of LED lighting on the seats caused the venue to appear emptier than it really was on TV.
WWE officials stated that around 25,000 tickets were moved for the eventa figure that, if accurate, would make Royal Rumble one of the companys largest international shows ever. However, the LED seating effect failed to translate properly on the broadcast feed.
One source reportedly admitted that this specific production approach likely wont be used again when WWE returns to Saudi Arabia:
The clarification comes after fans on social media, particularly in Saudi Arabia, blamed the visibly sparse sections on ticket resale chaos and inflated third-party prices. Original tickets priced around 80 Riyals (roughly $21 USD) were reportedly being resold for as much as 1,012 Riyals ($270 USD), causing many locals to stay home.
While production may have played a part, the conversation around ticket accessibility and crowd experience remains a hot topic.
Do you believe WWEs explanation about the lighting setupor was ticket resale chaos the real issue? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
