WWE Raw Before WrestleMania 43 Could Be Headed To London

WWE may be taking the biggest Monday Night Raw of the year across the pond.

While speaking on WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Joey Votes said there has been backstage chatter at WWE TV about the go-home edition of Raw before WrestleMania 43 possibly taking place from the O2 Arena in London. That would be a huge move, because WrestleMania 43 is set for Saudi Arabia, and this Raw would go down just days before WWE heads to Riyadh. Joey made it clear this is not official yet, but the talk is out there.

“In an interesting note, we’re told there was chatter backstage at WWE TV this week regarding a potential return to London at a very noteworthy time. According to those familiar with the discussion, there was a locker room speculation that the Go Home edition of Monday Night Raw ahead of WrestleMania 43 can emanate from the O2 arena in London, taking place just days before WWE heads to Saudi Arabia for next year’s WrestleMania. This would be the first Go Home episode of Monday Night Raw to take place outside of North America.”

That is not some random episode of Raw either. The final Raw before WrestleMania is usually one of WWE’s biggest TV shows of the entire year. It is where final angles get locked in, big staredowns happen, and WWE tries to put the last bit of heat on every major match before the biggest show of the year. Joey explained why this would be such a big deal, especially with WrestleMania 43 already being a very different kind of Mania because of its Saudi Arabia location.

“So, TC, this is usually the Raw of the year, the one most people are excited to attend, most people are excited to watch. Everything comes to a head as we get towards WrestleMania. Obviously, WrestleMania going to be a lot different next year going down in Riyadh, but speculation this past week, both Monday and Tuesday, as TV was there both weeks, is that the Go Home show, the biggest Raw of the year, could be coming to London for the first time ever. We don’t know for sure if it’s going to happen. This is just backstage speculation, but it does seem, I guess, at this point, likely.”

TC said the idea makes sense, especially after WWE just ran London before heading to Saudi Arabia. In his view, it could have served as a small preview of what WWE may want to do next year.

“Seems like it was a little bit of a test run this past week, was in London and the pay per view in Saudi Arabia. So I think it makes a lot of sense. I think it makes sense for WrestleMania 43 to have that European tour which we’ve seen around, you know, certain times early in the year, before or after WrestleMania, in Europe. So if you want to tie that into going into an international WrestleMania for the first time, having it take place in Saudi Arabia, why not tie in your European tour around that time?”

Joey pointed out it is still not locked in, but people they spoke with are expecting it.

“Yeah. So again, certainly not official, but those we spoke to, including a talent, that’s what they’re expecting. So we’ll see if it goes down.”

If WWE pulls this off, London would get one of the most important Raw episodes of the entire year, while Saudi Arabia gets WrestleMania 43 just days later. That is a wild travel week, but WWE clearly has no problem taking the biggest pieces of its calendar outside the United States when the money and crowd are there.

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