Ireland Wants to Host WWE WrestleMania as Government Push Begins

WWE’s global expansion plans may have just opened the door for Ireland to take a serious shot at hosting WrestleMania.

With WWE continuing to take its biggest events international — including WrestleMania 43 heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — officials in Ireland now believe the country could realistically land WWE’s biggest annual show in the future.

According to the Irish Mirror, Kilkenny Councillor Maurice Shortall is preparing to pitch the idea directly to the Irish government, arguing that WrestleMania would bring massive tourism and international exposure to the country.Shortall made it clear he believes Ireland has everything needed to put together a legitimate bid for WWE’s premier event.

“As a globally recognised event with the capacity to attract tens of thousands of international visitors and generate substantial international media exposure, WrestleMania presents a significant opportunity for Ireland to strengthen its position as a leading destination for major event tourism.”

He also pointed to the economic impact the event could have outside Dublin, saying counties like Kilkenny could benefit from tourism overflow and increased international attention.

“The wider regional benefit to counties such as Kilkenny would be substantial, with strong potential for tourism spillover, increased domestic travel, and enhanced international visibility for Ireland’s secondary tourism destinations.”

Shortall continued by explaining why he believes Ireland could actually compete for the event on a global level.

“Ireland is well placed to present a credible and competitive bid for WrestleMania, given our strong international tourism brand, proven track record in hosting major events, and global reputation as a welcoming destination.”

If WWE ever brings WrestleMania to Ireland, the expected location would likely be Croke Park in Dublin — something former WWE Champion Sheamus has publicly supported in the past.

Ireland already has a major presence on WWE television with stars like Becky Lynch, Sheamus, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, and Lyra Valkyria all representing the country on the roster. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh previously held the WWE World Tag Team Titles together, giving Ireland even more visibility on WWE programming.

WWE has become increasingly aggressive about taking premium events outside the United States, especially as cities and governments continue offering major financial incentives to land those shows. With Saudi Arabia already confirmed for WrestleMania 43 and New Orleans still expected to receive a future WrestleMania after losing this year’s event to Las Vegas, the race for future locations has become far more competitive.

Do you think Ireland should host a future WrestleMania event? What city deserves it most? Drop your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.