WWE has been made aware of growing frustration from fans regarding the volume and timing of advertisements during its programming, particularly since the start of the TKO era. While no visible changes have been implemented yet, discussions behind the scenes suggest the company understands the issue and may be working toward improvements.

Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, actor and longtime WWE fan O’Shea Jackson Jr. recently shared details of a direct conversation he had with Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon about what he described as excessive ad placement.

Jackson did not hold back when explaining his concerns, particularly about how advertisements disrupt key moments in WWE shows.

“I told this to Triple H and Stephanie when I did Stephanie’s show,” Jackson said. “I told them, the ads and the timing of them are horrendous. This was like five, six months ago or something crazy like that when I went to do Stephanie McMahon’s pod. Afterwards, because I did it at WWE headquarters, Triple H comes down, we’re all talking, and I brought up my transgressions. And I was like, ‘Dude, the ads are crazy. Like, it’s almost unwatchable.’ And, like, they know. It’s just about, they’re working on placement of them maybe.”

WWE advertisement complaints grow among fans

Jackson also pointed to specific examples where ad timing impacts the viewing experience, especially during entrances and key segments.

“I get it, Roman Reigns’ entrance is seven minutes long, but that doesn’t mean that’s the time to throw the ads in. I should not — there should never be a moment where I miss IYO SKY’s entrance because ‘we are back from commercial break.’ It’s a level of respect for them. It’s fine in the middle of a match, but at least picture-in-picture me.”

Fan dissatisfaction reached another level during WrestleMania 42, where WWE featured a record number of marketing partners. The event included brands such as Snickers, DoorDash, Wingstop, and Minute Maid, among others.

Although WWE has not yet adjusted its broadcast format, the acknowledgment from company leadership indicates that the feedback has been heard. Whether that leads to meaningful changes in how ads are integrated into programming remains to be seen.

Jackson’s appearance on McMahon’s podcast was released in January 2026. In addition to that, he also co-hosts the wrestling-focused podcast “No-Contest Wrestling,” produced by ESPN in partnership with The Rich Eisen Show.

WWE Advertisement Complaints Addressed After Fan Backlash in TKO Era

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