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

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Luchasaurus has opened up about how an unexpected series of events led to his current shoulder injury, linking it back to a night of celebration and a last-minute decision to compete on AEW television. The situation unfolded around AEW’s Holiday Bash edition of Dynamite, where he ultimately entered the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royal despite not being in peak condition.

Speaking on Talk Is Jericho, Luchasaurus explained that his original role for the show was far less physical. However, things changed quickly after he celebrated the New York Knicks’ NBA Cup win the night before. The celebration left him exhausted heading into the event, but he still agreed to compete when asked.

“I was supposed to go maybe do a Santa Claus thing at AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash, but you have to be ready to wrestle. When I got too excited because the Knicks won the NBA Cup, I was drinking on the plane and up all night. I didn’t sleep. They finally won something. I waited 40 years for this. We get there and Tony is like, do you want to be in this battle royal? I’m not going to say no to the boss, who just flew me out here. Yeah, let’s do it. It was a fun spot with Shelton Benjamin. He threw Ricochet to me and I caught him in a chokeslam. Somehow, my shoulder went pop, pop,” Luchasaurus said.

Shoulder injury update reveals long-term damage

The AEW star went on to clarify that the injury was not entirely new, as it worsened an issue that had been lingering for years. According to Luchasaurus, he had been managing a partially torn rotator cuff since 2022, using treatment methods to continue performing.

“I partially tore the rotator cuff and worked through it. We did a PRP injection and band-aided it for a while. Four years later, they both went. It happened. I got the first one done in February. The surgeon wanted to wait six months, but we’re trying to do a faster timeline because we want to get back. I’m going to do the next one three months after, which is a little scary, but I want to get back as soon as I can. I wanted to do them both at the same time, but as soon as I got one done, I realized it would have been insane. It would have been a disaster,” he said.

The timeline matches up with the Knicks’ NBA Cup victory on December 16, just one night before the battle royal took place. Since then, Luchasaurus has remained part of AEW programming in a reduced role, often appearing alongside Jack Perry. His absence from in-ring action was later addressed on television, as he was written off through storyline attacks at Worlds End and the New Year’s Smash edition of Dynamite.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

CM Punk has been removed from WWE’s advertising for the upcoming European Summer Tour, raising further questions about how long his absence from television will continue.

Punk had originally been promoted for the full overseas run, which begins on May 28 in Liverpool, England and continues through the June 22 episode of RAW at The O2 in London. However, WWE has now quietly pulled him from the house show portion of the tour, while he remains listed for select RAW episodes during the UK stretch.

Despite the change overseas, Punk is still being advertised for several major RAW shows in the United States. He is currently scheduled for the July 6 episode at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, his hometown, followed by appearances on July 13 in Dallas, July 20 in Detroit, July 27 in Los Angeles, and August 3 in Des Moines.

Punk has not appeared on WWE programming since the April 20 episode of RAW, which took place the night after WrestleMania 42. On that show, he addressed his loss of the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns and shared a face-to-face moment with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The segment hinted at a possible future storyline, but no follow-up has aired since.

Additional reports have added to the uncertainty surrounding his status. Punk was not backstage at WWE Backlash in Tampa and was also not expected to be present at the May 11 episode of RAW in Knoxville. Speculation had linked him to a potential surprise appearance at Backlash as a mystery partner for Danhausen after commentary teased that the partner would be someone who “loves money,” but that scenario did not materialize.

Following WrestleMania, Punk stated on RAW that he was not planning to take time off. However, the recent adjustments to WWE’s advertising suggest that his absence could extend further into the summer than initially indicated.

AdvertisementAdvertisement