According to an exclusive report from Pro Wrestling Sheet, fans wearing All Elite Wrestling merchandise have been turned away from attending SmackDown Live. The two men from the report were Pro Wrestling Tees employees, with a member of security telling the ticket office not to let them in courtesy of them wearing AEW merch. This comes just hours after the Double Or Nothing rally also held in the city of Jacksonville, which served as the big kick-off event for the new promotion.
POST Wrestling’s John Pollock also confirmed hearing reports that fans wearing AEW merchandise were being turned away from tonight’s SmackDown venue:
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I’ve heard from several fans with issues at Smackdown tonight regarding the AEW merchandise they had on. One of them told me he was removed from the building and not given option to buy a WWE shirt. I’ve contacted a WWE rep for a statement.
— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) January 8, 2019
According to this fan, he offered to buy a WWE shirt to replace the AEW one, but his offer was declined. He left the building and changed in his car and was able to get back into the arena for Smackdown.
— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) January 8, 2019
WrestleZone has reached out to WWE for comment.
Update: according to the following video, security has now backed off on their stance regarding stopping fans wearing AEW merchandise.
Security is now allowing in AEW shirts after tossing me out for wearing one. I even offered to buy a WWE shirt and they wouldn’t allow me to. I was able to get back in through another entrance after changing pic.twitter.com/TRhGoLlWDD
— Graham (@thagreenlizad) January 9, 2019
Update: John Pollock reports that WWE has denied any ban on “fans wearing AEW merchandise”
A representative from the WWE called me, stated that fans wearing AEW merchandise are "not banned"
— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) January 9, 2019
Check out today’s WZ DAILY Podcast which streamed live right after today’s rally ended.
