Some fans are having trouble getting into SmackDown.
**Update**
Fans wearing AEW shirts are now being allowed in after initially being turned away.
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
**Original**
According to multiple reports, fans wearing AEW shirts have been denied access to tonight's WWE SmackDown. AEW held their announcement rally in the parking lot of TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville earlier today. The rally wrapped up around 6 p.m. ET. A brisk five-minute walk from TIAA Bank Field is Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Area, home of tonight's SmackDown live. Many fans who attended the AEW rally likely purchased tickets to SmackDown or decided to make the walk and buy tickets at the door.
Unfortunately, if they were wearing AEW shirts, they were turned away.
WWE is turning away people from buying tickets who are wearing AEW merchandise
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 8, 2019
This comes from a Pro Wrestling Tees employee who also served as a Penis Druid
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2019
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
Word is WWE is not allowing AEW merchandise in the building tonight
— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) January 8, 2019
my friend was there wearing a shirt and had no issues. another friend saw a group of rowdy AEW fans causing problems and security asked them to calm down and it escalated to them being asked to leave.
— Alex Sarti (@alexwkpartyhard) January 8, 2019
Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Pro Wrestling Tees employees, wearing AEW gear, were in line to buy tickets for SmackDown when security approached them and told them they would not be allowed inside with the gear on. Security reportedly told them, “WWE doesn’t want that in here.”
We'll provide more details on the situation as they are known.
If you missed anything from the AEW rally, you can view Fightful's recap here.
