Fox’s U.S. broadcast of the June 28, 2024, WWE SmackDown from Madison Square Garden reportedly cut to black during two moments: a fan’s middle-finger gesture near Nia Jax and profane chants directed at Indiana Pacers player Tyrese Haliburton. Reports citing Fightful Select said multiple people in WWE were frustrated with the heavy editing. Fox did not publicly explain the specific cuts in the sources covering the incident.
What prompted the blackouts?
During a match featuring Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill and Candice LeRae, Nia Jax came to ringside. TJR Wrestling reported that Fox’s U.S. viewers saw a black screen for several seconds after a young fan near Jax made a middle-finger gesture. Later, when Haliburton appeared on screen, New York Knicks fans reportedly chanted profanity at the Pacers, and the Fox feed again went black. TJR Wrestling’s June 29 account describes both incidents.
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These are contemporaneous reports about what appeared on the broadcast, not a confirmed explanation from Fox. The available coverage does not establish why Fox chose a video blackout in either instance.
Why were people in WWE reportedly upset?
411Mania, citing Fightful Select, reported that multiple people within WWE were frustrated with the live broadcast’s censorship. It quoted an unnamed WWE talent who was not at the show, saying: “It’s a chore to watch sometimes. I understand censoring ‘**** the Pacers,’ but it feels like every segment is edited and it makes us look like it’s our production.”
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The criticism was not simply about removing profanity: the reported concern was that repeated edits made the broadcast appear to be WWE’s own production choice. The quote is attributed to an anonymous talent, not WWE leadership, and represents that person’s reported view rather than an official company statement.
Did every viewer see the black screens?
No. TJR’s writer said they watched the Canadian Sportsnet feed and did not see the blackouts. The reported incidents therefore concern Fox’s U.S. feed; the available account does not establish that every broadcaster or platform showed the same edits.
Was this part of a broader pattern?
There was a separate reported example earlier in 2024. NoDQ’s March 2 report, relaying a PWInsider account, said Fox censored a fan’s “DIE ROCKY DIE” sign during The Rock’s March 1 segment and muted audio during profane chants. That earlier incident provides context for the June complaints, but it does not prove a universal Fox policy or explain the decisions on June 28.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is SmackDown still on Fox?
No. Fox’s agreement to air SmackDown ended in 2024, and the show returned to USA Network in the United States in September 2024, according to TJR’s contemporaneous account. The censorship dispute concerns a past Fox broadcast, not a current Fox–SmackDown relationship.
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