All Elite Wrestling (AEW) reportedly imposes fines on its talent for using profanity during broadcasts.
During the September 16 edition of AEW Dynamite, Francesco Akira and Will Ospreay were involved in a segment where Akira stated it was time to ‘kick the sh*t out of the Death Riders.’ Ospreay subsequently offered to pay any fine Akira might incur for the comment.
Dave Meltzer, reporting on Wrestling Observer Radio at F4WOnline.com, indicated that Akira has previously been fined for swearing on live television. Meltzer explained that AEW maintains a $500 penalty for profanity, suggesting that this amount might not sufficiently deter talent from using explicit language on air.
Although AEW typically enjoys greater latitude regarding profanity compared to broadcast television programming, advertiser concerns continue to influence the language permitted on its shows.
Cable programming is not bound by the same FCC indecency regulations as over-the-air broadcast television, yet networks and advertisers can enforce their own guidelines on profanity.
