Jey Uso‘s future after World Heavyweight Championship loss is gaining attention following his dramatic defeat on Monday Night RAW, where Gunther claimed the title by putting Uso in a sleeper hold. The 39-year-old’s reign ended after 51 days, and with speculation on his next steps, WWE officials moved quickly to announce his participation in the highly anticipated King of the Ring tournament.
RAW General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed that Jey Uso secured the final spot in the tournament bracket. His first match will put him against major competitors, including Sheamus, Bronson Reed, and Rusev. This opportunity positions Uso back in the spotlight, only days after relinquishing the World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE Tournament Developments Build Momentum
As WWE approaches the Night of Champions premium live event in Saudi Arabia, excitement is growing for both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Across the brands, qualification matches are taking place, with four superstars advancing from Friday Night SmackDown to the semi-finals. Alexa Bliss and Jade Cargill progressed through note-worthy Fatal 4-Way victories, while Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton also clinched their spots, setting up another round of high-stakes matches in the coming weeks.
Jey Uso’s loss on RAW was described as a pivotal moment, as Gunther locked in a sleeper hold and forced Main Event Jey to lose consciousness, ending his championship run. This match outcome not only surprised fans but immediately fueled speculation about what’s next for Uso.
Triple H’s Strategy and Gunther’s Rise
Wrestling industry insider Dave Meltzer reported that Triple H was behind the decision to shift the championship to Gunther. The plan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, is to book a first-time-ever match between Gunther—known as The Ring General—and Goldberg, set for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta. This shift gives Gunther a fresh platform while opening the door for other talent.
Other WWE Headlines: Rivalries and Returns
The WWE roster is buzzing with renewed rivalries. R-Truth—appearing as Ron Killings—made a surprise comeback at WWE Money in the Bank 2025, targeting John Cena with an attack involving the championship belt. The animosity continued on Friday Night SmackDown, where Killings confronted Cena again after a tense exchange involving Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and LA Knight. Officials and security intervened before the situation escalated.
Later, Cena called out Ron Killings, but CM Punk entered the arena instead, setting up anticipation for their upcoming title bout at WWE Night of Champions 2025. When CM Punk exited, Killings re-emerged, catching Cena in his submission hold as Punk watched closely from ringside, taunting his future opponent.
The Fatu Family’s Strong Reactions to Jey Uso’s Booking
Rikishi Fatu, a WWE Hall of Famer and father of Jey Uso, has openly shown support for his sons‘ careers. Recently, Rikishi expressed intense dissatisfaction with the creative direction given to Jey Uso after his recent defeat. Speaking on his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi delivered a passionate critique of the WWE writing team’s management of his son’s storyline during the recent championship run.
“I feel that those that are writing for this kid, his storyline, you didn’t do him justice. You didn’t feed this champion right talent to be able to continue to make this champion. Not a fair shot in my eyes. So you go 51 days. I say fire. Fire those that are writing for this kid here if you can’t come up with something simple to promote and push your champion that you, not me, you decide to put this kid in that position,”
he said. —Rikishi Fatu, WWE Hall of Famer
What Lies Ahead for Jey Uso and WWE
Jey Uso’s surprising exit as World Heavyweight Champion and his immediate entry into the King of the Ring tournament raise many questions about his career trajectory. Fans are eager to see if Main Event Jey can reclaim top status after his loss and whether the new storyline direction will meet expectations, especially given Rikishi’s strong comments regarding the writing team.
The King of the Ring matches, ongoing rivalries featuring CM Punk, John Cena, R-Truth, and the prospects for fresh matchups—like Gunther versus Goldberg—suggest that WWE will remain unpredictable in the weeks ahead. As these storylines progress, the focus remains on Jey Uso’s future after World Heavyweight Championship loss, and whether he will seize the opportunity to make a lasting impact in the tournament and beyond.
