Recent WWE booking decisions for Jey Uso, specifically the handling of his brief World Heavyweight Championship run, have drawn sharp criticism from respected wrestling veterans. Main Event Jey’s title reign concluded after just 51 days, prompting questions about WWE’s approach and concerns that the company was reluctant to fully commit to his push.
Critique Over the Handling of Jey Uso’s Title Run
Jey Uso captured the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41, later focusing much of his short reign on a feud with Logan Paul. However, his title loss to Gunther in a rematch came as a surprise to many fans and industry observers, who saw inconsistencies in the booking. Among the critics was Disco Inferno, a WCW veteran, who openly suggested that WWE’s strategy reflected a lack of confidence in Jey’s potential as champion.
During a discussion on K100 with Konnan and Disco Inferno, Disco Inferno analyzed the tendency of major wrestling promotions to pit new champions against less prominent opponents rather than established stars. He indicated that WWE opted not to have Jey defend his title against marquee names before transferring the championship to Gunther, suggesting a fear of risking the credibility of top-tier talent.
“So, they do this constantly. They treat the belt like a prop. They don’t treat the belt like something that should be respected and people should be striving for. It’s like Jey Uso has a belt, and guys like Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, they should all be gunning for Jey Uso… Every company [including WWE] constantly does this; they give the guy the belt because you’re scared because you don’t want your top guys to lose to him and stuff. You’re not going to do that. You put him with characters that he should beat,” Inferno said. (From 11:07 to 11:40) —Disco Inferno, WCW veteran
Legendary Wrestler Rikishi Fatu Voices Displeasure
Jey Uso’s ascent in WWE accelerated after his well-publicized split from his brother Jimmy Uso and The Bloodline faction on Friday Night SmackDown. Despite his rapid momentum, some notable wrestling figures, including his father Rikishi Fatu, expressed dissatisfaction with WWE’s treatment of Jey—especially after his championship loss.
Rikishi Fatu, speaking on his podcast, Rikishi Fatu Off The Top, addressed the company’s decision to schedule a title match between Gunther and Goldberg for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta just a week after Jey lost the World Heavyweight Championship on WWE RAW. The announcement led the 59-year-old Hall of Famer to question the logic and intentions behind the move, suggesting it was financially motivated and did little to maintain the prestige of the championship.
“We all know that’s got to be nothing but the bag. Is Goldberg able to give that type of a match to justify the Heavyweight belt? I mean, this belt has prestige on it, right? How do we get the belt back to Jey, and then we say, ‘Okay, we’re going to get Goldberg? Let’s go get Goldberg; you’re next.’ And then he comes through. I don’t know, man,” Rikishi said. —Rikishi Fatu, WWE Hall of Famer
Wider Impact and Speculation About What Lies Ahead
The focal point of these criticisms is a belief among veterans and fans that WWE needs to show more faith in newer champions like Jey Uso rather than quickly pivoting to well-known stars. Gunther, Goldberg, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes remain fixtures in WWE’s upper echelon, but the company’s swift shifts in booking raise broader questions about its willingness to elevate new names authentically.
With tensions evident both backstage and among viewers, the handling of Jey Uso’s championship storyline has highlighted larger debates about WWE’s creative direction. Jey’s next move in WWE remains uncertain, but ongoing discussion indicates that fans and veterans alike will be watching closely to see whether he receives another meaningful opportunity on the main stage.
