Jey Uso has emerged as one of WWE’s most prominent stars in recent years, thanks to his strong singles push. However, former WWE writer Vince Russo believes there is more behind Jey Uso’s rise, a point highlighted on the Netflix series WWE Unreal. Russo pointed to personality differences that may explain why Jey receives a bigger spotlight than his brother, Jimmy Uso.
Vince Russo Highlights Jey Uso’s Manageable Persona as a Key Factor
In a recent episode of the Writing with Russo podcast, Vince Russo and host Dr. Chris Featherstone discussed why Jey Uso appears favored over Jimmy. One of Russo’s observations concerned Jimmy’s troubled past, including arrests and DUIs, which may have affected his standing. More notably, Russo shared insights drawn from WWE Unreal that suggest Jey’s more compliant and controllable nature makes him a preferred choice for a singles push within WWE management.
Russo commented on the show’s behind-the-scenes footage, explaining how WWE seems to be unintentionally revealing internal dynamics. He noted Jey’s vulnerability to psychological pressure, contrasting it with Jimmy’s more confident and resistant demeanor. This difference, Russo believes, could heavily influence why Jey is pushed more prominently in storylines.
“We got glimpses inside on that Unreal show because they [WWE] think they’re working us, but they’re exposing themselves. I kind of get the feeling that Jey is more controllable than Jimmy. When I watch that Unreal show, they can get into Jey’s head. They can rattle his confidence. They can make Jey believe he’s not all that. You can see that in that show. Jimmy comes across as an older brother, as a little bit more confident, a little bit of you’re not going to get in my head, and Jey looks like he can be manipulated. Maybe that plays into it, I don’t know.”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Roman Reigns Positions Jey Uso as His Future Successor
Roman Reigns has indicated that Jey Uso might be the next to inherit his position as the leading figure on WWE Raw. Upon his recent return, Reigns explicitly told Jey to disregard critics and assert dominance, a message that reassured a ruthless attitude toward rising through the ranks. This stance marked a clear divide from Jimmy Uso, who found himself excluded from Reigns’ endorsement.
On the NotSam Wrestling Podcast, Sam Roberts explained that this represents a significant shift, where Reigns openly acknowledges someone he believes can fill his role as “The Tribal Chief.” Sam Roberts clarified:
“For the first time in the whole run of this character, it would appear based on SummerSlam, based on the buildup, and based on Clash in Paris, the Monday before Clash in Paris, and based on last night, that for the first time, Roman sees somebody that can fill his shoes. And I’m not talking about the guy who steals his shoes, Bronson Reed. That’s not the guy. He stole those shoes. He can’t fill those shoes. He stole them. I’m talking about Jey Uso.”
— Sam Roberts, Wrestling Journalist
Initially, Jey Uso was viewed as Reigns’ heir, but after Jey’s betrayal in 2023, Solo Sikoa was named the successor. Sikoa’s impatience, however, led him to contend for the throne prematurely, culminating in a high-stakes match on the Netflix premiere of WWE Raw, where Reigns reclaimed the Ula Fala championship. Jey’s philosophy now appears aligned with Reigns’ ruthless approach, pushing him closer to the top spot despite opposition from his brother Jimmy, who has confronted Jey about his darker direction.
The Impact of the Push and What It Means for WWE’s Future
The ongoing tension between Jey and Jimmy Uso emphasizes the complexity within WWE’s family dynamics and creative decisions. Jey’s willingness to embrace a tougher persona and WWE’s perception of him as more pliable contribute significantly to his singles push. Roman Reigns’ endorsement further solidifies Jey’s path as a key player in WWE’s future landscape.
How Jey balances this push with internal pressures and personal challenges will be critical for his long-term success. Given his clear positioning by WWE leadership and backstage opinions like those shared by Vince Russo and Sam Roberts, Jey Uso’s rise may signal a reshaping of WWE’s top hierarchy in the coming months.
