WWE Fans Are Bitterly Divided About Jey Uso Winning The Royal Rumble, And Both Sides Have A Point

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Approximately twelve hours have passed since the 2025 Royal Rumble concluded, and I’m still in a state of disbelief about the unexpected turn of events. Former tag team legend Jey Uso, now a rising upper mid-card/lower main event star, stunned everyone by triumphing over one of the most impressive fields in the Rumble’s history. In a night where WWE had the opportunity to select at least five more predictable future Hall of Famers such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre, it was Jey Uso who claimed victory instead. This decision left fans debating fiercely about whether it was a pleasant surprise or a disappointing one.

Initially, I’d like to clarify some points for those who aren’t die-hard wrestling enthusiasts. The WWE hosts the Royal Rumble annually in January or February. The winners from both men’s and women’s competitions have an incredible opportunity – they get to challenge for a title of their preference at WrestleMania, which is the most significant wrestling event held in April. To sum it up, this year’s Royal Rumble winner, Jey Uso, will be participating in one of the main events at WrestleMania.

From my perspective as an ardent WWE enthusiast, it’s undeniably one of the most exhilarating shifts in years, offering a breath of fresh air compared to the past when things seemed to revolve around the same tried-and-tested superstars under Vince McMahon. His approach often leaned towards repeatedly elevating the same proven stars, which left many yearning for more diversity.

On the other hand, some fans view this change as an excessive reach that seems to disregard numerous seasoned performers who have a richer and longer history of delivering captivating matches in high-profile moments. The debate is intriguing, and I’m eager to delve deeper into both perspectives.

Let’s consider the reasons that make Jey Uso a strong contender for the Royal Rumble winner. Throughout his career, he has primarily worked as part of a tag team with his brother Jimmy Uso. The duo, known as The Usos, have amassed eight tag team championship titles and even headlined the opening night of WrestleMania 39. Their contributions to the Bloodline storyline, which many fans consider the best in wrestling history over the past few years, have been substantial.

Moreover, Jey has been stepping out more as a solo performer in recent times. In 2023, he shared the limelight with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, and in 2024, he wrestled his brother Jimmy Uso at WrestleMania 40.

Due to his distinctive phrase “YEET” and electrifying entrance routines where he pushes through the audience and performs synchronized arm gestures, he has become incredibly popular among fans. In fact, he’s surpassed numerous top stars in merchandise sales within the past few months. It could be argued that he currently receives more crowd engagement than any other performer on the roster. Fans frequently scream “YEET” after every word or sentence he says when speaking into a microphone. This level of fan devotion is something every performer aspires to achieve, and it’s what has led famous figures like Travis Scott to join him during his entrances. It’s also why so many fans were thrilled to see him win last night.

WWE’s official Instagram post congratulating Uso has almost 200,000 likes already, and X exploded after his win with fans talking about how much he deserved it and what a great shock it was. Other WWE superstars also sent out more than their share of YEETs and positive social posts talking about how thrilled they were. Clearly, there’s an enormous groundswell of support for Uso.

It’s understandable why WWE has such high confidence in Uso, but not everyone shares the same view, particularly dedicated wrestling enthusiasts. In fact, some are outright angry about this. My fellow writer at TopMob, Mick Joest, attended the Rumble and reported that a considerable number of spectators seemed disheartened. This dissatisfaction was also evident on social media, where numerous tweets criticizing WWE’s booking decision as their worst ever and questioning their reasoning attracted thousands of likes. I can see why they feel this way.

Jey and Jimmy are known for their outstanding tag team performances during crucial events. However, critically, many of Jey’s individual matches haven’t been as favorably received by fans. The match with Jimmy at WrestleMania 40 was criticized for its illogical narrative, being labeled the worst match at that event. His bouts against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2023 and Drew McIntyre during Raw’s Netflix debut are frequently discussed as some of the weakest in their respective title runs. Even his matches against Gunther, who is highly respected for his in-ring skills, have received only mediocre feedback.

For many spectators, the issues within the ring seem to be indicative of a deeper problem with Uso’s performance style. While he enjoys immense popularity, much of this stems from his ability to engage with the crowd in a call-and-response dynamic, which can become quite repetitive. During promos, it’s entertaining for fans to join in and shout “YEET” between each sentence, but this frequent pausing for audience participation makes it difficult to establish momentum and convey significant messages.

Moreover, due to his tendency to play to the crowd in an over-the-top manner during in-ring moves, Uso appears less convincing and often resorts to a limited set of moves that are well-received by fans and generate positive responses.

Recently, Gunther referred to him as WWE’s company emblem, suggesting that while he is well-loved by fans, he’s more of a circus act than a serious contender. Leading up to WrestleMania, he plans to argue his case for being a genuine performer deserving of respect. However, the divided fan reaction indicates that there are many people he needs to convince before they take him seriously.

It’s uncertain if we’ll recall this booking decision down the line a few years. The wrestling industry has a pattern of mid-tier artists who gained popularity with an entertaining slogan, only to fade away after a brief spell. However, there are exceptions too – performers who leveraged their catchphrase into main event status for the remainder of their careers.

I’m in a quandary. I appreciate Uso and I’m glad for him, but I believe he should substantiate why he was chosen over Cena, Punk, Reigns, and others. I have faith that he has the potential, but he needs to move beyond repeating his old routines and offer fresh content instead. He needs to weave a more complex narrative, rather than relying too heavily on “YEET,” and he’ll need to deliver a solid match at WrestleMania to back it up. Here’s hoping he can pull it off.

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2025-02-02 21:07