WWE faces mounting fan frustration with Jey Uso's 2025 singles push, highlighted by his shocking Royal Rumble victory amid a stacked field, brutal online ratios like 90,000 dislikes to 15,000 likes on highlight videos, and reports of repetitive promos and botched spots eroding credibility.
Royal Rumble Shock: Outlasting Legends in a Stacked Field
Jey Uso's 2025 Royal Rumble win stunned fans, eliminating John Cena (retirement tour), Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins in a field of main event heavyweights, drawing immediate backlash questioning booking logic. WWE insiders dismissed YouTube dislikes as unreliable (third-party extensions only), insisting arena pops and creative decisions ignore online metrics, yet widespread criticism—from "wrong winner" to simulator mockery—signals disconnect.
In-Ring Limitations Exposed: Limited Moveset and Botches
Triple H admitted Jey's not "most technical" or "greatest performer," praising charisma over skill, while Jey conceded others outwrestle him despite top positioning. Matches reveal issues: limited offense (superkicks, Samoan drop, underwhelming spear), botches like Raw dive fails, Punk neckbreaker over-rotation (preceded by "choking" heckles), and Instagram frustration posts ("You'll win" with middle finger).
Promo Fatigue and Character Stagnation
Post-Bloodline, Jey's "Yeet" catchphrase grew stale, with Vince Russo criticizing emotional IC title promos as manufactured for predetermined props. Rikishi defended 17-year skills on his podcast, but repetition without depth fuels "entrance-only" perceptions despite Cena feuds.
Cena's Final Match Dilemma: Gunther vs. Jey Debate
With Cena's December 13 retirement bout via Last Time Is Now tournament semifinals (Jey vs. LA Knight, Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa), fans decry Jey as Cena's foe insulting his legacy against Edge/Orton/Punk/Rock/Lesnar. Gunther—666-day IC record, World Heavyweight Champ, King of the Ring—offers technical brutality (chops, Boston crab, powerbombs) praised by Shawn Michaels, per Meltzer reports listing Cena-Gunther internally. Punk pitched himself via Money in the Bank 2011 nostalgia; Jey's WrestleMania 41 title reign faced similar skepticism.
Fan Backlash Metrics and WWE Defiance
Social media floods with "worst Rumble booking," arena chants notwithstanding participatory entrances—crowds "what" Goldberg or beach balls too. Jey's post-Punk loss frustration hints heel shift/Bloodline return, but fans demand Knight/Gunther finals for Cena's torch-passing gravitas.
