Despite being one of WWE’s most popular acts at the moment, Jey Uso currently has nothing to show for it. The multi-time tag team champion broke away from The Bloodline almost exactly one year ago and seamlessly transitioned into singles stardom. He’s remained consistently over with the audience but has fallen short almost every time it has mattered most, leaving fans to wonder what’s next for him on the Raw roster.
From the moment Jey Uso joined the Raw roster last fall, it was clear he was primed to face Jimmy Uso in a brother vs. brother bout at WrestleMania 40. This shift was the driving force behind losing the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship and failing in various opportunities at the Intercontinental Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship.
However, once that rivalry ran its course, there was no reason for WWE to hold back with Jey any longer. He unsuccessfully challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship once again at Backlash before falling short in the King of the Ring tournament and in the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. Although he’s racked up wins in recent weeks against Chad Gable and Dominik Mysterio, there is no obvious direction for him going forward.
Jey would be a perfect fit in the Intercontinental Championship picture if Bron Breakker weren’t about to win the title, and Gunther winning the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam ensures he won’t be anywhere near that piece of hardware for the foreseeable future. WWE’s only option with Jey might be to keep him in a holding pattern until reuniting with Jimmy in the tag team ranks for an eventual rivalry with the new Bloodline. It’s a logical development yet a waste of what he’s proven he can do on his own.
Logan Paul’s U.S. Title Reign Is Long Past Its Expiration Date
Meanwhile, on SmackDown, Logan Paul might finally be on the verge of losing the United States Championship with his match against LA Knight at SummerSlam now made official. It’s possible WWE extends the program by having Knight lose in their initial encounter, but it’d be better for the social media sensation to drop the star-spangled prize sooner rather than later.
Paul’s run with WWE in the last few years has completely exceeded expectations from an in-ring standpoint, but it’s difficult for him to add to the product in a meaningful way if his appearances are limited to a part-time schedule. It’s even more difficult for him to hold a title because of how infrequently that title will—and has been—defended.
Logan Paul’s track record of exceptional matches since arriving in WWE has been undeniable, and thus the company’s decision to put the United States Championship on him last year was only inevitable. The idea of Paul bringing exposure to the title thanks to his celebrity status outside of wrestling was perfectly fine on paper and arguably worked for a while, but his reign has far surpassed the point of benefiting the product due to his part-time schedule.
WrestleMania 40 would have been the right place for Paul to be dethroned so the U.S. title could be freed up for the spring, but his win over Randy Orton and Kevin Owens that night bought him another few months as champ. In his absence, the SmackDown midcard scene has suffered from not having anything to fight for. LA Knight has been incredibly overdue for a run with the star-spangled prize and should’ve gotten his moment at ‘Mania to avoid the situation WWE now finds itself in.
Two title defenses in an eight-month span isn’t sustainable. The social media sensation can continue to serve as an occasional attraction for WWE, but it’s imperative his reign end at SummerSlam to save SmackDown from having an absentee champion for any longer.
