Jey Uso had a pointed message following Saturday Night’s Main Event.
After losing a match to crown a new World Heavyweight Champion against CM Punk, Uso shared a photo on his Instagram Stories of him looking
up at Punk. The caption read, “Y’all win,” accompanied by a middle-finger emoji.
Jey Uso on Instagram" data-portal-copyright="Credit: Jey Uso on Instagram " />
Fan footage on X also captured Uso’s visible frustration as he pulled down his knee pads post-match. The loss comes after months of criticism online from fans claiming Uso is nothing more than an entrance and a catchphrase.
On Saturday, the backlash seemed to follow him into the arena, as his signature crowd entrance was overshadowed by a fan holding a sign reading, “Oh brother, this guy stinks.” Despite Uso receiving an otherwise warm reception, fans largely sided with Punk.
Fan revolt, which began online, has steadily built since Uso won the men’s Royal Rumble in February. Despite the criticism, Uso shrugged it off on his way to winning the World Title at WrestleMania. Speaking to radio host Peter Rosenberg, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque addressed the backlash surrounding Uso while noting his star’s limitations.
“Is he the most technical guy here? No. Is he the greatest performer on the face of the earth in-ring? No. But he has a charisma and a likability that he lets people in, and they want to see him succeed,” said Levesque.
But after losing the title in June following an uneventful 51-day reign, Uso’s character grew darker and more frustrated. In storyline, other wrestlers have mocked Uso for trying to follow his cousin Roman Reigns, calling him “Little Roman.” Uso’s efforts to emulate the Tribal Chief led him to eliminate his brother, Jimmy Uso, from a battle royal that earned him a shot at Punk.
His behavior after this latest defeat suggests that a change may be on the horizon, especially with a shortage of main-event level heels on Raw and SmackDown. Whether Uso will appear on Raw this Monday with another middle finger, potentially aimed at the entire WWE Universe, is something to watch for.
