Is Jey Uso Really the Right Guy to Dethrone Gunther?
The winner of the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble main event, Jey Uso, decided to face the World Heavyweight Champion, The Ring General Gunther, at WrestleMania 41. The two have faced off multiple times before, with Gunther typically coming out on top. Jey’s Rumble victory shocked many, as he wasn’t a popular pick for the win. While fans immediately speculated he would challenge Gunther for the title, the real question is: do fans truly support Jey? Both Jey and Charlotte Flair faced backlash on social media after their respective Rumble wins, with YouTube videos of their victories garnering more dislikes than likes. Jey's recent match against Austin Theory on Raw in Belgium also sparked criticism, with over 60,000 dislikes and just 15,000 likes. Fans felt the match, which saw Theory get squashed in seconds by a botched spear, was a poor showcase of his talent. So, is Jey really the right choice for this title match?
Gunther has been World Heavyweight Champion for nearly 230 days, having won the title from Damian Priest at SummerSlam. While he has been a credible champion, fans feel his reign doesn’t quite match the dominance of his Intercontinental Championship run, though it still feels like his time at the top is just beginning. Gunther has defended his title against big names like Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, and, of course, Jey Uso. Jey’s last opportunity at the world title was at the January 25th Saturday Night’s Main Event, just before the Royal Rumble. With Jey already declaring for the Rumble match, it made his title challenge feel less significant. Fans have expressed a lack of interest in this feud, even though it pits the Rumble winner against the World Champion. It feels like a missed opportunity for both Gunther’s reign and Jey’s Rumble victory.
Another question is whether Jey can be taken seriously as a World Champion. His brief Intercontinental Championship reign, lasting less than 30 days before he dropped the title to Bron Breakker, didn’t leave much of an impact. While his win was a memorable moment, it was a forgettable title run. If Jey were to dethrone Gunther at WrestleMania, how seriously would fans view him as a long-term champion? His previous title reign didn’t establish him as a strong champion, and the current fanbase doesn’t seem to favor him in this matchup. If he were to win, it might take a lot more than just a Rumble victory to convince fans he’s the right choice for the title.
