18 Ups & 15 Downs For WWE In 2023
8. Jey Escapes The Bloodline
It’s not unheard of for a longtime tag team wrestler to break out as a singles star. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Booker T and Nikki Bella spring to mind. But for a twin to be recognized as a successful solo act? Bella might have been the most notable example… until this year.
The Usos are arguably one of the most successful tag teams in WWE history, setting the longevity record for a tag title reign and main-eventing the first night of WrestleMania 39 (more on that later). But it was Jey Uso’s journey as a tortured soul that captivated fans who wanted to see him finally break free of Roman Reigns’ spell, which had bewitched him for years.
But it was Jimmy Uso who broke free first, only to eventually run back to the safety of the Bloodline after a couple months. When Jey finally escaped the gaslighting Reigns and made his way to Raw, he began to blossom even more as a solo star, standing on his own and not as Jimmy’s twin or Roman’s cousin.
Sure, Uso has been helped by his association with Cody Rhodes and friendship with Sami Zayn, but his journey on Raw has been his own and not with the crutch of the Bloodline, even as rivals. It’s safe to say at this point that Jey is going to be just fine as a singles act going forward.