4 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Raw (24 Mar - Results & Review)

2. Jey Uso: Shockmaster 2.0

This has got to be a rib, right?

Jey Uso has been faltering in his quest to dethrone Gunther, not just in storyline, but in the perception that he simply isn’t up to the task of hanging with a world champion on the biggest stage WWE has. After a white-hot start in February, things have cooled off considerably in recent weeks.

WWE’s solution? Turn Jey’s stumbles into a storyline. A literal stumbling storyline.

Monday, the Usos reunited to take down A-Town Down Under, only for Gunther to appear and dump Jimmy Uso before turning his attention to Jey. The two brawled momentarily before Jey got the upper hand and set up for the spear… only to slip and fall, allowing the Ring General to flatten him and drive elbows into his WrestleMania 41 challenger’s side until Jimmy chased him off with a chair.

Later, the Usos were backstage with Jimmy asking what fans have been asking: What’s been up with Jey these last few weeks? He keeps messing up, and if it continues, he’ll lose at 'Mania. No sh**.

The difference here is that in recent weeks, the faltering has been in the form of poor matches, lackluster brawls, and looking out of his depth. This isn’t some elaborate, weeks-long nuanced storytelling that bubbled over in the spear stumble. The stumble was akin to WCW acknowledging that the Shockmaster wasn’t the “next big thing” and turning his debut tumble into part of his actual gimmick.

Jey’s “not ready for primetime” reveal is being parlayed into the story. The difference here is that, unless Uso and Gunther perform a Vegas-worthy magic show at WrestleMania, it’s going to be obvious that this wasn’t “all part of the act,” but rather was a desperate attempt to cover up a hole in the wall with a flimsy poster.

Uso should be winning undercard matches in convincing fashion to make believers out of everyone, not doubting himself while his twin goes to fight his battles for him. Just a colossal disappointment here.