9 Wrestlers Who Fell Off HARD In 2025

3. Jey Uso

Jey Uso Sad
WWE

Is there an argument that one of the absolute best wrestlers in the world right now is actually implicit in the creative downfall of the industry?

Why is everybody Hangman Page?

Hanger caught fire in AEW as a rare character with real emotional complexity. He was a funny badass and surefire World champion - but he didn’t believe that himself. He was plagued by self-doubt in a relatable and resonant character arc. He didn’t think he was good enough to one day beat Kenny Omega; when he did, his brilliant, bold approach informed one of the best moments in AEW history.

WWE lifted the blueprint, casting Roman Reigns as the gaslighting heel overlord and his cousin Jey as the sympathetic, ambitious babyface. We’re five years deep into a story that, in 2025, is truly pushing it. The people do love Jey Uso, and have persisted with him despite multiple PLE disasters, but what do they love about him, really?

Jey Uso is such a wild choice to cast as a character with such supposed emotional depth. He does a cool and fun thing with his hands, and is not a particularly good wrestler. It’s a bit like Bushwhacker Luke constantly questioning his sense of morality.

Jey peaked as the underdog babyface at WrestleMania. It was a nice story, which if nothing else cast doubt over future Royal Rumble matches. He’d made it. No more self-doubt. After that, it was back to his various, poorly-acted crises of confidence. Back to a teased feud with Jimmy, for some inexplicable reason.

If you can believe it, Jey actually regressed further in the ring, too. He was so unskilled in 2025 that he hit somebody else with a steel chair and took the most damage. Was wrestling better when goodies and baddies just go on with the business of hating one another?

Yes.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!