Jey Uso has picked a phrase with an owner.
He posted on Instagram calling himself his favourite wrestler’s favourite wrestler. The wording belongs to AJ Lee, who built it into her presentation after returning to WWE last September and who fans have run with since.
Whether Jey was referencing her or simply reached for the line is not clear, and he has not explained it. What is clear is that people noticed immediately.
The reaction is stronger than it would be for most because of where he already sits with a section of the audience. The “you can’t wrestle” chant has followed him online for a while and caught up with him in person last week, when crowds in Quito, Bogota and Buenos Aires spent three nights on it during WWE’s South America tour. He responded by telling South America not to disrespect him again or he would go home.
He had also argued on September 3 that his online critics never say any of it to his face. Six days later an arena did.
Lee’s version of the phrase has landed differently, helped by a career that ended in 2015 and a comeback that has not needed defending. She has not been on television since losing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship back to Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42 in April, and told Mind Over Mountain this month that she is staying ready for the right story.
Jey remains a former World Champion and one of WWE’s biggest merchandise sellers. CM Punk made that point in January, noting that he competes with Jey and John Cena for t-shirt sales on any given night.
