Latest news with #Rikishi
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rikishi delivers incredible rant after Jey Uso WWE Championship loss
The post Rikishi delivers incredible rant after Jey Uso WWE Championship loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. When Gunther successfully recaptured his World Heavyweight Championship in a RAW main event match against Jey Uso, WWE fans the world over knew one person would have something to say on the matter: Rikishi. Advertisement The patriarch of the Fatu wrestling family, with three sons in WWE and counting, the former Headshrinker took to his Off The Top podcast to deliver an absolute rant blasting the promotion's booking, noting that he believes the writers did his son dirty. 'Are we talking about a kid that 16 plus years, that put in work? We talk about a kid that, combined with him and his brother, merchandise sales to the roof as a tag team now breaks off as single competitor. If you can tell me that anybody else is selling any merchandise higher than 'YEET,' I want you to tell me, by all means, generating revenue for the company. What was that saying? 'What's good for business?' Then you have a kid that put his heart and soul, just like everybody else that's out there on the roster, put their heart and soul to get to that main event spot. Finally, when he gets there, you know what I feel? Here's what I feel. I feel that those are writing for this kid his storyline, you didn't do him justice. You didn't feed this champion the right talent to be able to continue to make this champion. Not a fair shot in my eyes,' Rikishi said via Fightful. 'So you go 51 days. I say fire those that are writing for this kid here, if you can't come up with something simple to promote and push your champion, that you, not me, you decide to put this kid in that position, and then that's it. All of a sudden, the brains went cloudy. You can't write, you can't think of an angle for Jey? Well, if you can't do your job, I say [best of luck in your future endeavors]. Get the h*ll out of the way. Put somebody in that position, because the longer you keep the belt on this kid, the longer merchandise sales go through the roof.' Now, as Dave Metlzer pointed out on social media, this decision wasn't any writer's fault, as WWE creative calls come right from the top, but that didn't stop Rikishi from doubling down on his take, noting that his son deserved better for his years of hard work and merch sales. Advertisement 'So now they passed the belt on to Gunther for whatever reason. Hey, I ain't got no beef with Gunther. I ain't got no beef with any of those that are on the roster. I ain't got no beef with that. If I do, I'm going to say it to your face, because that's just the type of man I am,' Rikishi noted. 'But let me back up. Good luck if that's what your choice is to go that way. But let me back up and continue my thoughts on my son as far as his run as the World Champion. I didn't think it was just his. I didn't think it was fair. 51 days, that was it. I mean, Intercontinental belt? A short run, that was it. What is it against my boy? Would you have done that to Randy Orton? Would you have done that to John Cena?' Why did WWE take the belt off of Uso? Well, that might be because they want to run Gunther versus Bill Goldberg on Saturday Night's Main Event as counterprogramming for AEW All In. But that bit of booking info likely won't quell the fire inside of Rikishi, as he feels WWE did his son dirty and might have a point. Related: WWE star Ron Killings goes off on NSFW rant over harsh transformation criticism Related: Tiffany Stratton's first pitch at Mets game is a doozy
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE Hall of Famer slams TKO over Roman Reigns, Jey Uso treatment
Image via WWE W WE legend Rikishi has launched a scathing attack on the company's creative direction, accusing them of disrespecting his family's legacy - especially Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. The outspoken Hall of Famer voiced his frustrations on his Off The Top podcast, addressing recent decisions that he believes undermine the contributions of The Bloodline. From rumors of a pay cut for Reigns to Jey Uso's short-lived title reign, Rikishi believes WWE is making a 'big mistake' in how it's treating members of the Anoa'i dynasty - a family widely regarded as the greatest in pro wrestling history. Rikishi defends The Bloodline's legacy Rikishi's outrage was sparked by rumors suggesting WWE and its parent company, TKO, are considering reducing Roman Reigns' salary during his current break from TV. For Rikishi, such talk is deeply disrespectful, considering the impact Reigns has had on WWE's success in recent years. Standing On Business!- Rikishi Fatu - Off The Top - Episode 63 'Do the math - WrestleMania, Raw, SmackDown - who's on those posters? Roman Reigns. Jey Uso. Trinity Fatu. That's the Bloodline,' Rikishi said. 'You want to move on, fine. But don't erase our history. We've given our soul to this business.' He added, 'We've never been the problem, we've always been the source. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Past, present, future - we are this industry. Give us our flowers. We're taking it either way.' Short title reign fuels frustration The controversy escalated after Jey Uso lost his WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Gunther on the June 9 episode of RAW, just 51 days after winning it at WrestleMania 41. Fans were upset, and so was Rikishi. AND NEW! | Gunther dethrones Jey Uso for World Heavyweight Title: Raw highlights, June 9, 2025 He criticized WWE's writers for failing to support Jey's title run, saying they should be 'fired' for not being able to build around a rising champion. 'Would you have done this to John Cena or Randy Orton?' Rikishi asked. 'You give the title, and then give them nothing to work with? That's not fair.' Rikishi also pointed to past instances, like Jey's short Intercontinental Title reign - to show a pattern of what he calls missed opportunities for his son. He believes Jey's rise was earned through hard work, fan support, and years of dedication. With WWE seemingly moving in a new direction, questions loom over the future of The Bloodline. Fans and family alike are watching closely. Rikishi's fiery comments have ignited public debate, and it remains to be seen whether WWE will course-correct - or keep sidelining one of its most iconic families. Also Read: Ron Killings vs. John Cena heats up again - What's next for this WWE rivalry?
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Hall of Famer Furious Over Jey Uso World Title Reign
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "Main Event" Jey Uso's reign as the World Heavyweight Champion has come to an abrupt end. More Pro Wrestling: WWE Legend The Undertaker Underwent Surgery After Major Health Scare After defeating Gunther in dramatic fashion at WrestleMania 41, Uso was unable to fend off The Ring General a second time at the June 9, 2025, episode of Monday Night RAW, ending his reign at only 51 days. This shocking loss has caused a massive response from fans and wrestlers alike, with a majority assuming this change was to put a title on Gunther just so he can have one when he faces Goldberg in his upcoming retirement match. Despite this, one WWE Hall of Famer calling for the people booking Uso to be fired altogether. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 21: Jey Uso attends Netflix & WWE "Monday Night RAW" Brunch at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 21, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 21: Jey Uso attends Netflix & WWE "Monday Night RAW" Brunch at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 21, 2025 in Las Vegas, Netflix During an episode of the "Rikishi Fatu Off the Top" podcast, WWE Hall of Famer and Uso's real-life father Rikishi, called out the WWE writers' room, saying that whoever is in charge of the storyline needs to be fired. "Here's what I feel," Rikishi said. "I feel that those are writing for this kid. His storyline, you didn't do him justice. You didn't feed this champion right talent to be able to continue to make this champion. Not a fair shot in my eyes. "So you go 51 days. I say, fire. Fire those who are writing for this kid here. If you can't come up with something simple to promote and push your champion that you, not me, you decide to put this kid in that position. And then that's it. All of a sudden, the brains don't went just cloudy. Rikishi is NOT happy about Jey Uso's run as World Heavyweight Champion and it coming to an end this week. — Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) June 13, 2025 "You can't write. You can't think of an angle for Jay. Well, if you can't do your job, I say, best endeavors. Get the hell out the way. Put somebody in that position. "Because the longer you keep the belt on this kid, the longer you... We talk about what's good for business, merchandise sales to the roof. That's what it is. That's what I knew. If you can't make money for the company, why are you in that position?" Rikishi went on to say that he had no ill will for Gunther or anyone else on the roster, but the booking of Jey Uso, especially when he is one of the top merchandise movers in the company and is from a family that has given everything to professional wrestling and WWE. More Pro Wrestling: Major WWE Change Is Planned For Seth Rollins: Report Since the podcast episode has been uploaded, it has been announced that Uso was the mystery entrant in the King of the Ring tournament that had yet to be announced. Adam Pearce says Jey Uso is in the King of the Ring Tournament — Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) June 13, 2025 With the winner receiving an opportunity to challenge a world champion of their choice, this simply makes the World Heavyweight Championship feel like a cheap prop instead of the most important title on RAW. Sadly, this is coming at the expense of Jey Uso, who has naturally gotten incredibly over with the fans only to receive two short singles championship reigns in response. More Pro Wrestling: Long-Awaited WWE Debut May Be Happening Soon WWE Superstar Natalya Neidhart Makes Pro Wrestling History For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rikishi voices frustration over Jey Uso's WWE direction, calls for booking overhaul
Image via WWE WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has voiced strong concerns over the creative direction surrounding his son Jey Uso, who is currently enjoying his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion. While Jey remains a prominent figure in the promotion, Rikishi believes WWE's decision to book him in a tag team match at Money in the Bank (MITB) 2025 undermines his stature as a singles champion. Speaking on his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi criticised WWE's creative team for what he called 'confusing booking' and even joked that he should be allowed to book Jey's matches instead. 'Bro why? Why? I mean, Jey is a World Heavyweight Champion by himself… just book me so I can book my son's matches out there,' he quipped. Rikishi shows concern over storyline momentum Jey Uso is set to team up with Cody Rhodes to face Logan Paul and John Cena at MITB on June 7. While the lineup looks star-studded on paper, Rikishi questioned the decision to place a reigning world champion in a non-title tag match instead of spotlighting him in a marquee singles bout. 'You beat Logan Paul the first time they lock up? I wouldn't have done that. Should've waited for a gimmick match,' Rikishi added, pointing out that Paul's star power could've been better utilized. YADADAMEAN?! Rikishi Fatu - Off The Top (Episode 61) He also took aim at the upcoming World Title match scheduled for June 9 on RAW, where GUNTHER will challenge Jey Uso. According to Rikishi, the match should've happened much sooner and with added stakes, possibly a stipulation that matches their in-ring reputations. While Rikishi may not be pleased with Jey's creative arc, he was full of praise for two other members of the Samoan dynasty - Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo (formerly Jeff Cobb). Rikishi labeled Fatu a 'future Hall of Famer' and lauded his rise from personal struggles to becoming one of WWE's hottest new stars. He also applauded Mateo's quick impact since debuting at WWE Backlash and likened his physical presence to that of a prime Taz, highlighting his suplex-heavy style and agility despite his build. 'To see him get that financial stability after grinding on the indies - man, I'm proud,' Rikishi said. Fans online appear to agree with Rikishi's sentiment. Many have questioned the lack of title defenses for Jey and criticized WWE for relying too heavily on tag matches featuring champions at Premium Live Events.
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Legend Highly Critical of Jey Uso Booking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After over 15 years in the company, Jey Uso has established himself as one of the most popular Superstars in WWE. This has led to the charismatic wrestler defeating Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41 Night 1. However, not everyone is happy with how Main Event Jey Uso has been booked since his triumphant victory, including someone close to the Superstar. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 19: Jey Uso poses in the ring before his World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 19: Jey Uso poses in the ring before his World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, a recent episode of his 'Off The Top Rope' podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi shared his disappointment with Uso's booking as champion. "Bro why? Why?" Rikishi asked, per Skylar Russell of Fightful. "I mean, Jey is a world heavyweight champion by himself. Okay. Oh, they really need to fire creative service over there now. Just book me so I can book my son's matches out there, man. You know what I mean?" Rikishi then got into more specific details, specifically looking at Uso's tag team match against Paul and Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena at Money in the Bank. "Okay, you had me, but when they brought in Paul," Rikishi continued. "Like I said on a past podcast, I like Logan. I thought uce, he's got skills. He's very entertaining. He knows how to get heat. But damn, I wouldn't have beat him the first time they locked up together. "Could've just waited till a cage match or some type of gimmick match or something. Paul, he's got heat, right? He's got heat and this will probably be his biggest spotlight in WWE. They're both young, Jey is young, Paul is young. Now you beat Paul, now where do you go. Into a tag team bout? Like, okay. Alright." More Pro Wrestling: Additionally, Rikishi explained that he isn't a fan of having the former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther having to wait for a rematch, especially since he has been booked so dominantly. "We're just gonna hunker Gunther out. Just hang around, Gunther," Rikishi concluded. "If I was Gunther, I want Jey right now damnit. Give me Jey right now. It could have went either Jey and Logan or I mean, it has to be some type of gimmick match for him and Gunther. "It's got to be one of those big double cages or something. Just some make believe gimmick type of match to bring some type of excitement to it. Two things can happen, either they give it to Jey again off the gimmick match, which excels him to the next level. "It's bad for Gunther, just alright, where do you go from there? But, it took Jey three times before he beat Gunther, so I think it's only fair to be able to give Gunther three chances and maybe beat him three times. Or not, depends. But still man, it's like, goes back to whoever is writing it. But what do I know." More Pro Wrestling: For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweeks Sports.
