Opinion

Professional wrestling thrives on crowd participation and a passionate fanbase unmatched by any other form of entertainment, but that doesn't mean the customer is always right.

The industry is in an interesting place right now because its audience is more outspoken than ever, and the top companies have immediate access to a sample serving of our feedback through social media. However, it's often hard to tell what's merely a vocal minority until it translates into live show reactions.

Still, it's difficult to distinguish how much the fans' response should dictate the direction of major storylines or encourage a company to invest in or repackage a popular wrestler.

Sure, there are countless examples of a well-timed course correction paid dividends or unforgettable instances where someone ignored the evident outcry, which led to a regrettable outcome.

Regardless, there are many examples where a company stayed the course, and we were pleasantly surprised, too. Of course, there are more moments like the "Yes Movement," The Rock's heel turn, or #WeWantCody than exceptions such as Walter's name change to Gunther.

So, WWE or All Elite Wrestling should listen to the overwhelming response from their viewers more often than not, but it's a tough balancing act. The creative team and ownership must decide when it is better to trust the plan they have mapped out and motivate the fans to be patient or heed their reception as proof it's not working.

The following are two current situations where the audience may be right now, but each company must determine the best option in the long run.

What is Jey Uso's Ceiling?

On February 1, Jey Uso shocked the wrestling world when he eliminated John Cena to become the 2025 men's Royal Rumble winner.

The result garnered a largely positive response from avid WWE fans because the 39-year-old enjoyed such a successful jump to Raw. His catchphrase and infectious energy during his entrance instantly caught on, and his short stint as intercontinental champion and merchandise sales ultimately proved his worth as a singles competitor.

More to the point, this was a rewarding moment for viewers who have followed his journey since he took on Roman Reigns in 2020. It's almost poetic that Uso earned the opportunity of a lifetime while The Tribal Chief attempts to regain everything he lost last year.

Nevertheless, some online fans weren't happy with his Rumble win because he had just lost to Gunther one week prior at Saturday Night's Main Event. Some of his most high-profile matches were also a bit underwhelming.

His showdown with his twin brother, Jimmy, at WrestleMania 40 was almost universally panned, and he didn't really flourish in any of his world title matches in 2024.

Still, it's hard to argue Main Event Jey doesn't deserve the chance to win the big one on The Grandest Stage of Them All, because he's so incredibly popular.

It’s a little troubling that the excitement for his rematch against The Ring General has seemingly plateaued, though. That's not necessarily his fault because the fans still cheer for him, but the segments are growing repetitive.

Cena's heel turn and the build for Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk have quickly overshadowed their storyline. Even more, Cody Rhodes' recent appearances on Raw and SmackDown to promote his match with The Rock's new ally have also undercut Uso's momentum following the Rumble.

One could even argue that his win feels like a means to ensure Cena would be in the men's Elimination Chamber match for a bigger moment in retrospect. After all, this wouldn't be the first time WWE rewarded a fan favorite but immediately made it clear they're not the company's top priority.

It still feels like now or never for Jey, so he has to win at The Showcase of the Immortals. This isn't a great sign for his chances of headlining the event or his potential world title reign, though, because it already feels like he's lower in the pecking order than more recognizable superstars.

Should Swerve Strickland Dethrone Jon Moxley?

This was a cool way to end the show. Loved that. pic.twitter.com/kzh9viNWXp

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) March 10, 2025

Meanwhile, AEW must address the growing criticism of The Death Riders and its world championship.

Revolution was an excellent show, but the main event was still the low point on a night packed with incredible in-ring action. Jon Moxley vs. Cope was widely considered the worst match on the card, and Christian Cage's Casino Gauntlet Cash-In was anticlimactic, to say the least.

At least, Swerve Strickland's re-emergence as the new No. 1 contender salvaged the ending and sent the Crypto.com Arena crowd home happy. The Most Dangerous Man in AEW also secured the win over Ricochet and capped off a great story with Prince Nana earlier.

Strickland was undeniably the most popular wrestler on Dynamite last week, and the reaction to him at the pay-per-view was just as loud. So, it's the perfect time to challenge Mox, and he should win for the second consecutive year at Dynasty on April 6.

The Death Riders angle has produced some of the most cumbersome and uninspiring title matches in the history of AEW. Even worse, it has completely lost the plot after a compelling start at WrestleDream last October.

We've assumed this will lead to Darby Allin's return to defeat Moxley after his struggle in 2024, but he won't be back anytime soon, and AEW can’t afford to wait. Mox has been calling for someone on the roster to step up, and Strickland fits the bill as someone who could match his intensity.

Moreover, many fans weren't ready to see him drop the AEW World Championship at All In London last August, and he has continued to be one of the company's most valuable assets since his loss to Bryan Danielson.

There's unfinished business between Strickland and "Hangman" Adam Page, and their rivalry should culminate in a title match later this year.

The prevailing takeaway from Revolution was that it's time to move on from Moxley's run as The King of These Lands because at least five men have proved they're ready to dethrone him. And Strickland leads the pack as the No. 1 contender.

With WrestleMania 41 right around the corner, WWE is looking to finalize the card for this year's two-night event with two potential Triple Threat matches.

Most of the biggest matchups started to take shape following Elimination Chamber and Royal Rumble. However, the opening and closing moments of Monday's Raw may have given viewers a glimpse at two more high-profile contests planned for The Showcase of the Immortals.

CM Punk opened the flagship show this week with a blistering promo, which led to another pull-apart brawl with Seth Rollins. Tension between these two bitter rivals has been brewing since The Straight Edge Superstar returned in November 2023 at Survivor Series: WarGames.

Still, it's unclear if next week's steel cage match will be enough to settle this feud or if another noteworthy star will emerge to set up a rumored multi-man match.

Meanwhile, Iyo Sky's upset win in the main event gives WWE the perfect opportunity to weave three long-standing plot threads together.

Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley Would Be A Welcome Addition

Although nothing could top John Cena's heel turn, Sky's world title win proved WWE still had some tricks up its sleeve. This is the best way to add The Genius of the Sky to this year's card.

More to the point, it will allow Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley's paths to converge with the Japanese wrestler's redemption arc. All three women have something to prove, and an encounter on The Grandest Stage of Them All offers them the chance to do so.

Losing to Lyra Valkyria in the Queen of the Ring semifinals lit a fire under Sky to eventually win without relying on Damage CTRL or the Money in the Bank briefcase. Last year, she won fans over by putting on excellent matches and earning a title shot against Liv Morgan.

When she lost her chance to compete for another opportunity at Elimination Chamber, the popular high-flyer subverted expectations. Now, she seeks to enter Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 19-20 as champion and avenge her loss to Bayley at last year's event.

Conversely, Belair is determined to reestablish herself as a singles competitor after a successful run as a tag team wrestler.

The EST of WWE hopes to put her struggles in 2024 behind her, and a rematch against the woman who has arguably become the most persistent obstacle throughout her WWE career is a great start.

Sky has had Belair's number ever since she dethroned her at SummerSlam in 2023, and their acclaimed match from the Sept. 16, 2024 episode of Raw drove this point home.

Beating her would likely lift a weight off her shoulders, and that's what Ripley doesn't seem to understand.

Their friendship and the WrestleMania match they always talked about aren't as much of a priority for The EST right now because she put her aspirations on the back-burner for a year to be a part of a team. In truth, The Eradicator should understand that better than most.

The runner-up in the 2021 women's Royal Rumble match, which Belair won, lamented about being a team player and giving her friend a fair chance to win. This motivated her to return to the event and win in 2023, but she's conflicted now because she's not the same person anymore.

After everything she went through with Morgan and The Judgment Day, Ripley wanted to believe she had a friend on Raw and that they wanted the same thing. Instead, Belair is showing signs she could turn heel if she did attack Jade Cargill in November.

There are so many layers to this storyline, and the hints at a Triple Threat became evident when they stood on the stage together after the women's Elimination Chamber match. WWE illustrated this again at the end of Raw, and it's the right call.

Putting two of its homegrown stars up against someone as experienced and respected as Sky makes so much sense, and they're both seeking a definitive win over her now.

Ripley vs. Belair could also become a major feud that will play out throughout the year.

Who Will Be Roman Reigns' WrestleMania 41 Opponent?

The fallout from the men's Rumble match was the latest chapter in Punk and Rollins' heated rivalry. Their matches have been tremendous, and their segments are electric because their animosity is so believable.

The fact that they already have a second match set for Monday would imply that the rumored Triple Threat match with Roman Reigns is still planned for WrestleMania 41. But it's hard to see how The Tribal Chief will factor into this now.

The second-generation star has been out indefinitely since Rollins attacked him outside the ring at the Royal Rumble. The angle was one of the highlights of the event, and it perfectly set up a showdown between the three.

Nevertheless, the longer Reigns is out of the equation, the more it seems like this feud never needed him in the first place. The brawl from the latest episode of Raw was so compelling without him that it would make sense to keep it going or do something else.

Frankly, every combination of these three stars is more interesting as a one-on-one match, and this seems like an attempt to please everyone. Rollins vs. Reigns is long overdue. There is plenty of continuity to lean on there, and their last interaction gave us the ideal inciting incident.

Punk's relationship with Paul Heyman, and the ominous favor he owes him, is a fantastic way to build to a match with Reigns, but that doesn't have to play out immediately. A Triple Threat match doesn't give WWE the chance to delve into his deep history with both opponents effectively.

These two storylines are too big, and throwing it all into a catch-all match does them a disservice. It would make more sense for Punk to use his favor to insert himself into the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match and move forward with Rollins vs. Reigns.