WWE Money in the Bank 2023 was a special show, as it marked the company’s first major event in England since 2003. With that in mind, it’s only fitting that the night ended with a remarkable upset in the main event, as The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) defeated Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
Jey scored the three count and handed Reigns his first pinfall loss in over three years, a statistic that punctuates how incredible the champion’s run has been. This major outcome naturally paves the way to WWE SummerSlam in a number of ways.
Fans and analysts alike are already debating whether Roman Reigns should have taken the pin on Saturday night, as it was questionable decision. On one hand, having Jey defeat the champion instantly boosts his credibility and helps him seem like a true main-eventer. However, it would have been easy to protect Reigns and have Sikoa take the loss. Whoever ended Reigns’ streak should have been the one to take his title(s) as well, as that would have made the moment that much more significant. Instead, that eventual loss, whenever it will come, will mean less now that “The Tribal Chief” has already been pinned.
As for how the win affects the title picture, it feels like a safe bet that Jey unofficially earned a title shot by pinning Reigns, as it’s been a long time since anyone has been able to say that. Jey previously challenged Reigns for the gold in 2020 before he and Jimmy fell in line and joined The Bloodline. A lot has changed since then, as the faction has been featured in a layered, winding storyline that has been at a fever pitch in recent months.
Throughout this program, a number of compelling contenders have stepped up to Reigns and failed to knock him off his throne. Drew McIntyre’s match back at WWE Clash at the Castle felt like another potential conclusion to Reigns’ run, but he overcame “The Scottish Warrior.” Sami Zayn rode an immense amount of momentum and support from fans, but he fell short in a special match at WWE Elimination Chamber. Likewise, practically everyone expected Cody Rhodes to finish the story and beat Reigns, but he didn’t.
Will Jey Uso fare any differently? At this juncture, it’s hard to think so. McIntyre winning at WWE Clash at the Castle would have been a slam dunk. A hometown win for Zayn would have been was easily justifiable, too. The storybook moment was there for the taking with Rhodes at WrestleMania, and WWE whiffed on it. McIntyre and Rhodes specifically were proven main-eventers that would have been logical choices for Reigns’ successor, and Zayn’s momentum was undeniable as well. It doesn’t seem like Jey Uso firmly fits into either category right now.
Yes, the storyline is there; dating back to 2020, a potential win for Jey has been brewing for years. The storytelling throughout this program has been unmatched, and Jey deserves a ton of credit for his character work. But he’s not quite at that level of the next champion; whoever beats Reigns will presumably be “the guy” for years to come, and it doesn’t seem like Jey Uso is a face-of-the-company kind of talent.
The storyline over the next few weeks promises to continue this remarkable run, and the likely match between Reigns and Uso will deliver. However, the outcome feels inevitable, and we’ll be sitting here after SummerSlam, probably looking far ahead to a WrestleMania rematch between Reigns and Rhodes.
Catch up on our coverage of WWE Money in the Bank here.
