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It’s hard to make everyone happy with WWE’s booking, and many former Superstars have spoken on how the company handles their creative direction. Rikishi is paying close attention to WWE, because his sons are a huge part of the picture at this point. He also witnessed Jey Uso finally win his first singles title, which may have caused him to change his tune a bit.
Rikishi expressed pride in his son, Jey Uso, following Jey’s recent victory as WWE Intercontinental Champion during the latest episode of his Off The Top podcast. After all, this was a long journey that Uce took many fans on.
The WWE Hall of Famer reflected on Jey’s journey in the wrestling industry, celebrating his achievement and the excitement it has generated among fans. Rikishi shared his feelings about Jey’s success, and he’s one proud father.
“I am so proud, man. So, so proud. Besides Jey’s sons, I’m probably the number one fan of Jey right now. I’ve always been. I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m proud to be his pops. I’m proud that the fans are proud. I don’t know who was more excited, me or the fans, because when I saw the reaction of the fans and the reaction of my boy, you think about it. That was a long road. What is it, 15 years or 14 years? You dominate the tag team division, and then you finally break off into singles competition, not knowing which way it’s gonna go. But you see it, the fan-favorite, you see the entrance, you see everything about the character of Jey. For me, Jey is not a character. That is really that kid. That kid is just a lovable kid like that. He’s not a liability; he’s not a troublemaker. He’s a company man. He’s a good role model.”
Rikishi also acknowledged that if he had any criticism, it was that Jey Uso’s title win didn’t go down during a premium live event. He expressed a desire for the match to have taken place on a larger stage. “I thought the match was absolutely amazing,” Rikishi continued.
“Man, I would have loved to see that match on a big pay-per-view though. You know what I mean? Kind of tease it on a Monday Night Raw, and then go into some type of pay-per-view and just let them go. I would have loved to see some blood, you know what I mean? It’s just the drive to be number one. Because they really brought some awareness to that IC Title, and now with Jey holding it, get ready to run because you’re gonna be busy, son.”
Rikishi also addressed his previous rants regarding WWE booking and Jey’s opportunities. He stated, “It’s emotional. All I was saying months ago when I was talking about giving Jey an opportunity, I kind of got a lot of heat over it from the fans, to let him grow. I’ve always done that. All a father will always do, no matter who tells him what, where, and when, you gonna always give your kids advice. Whether they take it or not, or whether the fans agree or not, that’s what a father does; you just want the best and want your kids to have a fair opportunity, and that’s it.”
Rikishi expressed immense pride in witnessing Jey achieve his championship dream. He noted that seeing his son win brought him to tears, not out of sadness, but from pride after years of hard work and sacrifice. Rikishi acknowledged the toll wrestling has taken on Jey’s body, reflecting on the unknown extent of his injuries and how long he can sustain his demanding pace. He felt a deep connection to Jey’s success, even dancing along with him as he celebrated on stage, emphasizing the joy of watching a loved one thrive.
We will have to see what is next for Jey Uso in WWE. He is still a top singles star on the RAW brand, and staying away from The Bloodline saga on SmackDown, even with Jimmy Uso’s recent return at Bad Blood 2024.
Do you think Rikishi will eventually join his sons on WWE television for a storyline? Let us know in the comments below.
