Following his shock victory in the men’s 2025 Royal Rumble match, Jey Uso selected World Heavyweight Champion Gunther as his opponent for WrestleMania 41. The prospective match between Gunther and Uso received a divisive reaction from the WWE audience, with some excited for something new and others groaning at the lack of star power. WWE had a task on their hands to build up this story in the months leading up to WrestleMania, but have in fact done a strong job. Surprisingly, it has been the inclusion of the Alpha Academy act that has really helped to take this feud to the next level, and here is why.
Fans Felt Something Was Missing From Gunther Vs. Jey Uso
Gunther Had Already Defeated Jey Uso
- Gunther beat Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
- Jey Uso has played the underdog babyface role.
- The Alpha Academy has been added to their feud.
Jey Uso lost to Gunther at the Saturday Night’s Main Event show shortly before the Royal Rumble, so when Uso won the Rumble match and looked to take on Gunther in a rematch, it was going to take some convincing the WWE fans that this was a deserving program for WrestleMania 41. With a whole host of massive stars on the roster missing out on a world title bout, including Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and more, the choice of Jey Uso was understandably divisive, especially seen as the ongoing story between he and Gunther wasn’t anything overly special anyway.
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The storyline had seen Gunther playing down Jey Uso as a viable contender, being cocky and arrogant, before then defeating him and retaining the gold. Jey Uso coming back as an underdog babyface challenger trying to take down a dominant champion was almost too simple of a story to take into WrestleMania 41, and it was going to be a tough sell to the fans who are seeing other storylines full of twists, turns, and deep-rooted animosity such as Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena and the issues involving Seth Rollins, CM Punk and Roman Reigns. When WWE decided to have The Alpha Academy play a role in Gunther vs. Jey Uso, it seemed like all hope was lost… until it became clear that they had a vital role to play.
The Alpha Academy Has Brought Out The Best In Gunther
Gunther Has Targeted The Alpha Academy
- Gunther has set his sights on other “jokes” and “memes” on the WWE roster.
- He has been cutting some great promos on those who disrespect wrestling.
- Alpha Academy have played their roles well to elevate Gunther as a heel.
Gunther’s reign as World Heavyweight Champion has had ups and downs, which has played into some of the resentment certain fans have had to the feud with Jey Uso. As Intercontinental Champion, Gunther was in top form both between the ropes and in promos, feeling like an unstoppable bully who backs things up. This has been missing ever since he won the world title at SummerSlam last year, but he has now begun to reclaim that. Gunther has been sick and tired of Jey Uso’s “Yeet” catchphrase, calling him a meme, a joke, and someone getting over with fans on nonsense, disrespecting the ring he holds so sacred. Gunther has compared this to The Alpha Academy.
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Gunther has turned his attention to the comedic duo of Akira Tozawa and Otis, cutting them down and making fun of their gimmick. His bullying demeanor has improved his character, as he has cut some fantastic promos in recent weeks on the pair. He has also battled them in the ring in some entertaining battles, looking dominant enough to not lose his aura but opening a door to a potential upset defeat, adding to the notion that Jey Uso has a realistic chance at beating him at WrestleMania. The little details all coming out with this subplot all add to the story with Uso.
Adding The Alpha Academy Has Given Gunther Vs. Jey Uso More Depth
The Feud Between Gunther And Jey Uso Now Feels Hot
- WWE has fed into the narrative of Jey Uso being a catchphrase.
- Gunther desperately needed something more for his character.
- Jey Uso challenges Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41.
Jey Uso is no longer just fighting for himself, but he is fighting for those who get naturally over with fans despite not being conventional world champions, and those who offer something different to the likes of Gunther. The World Heavyweight Champion has been stripping down these “jokes”, making Uso hold some doubt that he needs to work hard to overcome too, giving him way more depth than he’s had in quite some time, and bringing a more serious and focused side of him that connects just as well as his “Yeet” persona does.
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Gunther taking this detour has provided more depth on both sides, and it has made their storyline feel different to everything else taking place on WWE programming right now. The story hasn’t just been full of basic brawls, attacks after matches, and pointless insulting promos, and has instead offered some more variation on the Road to WrestleMania 41, where Jey Uso and Gunther will battle for the right to stand tall as World Heavyweight Champion.