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The recent WWE SummerSlam event concluded with many talking points. Still, one aspect that gained prominence was Jey Uso's bid against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and Tribal Chief title. If fans were holding their breath for an upset, Dave Meltzer, a respected name in the world of wrestling journalism, suggests it was in vain.
Discussing the nuances on the "McGuire On Wrestling" podcast with Mike McGuire, Meltzer confessed, "The rumblings of Jey Uso challenging Reigns? They were virtually non-existent. I'd venture to say they were silent. WWE has a blueprint for Roman's trajectory as the reigning champion, stretching months into the future.
This left little room for a Jey Uso victory."
"Meltzer Deciphers WWE's Storytelling"
Drawing comparisons to illustrate his point, Meltzer mentioned Sami Zayn's disappointment at WWE Elimination Chamber and Cody Rhodes' saga at WrestleMania 39.
"When you assess WWE's strategies, there's a discernible pattern. They have been crafting a particular narrative around Reigns," Meltzer elaborated. However, his outlook on Rhodes seemed optimistic. "Given WWE's tendency to nurture long arcs, I foresee a championship in Cody's future.
The groundwork laid down by Brock Lesnar for Rhodes certainly adds to this sentiment," he observed. The conversation then took an interesting turn to the match placements, particularly involving Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes.
When McGuire postulated if this duel should've been the marquee event, Meltzer responded with conviction. "While the magnetism between Lesnar and Rhodes is undeniable, Roman's match stood unparalleled as the evening's pièce de résistance.
Theoretically, could the Lesnar-Rhodes face-off have been elevated on the card? Of course. But you've got to understand the Brock dynamics. Under standard circumstances, he'd lead off and make a swift exit. Yet, Logan Paul's insistence on the opening act altered that dynamic, pushing Brock's bout to a subsequent slot," explained Meltzer.
Summarizing his take on the evening's structure, the seasoned journalist placed the Rhodes-Lesnar bout as the second cornerstone of the event, immediately following the Reigns-Uso spectacle. Concluding his top three was the electrifying contest for the World Heavyweight Championship between Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Finn Balor.