4 Signs that WWE star Jey Uso will turn heel in 2026

A big heel turn in WWE can truly leave fans with their jaws dropped. That's what happened with Seth Rollins turning on the Shield and Hulk Hogan forming the NWO as a heel.

John Cena joined the annals of the greatest heel turns of all time this year, but it was short-lived due to his rushed retirement tour. Another popular WWE star who's had a rollercoaster ride in 2025 is Jey Uso.

Jey rode the highs of a Royal Rumble win to capture the World Heavyweight title at The Show of Shows. Once the summer kicked in, his fortunes changed.

He fell short more than once in attempts to regain the belt. The next four signs could indicate that Jey Uso will turn heel in 2026.

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#4. He's unlikely to win the 2026 Royal Rumble after winning this year

One of the best ways to earn a guaranteed title shot at WrestleMania is to win the Royal Rumble. Both Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair did so in 2025, with Jey making good with his victory by beating Gunther for the World Heavyweight title.

Since Jey has pouted after every setback over the last few months, he'll likely respond the same way when he falls short of winning the 2026 Royal Rumble.

Back-to-back wins are reserved for WWE's biggest stars, and despite moving up the card, Jey isn't on the same level as John Cena, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Shawn Michaels, and other two-time winners.

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#3. An upcoming WWE title opportunity

The Usos have a big opportunity to win more tag team gold. (Image Credit: WWE.com).

One sign that Jey Uso may be turning heel in 2026 is that, along with his brother Jimmy, the Usos will face World Tag Team Champions, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, on the RAW on Netflix first anniversary show on January 5.

This match will pit two teams of babyfaces against each other, which makes for a strange dynamic despite both sides having a fan base. That provides the opportune moment for a potential heel turn if the Usos come up short.

Jey has been growing more and more despondent with each big loss. Another big setback, even if it’s in the tag division, could amplify his emotions and finally lead to him snapping.

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#2. Mounting frustrations over the last few months

One trend over the last six months with Jey Uso has been his frustration and anger at his inability to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. After losing it to Gunther in June, he’s earned a few more shots to regain it.

He was in a fatal four-way at Clash in Paris, but fell short. He then won a battle royal for a spot against CM Punk at Saturday Night's Main Event for the vacant title, but fell short once again.

Jey failed to advance to the finals of the Last Time is Now Tournament, losing to LA Knight. He heavily teased a character shift after that loss. The frustrations will eventually catch up to him, leading to a potential heel turn in 2026.

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#1. A heel turn keeps him relevant as a singles star

2025 was definitely Jey Uso‘s year as he won both the Royal Rumble and the World Heavyweight title. Watching his run revealed he wasn’t equipped to carry a brand like his cousin Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, or Seth Rollins.

The Yeet Master's singles run also netted him an Intercontinental Championship last year, but after several big losses, he stalled. If bookers want him as a singles attraction, the best way to keep him relevant is as a villain instead of a fan favorite.

It would be a bold move to pull off a heel turn, which isn’t something WWE has done much outside of John Cena's turn during his retirement tour.

Popularity can only take one so far, as top stars need to cut captivating promos weekly. The Yeet Master struggled to do so despite his connection to the WWE Universe.

Edited by Matthew Serocki