WWE’s Original Plans for Royal Rumble 2025 Revealed — And It Wasn’t Jey Uso
In a surprising behind-the-scenes revelation, Netflix’s WWE Unreal series has unveiled the original frontrunners to win the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match—and it turns out Jey Uso was not at the top of that list.
The docuseries takes fans backstage into WWE’s creative process, and one moment in particular has caught the attention of wrestling fans around the world. During a creative meeting, Paul “Triple H” Levesque asked a critical question: “Who should win the Rumble?”
The immediate names thrown into the ring? John Cena and CM Punk.
One WWE team member argued in favor of Cena, tying it to his retirement storyline.
“If the two options are Cena and Punk, I’d say Cena because this is his final year. I feel like he should play the hits. It’s more of a classic moment in time. ‘Hey, I remember John Cena’s last year—he won the Royal Rumble.’”
CM Punk was also a serious option, with someone suggesting he could go through the Elimination Chamber instead to earn his WrestleMania shot.
This planning session clearly pointed toward WWE wanting to capitalize on legacy stars to create a major WrestleMania moment. But the plans quickly changed.
According to Michael Hayes, the creative shift happened because Jey Uso caught fire with the fans. His momentum was simply too big to ignore.
“I think in the case of Jey Uso, when somebody catches fire, they just catch fire. Sometimes you have to alternate all your plans. Who do we have on our roster that’s hot, that hopefully is maybe new and fresh? All of a sudden, Jey Uso is checking all those boxes.”
Jey’s rise wasn’t just about fan support—it was about timing. With the Bloodline saga continuing to dominate storylines, and with Roman Reigns stepping back from weekly TV, Jey became a natural candidate to take the spotlight.
From Tag Team Player to Main Event Star
What makes this pivot so fascinating is that it shows WWE’s willingness to adjust its biggest plans based on fan reactions. Jey Uso was not the creative team’s first pick, but his stock skyrocketed at the right moment.
The footage from WWE Unreal confirms that John Cena was nearly given one last legendary Rumble win, and CM Punk had been pegged as a main-eventer through alternative means. But in the end, it was Jey Uso’s undeniable popularity that changed the company’s direction.
This moment adds depth to what fans saw on-screen—and cements the importance of real crowd connection over scripted outcomes.
Do you think WWE made the right call by picking Jey Uso? Or should it have been Cena or Punk? Let us know in the comments below—and don’t forget to follow for more exclusive WWE creative insights.
