WWE Botches Jey Uso Title Run, Ron Killings Main Event Run Loading, More Raw Fallout

The Raw after Money in the Bank was a packed show, including a shocking World Heavyweight Championship change at the PHX Arena in Phoenix.

Jey Uso could not beat Gunther a second time, losing by technical knockout to the sleeper hold, making The Ring General a two-time world heavyweight champion.

John Cena faced his next Undisputed WWE Championship challenger as old rival CM Punk stepped up to fight him at Night of Champions on June 28.

After his shock return on Saturday, R-Truth revealed he is going by his real name Ron Killings from now on and is done playing nice with the roster.

In the Queen and King of the Ring tournament qualifiers, Roxanne Perez defeated Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Kairi Sane while Sami Zayn beat Bron Breakker, Penta and Dominik Mysterio.

Nikki Bella also returned to Raw and was confronted by one half of the women's tag team champions while teasing what she could do at Evolution on July 13.

Jey Uso's World Heavyweight Championship Reign was a Waste

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Predictable results are not always a bad thing.

Unpredictable results are not always a good thing.

Gunther's win over Jey Uso to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship was unpredictable, but it was also a bad booking move.

WWE bet on Uso when he won the men's Royal Rumble, and the only answer from that point on was to stick with that gamble.

The 39-year-old should have been able to overcome the returning threat of The Ring General. His definitive result at WrestleMania 41 was supposed to be a turning point in his career.

Instead, after just 51 days, the title has changed hands again, and it feels like WWE is setting up a hot-potato scenario with Raw's world title.

Seth Rollins is looming with the Money in the Bank briefcase, waiting for his shot.

Perhaps he will change his focus to the Undisputed WWE Championship with his tease in the opener, but the path to dethroning Uso was so much simpler than the John Cena retirement tour angle.

If Rollins does go after Cena, that will leave The Ring General back to feuding with Uso and likely Sami Zayn, two men he has fought many times before.

There is no easy, interesting path forward at present with Gunther as champion instead of Uso.

Right Match, Wrong Time for John Cena vs. CM Punk

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John Cena has found his next challenger, but it was an odd road that led to CM Punk challenging him.

Amid his feud with Seth Rollins, The Best in the World chose to ignore The Visionary's Money in the Bank win and focused on stepping up to Cena instead.

This sets up one of the most anticipated matches of The Last Real Champion's retirement tour for Night of Champions despite Punk losing his last five matches and winning just two all year in 2025.

The story does not line up for Cena, either, as Cody Rhodes just pinned him at Money in the Bank thanks to the interference of Ron Killings.

Cena has multiple stronger and hotter challengers lined up, while Punk seems to be on a losing streak that will continue.

Beyond setting up a possible Rollins cash-in at Night of Champions to interrupt Cena's last world title reign, this is the wrong moment for such a monumental match.

It would have made more sense for Punk to earn the contest and potentially win King of the Ring to get back his momentum while Rhodes fought Cena in a rematch next first.

Sami Zayn Should Win King of the Ring...But He Won't

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Because of the way WWE has booked the road to SummerSlam, all signs point to Cody Rhodes winning King of the Ring to challenge John Cena.

However, a more exciting option is available after Zayn pulled off a minor upset by winning his first-round match in the tournament.

The Underdog from the Underground has said many times that his greatest goal left in wrestling is to become world champion.

If Zayn won King of the Ring and beat Gunther for the world heavyweight title, it would be a great full-circle moment for his career, solidifying Zayn's legacy.

However, too much is standing in Zayn's way, from a likely match with Randy Orton in the second round to a possible collision with Rhodes in Saudi Arabia.

Zayn is truly the ultimate underdog in this tournament, but it would be great to see him pull it out the victory all the same.

Roxanne Perez Has Chance to Break Out in Queen of the Ring

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While the path to the King of the Ring finals seems to go through the top names in the business, the Queen of the Ring tournament looks much less certain.

Roxanne Perez's win on Monday immediately took out both Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan, the top names on Raw.

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair could cancel each other out in their own Queen of the Ring qualifier to eliminate more big names.

This is the perfect opportunity to push Perez with the same fervor as Lyra Valkyria last year, who broke out in the event.

It could be a tough road as Jade Cargill may be her second-round opponent, another woman ready to break out in 2025.

However, Perez needs it more in this moment as she tries to solidify herself as a top name on the red brand.

WWE Must Give Ron Killings Main Event Push

Ron Killings is the hottest star in professional wrestling right now, and it is all because of the fans' love for R-Truth.

When Truth was unceremoniously released following his brief feud with John Cena, the WWE Universe could not believe it.

The 53-year-old had just delivered some of his best work in recent years to help build WWE's top angle only to be tossed aside because he was too old to keep paying at his current rate.

Fans rallied around Truth, including chants on Raw, SmackDown and Money in the Bank of "We want Truth!".

His return under his real name has allowed him a fresh start and a chance to be more than just the comedy star.

Killings is the name he used when he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in TNA. It is also calls back to the more aggressive personality that led him to world championship contention in 2011.

It is time to push him as big as possible. He could even be the man to dethrone Cena, though that may be a step further than WWE Creative is ready for.

This is a man who was supposed to be done a week ago. However, his popularity is undeniable, and he should be fighting for the world title on either brand.

A title match with Cena would make sense. A title match with Gunther could also make sense and give some clarity to why The Ring General won his title back.

No matter what, WWE needs to move fast and give Killings a final run worthy of his work in the company over his entire career.

Women's Tag Team Title Reigns Would Be Perfect Sendoff for Bella Twins

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Nikki Bella is back, and all signs point to Brie Bella following her soon.

In her first WWE promo in years, Nikki made clear her focus is Evolution, the show she main-evented the first time it came around.

She is not in a position or likely in the ring shape to headline the show again, but she and Brie still have a natural connection with the WWE audience. And the company should use that to give The Bella Twins the Women's Tag Team Championships.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez barely come off as champions at present, focused more on drama and the former's individual success.

Moreover, the tag titles have not meant much for the women for too long.

It would put more focus on the titles for Nikki and Brie to return with the singular intention of holding gold they never could back in the day.

Much like Lita and Trish Stratus getting involved with the tag titles, it can jump-start the division.

There is a lingering question of whether the Bellas can still compete in 2025, but this is clearly something they have been training to accomplish.

It's worth the risk and can at least get people talking about the women's tag team division again.