Jey Uso Responds to Backlash, WWE Rumors on CM Punk's Return, Ethan Page's Backstage Reputation

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Jey Uso Responds to Backlash Over 'Best In The World' Claims

Jey Uso's confidence is at an all-time high, but he recently raised some eyebrows when he made a bold declaration.

Uso stirred up some ire from fans when he stated on his Instagram Story, "I'm the Best world entertainment wrestler in the world." While he faced some backlash for the comment, the 40-year-old fired back by declaring he's unbothered by the angry response from fans.

"Why yall be so mad tho?? Ain't my fault I'm good tho," Uso wrote on his Instagram story (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News).

Uso was pushed as a singles wrestler last year and went on to win the Royal Rumble before capturing the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41. His singles run generated a mixed reaction from fans, and he eventually returned to the tag team division alongside his brother, Jimmy.

Uso clearly isn't letting the criticism from fans faze him, as he continues to brush it off while instilling confidence in himself.

Updated Rumors on CM Punk's WWE Return

CM Punk has been absent from WWE since losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 last month, and it sounds like he will be out of action for a while longer.

According to a report from False Finish (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Punk's extended absence has been due to changes to WWE's schedule and creative plans, as Jacob Fatu was moved to Monday Night Raw to feud with Reigns, while Gunther is now on SmackDown to feud with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

"CM Punk being absent from TV is due to a 'schedule change.' Sources tell False Finish that CM Punk is currently awaiting creative to return to WWE TV," the report stated. "Punk's schedule and creative were shifted after WWE made the decision to move Gunther to SmackDown along with bringing Jacob Fatu to RAW to feud with Roman Reigns."

A report from WrestleVotes added that Punk is expected to be returning to action ahead of the SummerSlam premium live event on Aug. 1 and 2.

"It felt like it was going to be a bit of an extended stay. He'll be back for SummerSlam," the report stated. "He'll be on the marquee in some form or fashion—on every poster for downtown Minneapolis in 6–8 weeks. Maybe July 18th, Saturday Night's Main Event at Madison Square Garden."

Punk last appeared in WWE on the April 20 episode of Raw. He was previously removed from several of the Raw dates in June and the company's upcoming European Summer Tour.

Fans hoping to see Punk back in the ring will have to wait a bit longer, but it can be expected that WWE will have big plans for his return later this summer.

WWE's Stance on Ethan Page Revealed

Despite losing to Penta in an Intercontinental Championship match at Saturday Night's Main Event, Ethan Page is reportedly developing a strong backstage reputation in WWE.

WrestleVotes reported that Page has been "well-received" since he joined WWE in 2024, with a source describing him as "respectful and detail-oriented behind the scenes." The report added that many "believe Page has positioned himself very well moving forward, especially considering how quickly he's risen in a relatively short amount of time."

Page became the No. 1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship by defeating Je'Von Evans on the April 20 episode of Monday Night Raw. While he came up short against Penta on Saturday, it sounds like he's on the verge of a major run this summer.

In his brief time in NXT, Page won the NXT Championship and the North American Championship. He also won the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship with Chelsea Green.

Page appears to be a big part of WWE's future, and his backstage reputation could carry him all the way to the top.