Veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter has weighed in on Jey Uso’s recent apparent heel turn, drawing a comparison to one of the most pivotal moments in the industry’s history. Speaking on The Wrestling Time Machine, Apter stated that a full turn for the wildly popular Jey Uso would carry an impact comparable to Hulk Hogan’s infamous 1996 heel turn.
The commentary follows Jey’s Spear on LA Knight, which has been interpreted by fans as a definitive shift in character. Apter framed the situation by labeling Uso as one of the biggest babyfaces in WWE right now, setting up the direct parallel to Hogan, who was the world’s top babyface when he turned on WCW.
However, Apter also voiced skepticism about whether the turn is genuine, pointing to Jey’s powerful connection with the audience. He believes Uso’s signature “yeeting” entrance, especially with younger fans, makes a sustained heel run hard to believe.
“I don’t think that’s gonna happen because, just his entrance alone… Well it could happen. But his entrance alone, coming down and yeeting with the kids, they love that. This would be like, you know, when Hogan turned heel. He was the biggest babyface in the world, and he turned heel. Look at Jey Uso, right now, he is like one of the biggest babyfaces in…”
He concluded by suggesting the Spear on Knight could ultimately be explained away in the storyline as a “lapse in judgment” rather than a permanent character change.