Jey Uso is the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
(WWE via Getty Images)
Jey Uso finally slayed the dragon. The fan-favorite “Yeet” sensation became just the third man to defeat Gunther under the WWE umbrella, capturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship with a tapout win in the opening match of WrestleMania 41, Night 1 on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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Uso, the surprise 2025 Royal Rumble winner, was previously 0-4 in his attempts to topple “The Ring General,” who’s been one of WWE’s most dominant figures since ascending to the main roster in 2022.
Afterward, he was joined in the ring for an emotional celebration with his twin brother, Jimmy Uso, the two of whom have long made up one of WWE’s signature tag teams, The Usos.
After a tempered start to the match, Gunther took control early, smashing Uso with a barrage of his trademark chops and smashing Uso in the face with his world title belt. But Uso rallied following a failed choke attempt by the decorated Austrian champion, sporting a wide grin as the two bashed each other with chops and elbows, boots to the faces and stiff lariats. Uso then countered a powerbomb attempt with one of his own, followed by a superkick and a spear that left Gunther flattened on the mat.
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After a trio of Uso Splashes, the challenger leapt onto the champion with a rear-naked choke attempt of his own, quickly coaxing the match-winning tapout and kicking off a wild celebration in Las Vegas.
Check out highlights of Uso’s championship-winning match below.
Catch full WrestleMania 41, Night 1 results, highlights and match-by-match coverage here.
