Legend "upset" with Vince Russo over Jey Uso remark and Rikishi row (Exclusive)

Rikishi and Vince Russo recently exchanged words after the latter criticized Jey Uso's reaction to his WWE Intercontinental Championship win. Legendary wrestling reporter Bill Apter believes Rikishi was right to hit back and thinks Russo's remarks lacked respect.

On September 30, Jey Uso became emotional on RAW a week after beating Bron Breakker to capture his first singles title. Former WWE writer Russo disliked Uso's reaction and referred to the Intercontinental Championship as a "prop." The comment infuriated Uso's Hall of Fame father Rikishi, who challenged Russo to a match.

Apter appeared on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Time Machine with host Mac Davis and former WWE authority figure Teddy Long. He sided with Rikishi and questioned whether Russo would say the same about a world title:

"I really got upset with this because the fans wanted him to win so badly," Apter said. "He won it and it meant so much to him that he was very emotional. It's not a prop. He won the championship. How could you look at it as a prop? Would you look at the World Championship as a prop? All these years, I can't believe Vince Russo said this and I'm hot at him for doing that. I agree with Rikishi, I really do." [2:40 – 3:11]

Asked for his opinion, Teddy Long made it clear he is also on Rikishi's side:

"Brother, you know I don't care nothing about him [Vince Russo]. I ain't got nothing to say about it." [3:15 – 3:21]

Watch the video above to hear Long's thoughts on a female star potentially joining Solo Sikoa's Bloodline.

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Mac Davis reacts to Vince Russo criticizing Jey Uso's WWE segment

Every week, Mac Davis hosts BroDown on Backstage Pass alongside Vince Russo. The two discuss SmackDown and other hot talking points from the wrestling business.

In Davis' opinion, his co-host was wrong to dismiss the importance of Jey Uso's long-awaited Intercontinental Championship triumph:

"Imagine a wrestler, just like an Olympian, they train and work their entire life to get to a point to do something, and when you succeed you see real emotion on the screen, and the fans know it's real, the cameras know it's real, which is why they're rolling because they know the emotion that's happening on-screen is real." [3:54 – 4:15]

Jey Uso's Intercontinental Championship reign only lasted 28 days. On the October 21 episode of RAW, interference from Solo Sikoa's Bloodline group caused him to lose the title to Bron Breakker.

Do you think Vince Russo was wrong to criticize Jey Uso's reaction? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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