5 Most improved WWE Superstars in 2021

#4 WWE All in the Family: Jey Uso

For the majority of his WWE career, Jey Uso has been defined as two things: one half of the Usos tag-team and the son of WWE legend Rikishi. His family has long been part of the WWE’s fabled history. Until this year, it looked like Jey Uso would always be linked with his brother and be remembered strictly for being one half of one of the best tag teams in WWE history. Then, Jimmy got hurt and Jey Uso got a new opportunity in the WWE.

Jey Uso didn’t just grab the brass ring, he tore it off and stuck it in his pocket. Jey ended 2020 with two memorable singles matches against his cousin and Universal champion Roman Reigns. Those matches elevated him in the eyes of WWE fans; he was no longer just a tag team specialist. These matches could have also just been passed off as an example of good chemistry with a family member.

In 2021, Jey proved that these matches were not a fluke and he was truly capable of being a singles threat. In February, Uso competed in the Elimination Chamber match with the winner immediately getting a shot at Reigns’ title. Uso excelled in the match and was the last man eliminated by the winner, Daniel Bryan. Uso would go on to win his first major singles accolade when he won the WWE Andre the Giant Battle Royal, eliminating another established star in Shinuske Nakamura.

By the summer, Jimmy had returned from injury and the Usos were reformed to further The Bloodline's story in the WWE. Jey proved he could be a star in his own right with excellent matches against a variety of opponents.

The WWE still hasn’t completely resolved the storyline with Roman, Jey and Jimmy. If the group does disband, Jey Uso is ready to make the leap as a true singles superstar.

#3 WWE Title Journey: Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley has always had the look of a star. He even got the push of a star more than a decade ago in 2007. He never managed to capture the hearts of the WWE Universe during his time as ECW Champion despite having a prominent role at WrestleMania. Lashley’s stay on top didn’t last and he was out of the WWE by the end of 2008.

Lashley returned to the WWE to much fanfare the night after WrestleMania 34 in 2018. However, his star quickly faded and Lashley looked like he would spend the remainder of his career in midcard purgatory. He won the Intercontinental Title in 2019, turned heel and had forgettable feuds with Braun Strowman and Rusev. The Rusev feud was particularly bad as it involved Rusev’s real life wife Lana and was a poorly executed love triangle angle. It looked as though the WWE had given up on Lashley, and after his loss to Aleister Black at WrestleMania 36 it looked like his run was coming to an end.

As MVP and The Hurt Business came along, Lashley’s star was on the rise. He held the US title for 175 days at the end of 2020. After losing the title, he brutalized Drew McIntyre, which allowed The Miz to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase and win the WWE Championship. Lashley eventually defeated The Miz on an episode of RAW to win the title.

He went on to defend his WWE Title against The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Goldberg and Randy Orton. Lashley would not lose the title until Big E cashed in the WWE Money in the Bank briefcase on the September 13th edition of WWE RAW. Lashley was champion for 196 days and established himself as a dominant force in the WWE. Along the way, Lashley proved that you’re never too old to improve.