The Usos, renowned for their record-breaking tag team championship reign in WWE, encountered their fair share of obstacles in the past, as revealed by former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr., known for his successful career in Hollywood, joined WWE as a writer from 2008 to 2010. Combining his passion for wrestling with his expertise in screenwriting and acting, Prinze Jr. contributed to crafting compelling storylines for the company during his tenure.
In an episode of “Wrestling with Freddie,” Prinze Jr. recollected a specific television segment he had written for The Usos during his time with WWE. However, despite his efforts, the angle was ultimately rejected.
“I had a segment with them when I worked in the company, just one… I had written them a little bit to see if they could act, and they did great. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough,” Prinze Jr. shared. “I submitted the video for approval and it got denied.”
Prinze Jr. went on to reveal that he engaged in a back-and-forth with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon over the segment. He recounted a spirited debate in which he advocated for The Usos, arguing that their performance surpassed that of others and felt authentic.
“So I went to talk to Vince, and he was like, ‘They’re not doing good on the mic.’ I was like, ‘They did better than everyone else. I thought they did great; it felt real.’ Then he goes, ‘They weren’t big enough.’ And I said, ‘Man, don’t let them be big; let them be real. They’re looking out for their cousin. Let this be legit.’ Then he goes, ‘Alright, they can have one line each.’ So it went from this cool little speech that Jey had, and Jimmy finished to two lines.”
Prinze Jr.’s recollection offers insight into the creative challenges faced by The Usos during their early days in WWE. Despite their evident talent and potential, their opportunities were limited due to concerns about their mic skills and physical stature.
Nevertheless, The Usos persevered, honing their craft and gradually showcasing their natural charisma and in-ring abilities. Over time, they evolved into one of WWE’s most beloved and accomplished tag teams, eventually securing their place in history with the longest tag team championship reign.
