The Real Life & Wrestling Origin Of Jey Uso's "Yeet" Catchphrase, Explained

Wrestling historical past is filled with catchphrases. It is how a personality, particularly a babyface, connects with a crowd in order that the viewers can take part and really feel included with their favourite famous person. One of the best catchphrases are the most straightforward ones, the place only a easy phrase can take over a promo. “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin was truly a heel when he created “What?”, and though most followers have come to hate its refusal to die, it was extremely efficient for the Texas Rattlesnake. At the moment, followers like to chant “Yeah!” together with LA Knight. Nevertheless, the one which’s taking up all of wrestling is Jey Uso’s “Yeet!” Similar to Uso’s singles profession, which now features a Royal Rumble win, that is comparatively new to Jey’s verbal arsenal, however the place did it come from, and what the heck does it imply?

What Does “Yeet” Imply?

“Yeet” Has Two Completely different Definitions

“Yeet” means to throw forcefully with out concern.

“Yeet” has additionally change into a declaration of pleasure.

Merriam-Webster posted the definition of “Yeet” after Jey Uso received the Royal Rumble.

“What?” and “Yeah” are simple sufficient catchphrases to grasp. Steve Austin used it to disrespect his opponents, and greater than twenty years later followers use it to disrespect a heel or some poor babyface who’s giving a boring promo. LA Knight’s “Yeah” is used as affirmation and settlement, like an exclamation level to what Knight is saying, with followers shouting in to verify that they are with him. However “Yeet” is more durable to elucidate, and that is as a result of it has two definitions.

In line with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, yeet means:

“Yeet is a slang phrase that capabilities broadly with the which means “to throw,” however is very used to emphasise forcefulness and an absence of concern for the factor being thrown. (You don’t yeet one thing when you’re anxious that it would break.)”

What does that should do with Jey Uso although? This definition would not make any sense in any respect in how he makes use of it. That is as a result of there may be additionally a second definition:

“Yeet can be used as an interjection, most frequently to precise pleasure or enthusiasm.”

After Jey Uso received the Royal Rumble, Merriam-Webster made positive to publish this second definition of yeet on X.

Why Did Jey Uso Begin Saying “Yeet” In WWE?

“Yeet” Actually Took Off After Cody Rhodes Used It

Jey Uso did not use “Yeet” when he was in a tag staff along with his brother, Jimmy.

Jey Uso has been utilizing “Yeet” along with his brothers and Roman Reigns as slang for years.

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso had a wild press convention after Fastlane 2023.

When Jey Uso was a part of the Usos tag staff along with his brother Jimmy, “yeet” wasn’t one thing he was shouting to the followers each week on Uncooked or SmackDown, however in keeping with him, using the phrase goes again that far. After successful on the Royal Rumble, Jey sat down for an interview with Nightcap the place he spoke about when he began saying yeet:

“Should you actually listen, like, my brothers, Roman, we’ve sort of been saying that from the soar. Should you have a look at outdated promos or no matter, you’ll hear him. , it’s additionally West Coast slang. It’s been a slang earlier than ‘Yeet’ grew to become a meme. Like, I’m slightly older than the little homies who’re like, ‘Oh, that’s only a meme, a catchphrase the place you’re yeeting individuals.’ But it surely’s been slang.

The ‘T’ wasn’t even on there. It was ‘Ye,’ like, ‘ye e e e e e,’ you understand? You stated it slightly too laborious although, you gotta pull it again.” (h/t Contained in the Ropes)

“Yeet” might need been utilized by Jey Uso, however it was when one other wrestler began it saying it in a hilarious viral second that it actually took off. After Fastlane 2023, the place Jey and Cody Rhodes beat the Judgment Day’s Damian Priest and Finn Balor for the Undisputed WWE Tag Crew Championships, they performed the customary post-show press convention. It was there that the 2 new champions started performing foolish and making one another giggle, together with Cody saying “Yeet” again and again. Jey Uso confessed that this was the evening the place it actually took off and was the turning level for every part that got here subsequent.

“Yeet” Was Briefly Banned By WWE

Jey Uso’s “Yeet” Now Defines His Character

Jey Uso’s “YEET” t-shirt grew to become an enormous vendor.

“Yeet” could not be used for a short while due to a trademark situation.

Some critics fear that Jey Uso is a skinny character with nothing greater than a catchphrase.

Fastlane 2023 was in October. Over the subsequent two months, the “yeet” catchphrase took off for Jey Uso. He used it usually and in promos, and in an indication of how massive he’d change into as a babyface, followers stated it proper again to him. It was even placed on a t-shirt, which grew to become an instantaneous bestseller. Nevertheless, “yeet” had additionally gotten so massive that others exterior of WWE started to note it. On December 4, 2023, WWE was pressured to cease utilizing the phrase in Jey’s promos and on his merchandise attributable to a trademark situation.

Jey Uso needed to put on a shirt that had “Yeet” blurred out, however fortunately, only a week later, the trademark situation was resolved and Jey has been utilizing it once more ever since. Now, each Monday you possibly can see 1000’s of individuals on their toes, waving their arms up and down in unison with Jey Uso, “yeeting everywhere”, as a very excited Pat McAfee likes to place it.

Some critics have prompt that Jey makes use of his catchphrase an excessive amount of and that his character is skinny with out it. Whether or not that is true or not stays to be seen, however “yeet” helped get him over to the purpose that he was picked to win the Royal Rumble. It might additionally result in him changing into a world champion by the tip of WrestleMania 41, with 70,000 individuals yelling “yeet” alongside WWE’s latest principal occasion star.