{"id":196179,"date":"2025-04-16T13:13:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:13:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=196179"},"modified":"2025-04-16T13:13:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:13:45","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-who-made-the-list-this-week-jey-uso-penta-tiffany-stratton-a-j-styles-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/04\/16\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-who-made-the-list-this-week-jey-uso-penta-tiffany-stratton-a-j-styles-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Who made the list this week? Jey Uso, Penta, Tiffany Stratton, A.J. Styles, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-675195427\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>The biggest week and professional wrestling has arrived!\u00a0\u00a0That means audiences are at their zenith, storylines months in the making are reaching climax, and the pressure to perform is higher than ever.\u00a0\u00a0Which wrestlers are poised to reach the next level, and whose best days are behind them? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>Rising Star of the Week: Jey Uso\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>My favorite moment in the classic film &#8220;A Christmas Story&#8221; is when the yellow-eyed bully Scott Farckus\u00a0pushes nerdy Raphie too far.<\/p>\n<p>After weeks of bullying, Farckus\u00a0mocks Ralphie\u2019s tears and laughs in his face.\u00a0 The result is unexpected.\u00a0 The timid Ralphie suddenly snaps, shocking Farcas by tackling him in a rage before pummeling the larger boy.<\/p>\n<p>Gunther, having already beaten Jey multiple times, has been bullying the smaller man for weeks, relishing every moment.<\/p>\n<p>Gunther was beaming with pride following his cruelest blow yet, a brutal beatdown on Jimmy while Jey looked on helplessly.<\/p>\n<p>This humiliation backfired, leading to Jey breaking down and overcoming his fear of Gunther. Only now does the champion realize he\u2019s underestimated his challenger.<\/p>\n<p>Now, Jey finally seems ready to take revenge on the bigger man. \u00a0For the first time, Jey seems a credible challenger.<\/p>\n<p>Jey has crowd solidly behind him and is poised to win the biggest match of his career at WrestleMania.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1966647636\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h3><b>First runner-up: Naomi\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Caught in between proven star Bianca Belair and up-and-coming Jade Cargill in a year-long angle, Naomi seemed increasingly like an afterthought.<\/p>\n<p>Her role was seemingly a convenient device to pit the former Women&#8217;s Tag Team Champions against one another and put over the dominant Cargill strong.<\/p>\n<p>No-one was clamoring for a Naomi heel turn, but her razor-sharp heel promos have been a career-highlight.<\/p>\n<p>Not only has she stepped out of the shadows cast by Belair and Cargil, but Naomi is now now more interesting than either.<\/p>\n<p>Where has this Naomi been for the last ten years?<\/p>\n<h3><b>Second Runner-up: Penta<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>I don\u2019t understand Penta.\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand his Satanic Ninja Samurai Luchador look.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t understand the zero on his back, his signature hand gestures, or his catchphrase \u201cCero Miedo\u201d without a Google search (apparently, they all refer to his fearlessness).<\/p>\n<p>However, Penta\u2019s charisma is undeniable, as is his star presence and fan connection.\u00a0 I love his strut down the aisle during his entrance, which is reminiscent of Scott Hall\u2019s NWO run.\u00a0 His body language speaks volumes and tells an engaging story.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3867176322\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>I don\u2019t understand Penta, but I darn sure want to learn more.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Raw: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wwe-raw-post-show-4-14-keller-maitland-discuss-roman-confronting-heyman-about-favor-rhea-and-bianca-try-to-justify-behavior-more--65575933\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=65575933&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>Fading Star of the Week: A.J. Styles<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>One of the greatest wrestlers of all time, A.J. Styles has been a main event act for most of his WWE tenure.<\/p>\n<p>When he debuted in 2016, his ring work and athleticism were head and shoulders above the rest of the roster. Styles captured the imagination of a fan base desperate for something different and was quickly catapulted to the main event scene.<\/p>\n<p>Styles seemed to represent a fundamental change: a harbinger of an era in which fans could expect a higher standard of matches.\u00a0 In that, he was perhaps too successful.\u00a0 The years that followed saw a progressively higher degree of ringwork and athleticism in rising talent, while less-skilled veterans phased out.<\/p>\n<p>In today\u2019s WWE, Styles&#8217;s athleticism no longer stands out and can&#8217;t compensate for his merely &#8220;fair&#8221; mic skills. A paring with heat magnet Logan Paul is apparently insufficient to evoke an engaging feud.\u00a0 Paul\u2019s meteoric rise to the top is a natural contrast to Style\u2019s long journey toiling in independent promotions.<\/p>\n<p>However, Paul and Styles lack chemistry and the feud has fallen flat, with Karrion Kross of all people somehow providing the only semblance of intrigue.<\/p>\n<p>Their WrestleMania match may be excellent, but the build has been a massive disappointment, and A.J. appears to lack direction going forward.<\/p>\n<h3><b>1st\u00a0Runner up: <\/b>Tiffany Stratton<\/h3>\n<p>The build for both WrestleMania women\u2019s title matches has been weak, but perhaps none of the five women involved has been damaged more than Stratton.<\/p>\n<p>Stratton has a lot to prove as a main event act in her first major title defense and first WrestleMania match.\u00a0 Stratton\u2019s babyface act leaves much to be desired, in spite of her top-notch athleticism, can\u2019t-miss look, and crowd support against Flair.<\/p>\n<p>What exactly is Stratton\u2019s character? The spoiled daddy\u2019s girl she played on NXT is a poor fit for a hero, and she has yet to demonstrate any admirable traits besides a willingness to stand up for herself.<\/p>\n<p>Cheap shots at Flair\u2019s personal life certainly don\u2019t help her cause, and do little too endear her to Flair, on whom she must rely for her program to be successful.<\/p>\n<h3><b>2nd\u00a0Runner up: Izzi Dame<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>In storyline, Izzi just had the best week of her career.\u00a0 After two long years losing match after match on NXT, Izzi scored her biggest yet, defeating a popular babyface clean to qualify for her first single title opportunity: the Ladder Match for the NXT Women\u2019s United States Title at Stand and Deliver.<\/p>\n<p>Why, then, a Fading Star?<\/p>\n<p>At the conclusion of her match, Izzi hit an impressive-looking powerbomb on Wren Sinclair and pinned Wren for the ref\u2019s count before throwing her hands up in a victory celebration.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the referee had barely counted to two.<\/p>\n<p>To make matters worse, the inexperienced referee reluctantly counted to three, well after Izzi had abandoned the pin attempt, in apparent accordance with the planned finish.<\/p>\n<p>The crowd was stunned, and even Corey Graves was speechless, unable to find words to cover for such a blatant botch.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-l9xDZYCV14&amp;t=275s<\/div>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1329607728\"><div id=\"pwtor-2165503095\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>The biggest week and professional wrestling has arrived!\u00a0\u00a0That means audiences are at their zenith, storylines months in the making are reaching climax, and the pressure to perform is higher than ever.\u00a0\u00a0Which wrestlers are poised to <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/04\/16\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-who-made-the-list-this-week-jey-uso-penta-tiffany-stratton-a-j-styles-and-more\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Who made the list this week? Jey Uso, Penta, Tiffany Stratton, A.J. Styles, and more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":196180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-16-at-1.00.40\u202fPM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196179"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":196182,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196179\/revisions\/196182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/196180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}