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What's the story?
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos appeared on E&C's Pod of Awesomeness recently, and the brothers were asked how they felt about turning heel in 2016. Jimmy and Jey were unsurprisingly thrilled at the opportunity to perform as bad guys.
In case you didn't know...
The Usos were introduced to the WWE Universe way back in May 2010, debuting as heels when they attacked then-Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty. They initially turned face in 2011 after moving to SmackDown Live, but it wasn't until a brief feud with The Shield in 2013 that the brothers really began to shine.
Jimmy and Jey went on to dominate the WWE tag team division in 2014 and 2015, winning tag team gold on two occasions. After five years as a babyface duo, they became somewhat stale, and many fans believed that a heel turn was necessary.
That turn came following the return of the WWE Brand Split in summer 2016 when the brothers viciously attacked American Alpha during the SmackDown Tag Team Title tournament.
The heart of the matter
During their appearance on Edge and Christian's podcast, The Usos were asked how they felt about turning heel, and needless to say, they were all in on the idea. They felt it was necessary to keep them relevant in the company.
"We couldn't wait to turn heel. We noticed when we were doing the babyface run, it was cool, it was the whole other side of us, being the good guy and running with that. But if you don't adapt and evolve in this business, you're gonna be left behind, and we felt that"
The SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions went on to say that they feel a lot more natural when working as heels, something that has always been the case with the legendary Anoa'i wrestling family.
"We are from the Anoa'i wrestling family, Samoan wrestling family, they naturally work like heels, and I feel like we natural work like heels. It's way easier, more comfortable"
What's next?
The Usos are currently embroiled in a feud with The New Day, and the matches between the two teams have been some of the best on WWE TV over the last few months. The next chapter in the rivalry takes place next Tuesday when the championships will be on the line in a Sin City Street Fight.
Author's take
The heel turn has arguably saved the careers of Jimmy and Jey Uso. The Usos are the standout team in WWE in 2017, and they will surely now act as the anchors of the SmackDown Live tag division for years to come.
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