Rusev took a three-month hiatus from the WWE in 2019, after which he returned with a visibly leaner physique. However, the former WWE boss, Vince McMahon, wasn’t thrilled to watch the jacked Bulgarian in his reduced form.
A day ago, Rusev’s wife, Lana, disclosed how McMahon asked the 39-year-old to return to his previous form with a subtle compliment after witnessing the reduction in his physique. McMahon indirectly implied that Rusev sells the best when he plays the “300-pound Bulgarian Brute” on WWE shows. (via CJ Perry on YouTube) Lana said:
I remember him saying to you [Rusev], and he was like, ‘Where is my 300-pound Bulgarian Brute? I want my 300-pound Bulgarian Brute. That man puts asses in seats. That heel. I want you as a heel. I want you as a 300-pound Bulgarian Brute because that sells tickets’…
And I know you [to Rusev] have studied all the greatest bad guys and villains in TV and movies, and you have really perfected that. That was kind of like his back (indirect) way of complimenting, saying you’re the best at being a villain.
Rusev obeyed McMahon and returned to his “Bulgarian brute” form. However, in the same year, the former WWE boss involved him in a storyline with Bobby Lashley, which took a significant toll on his hype in the community.
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How Did Vince McMahon Ruin Rusev’s WWE Hype With the Bobby Lashley Feud
Credits: WWE
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Credits: WWE
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Credits: WWE
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Credits: WWE
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Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
Credits: WWE
The storyline feud between Rusev and Lashley began on the September 30, 2019, episode of Raw after Lana cheated on Rusev and kissed Lashley. This created a violent love triangle among the three. However, the feud between Lashley and Rusev finally turned physical after the latter attacked Lashley during the November 25, 2019, episode of Raw.
This love-triangle storyline feud continued for several weeks before culminating in Rusev and Lashley’s clash at TLC 2019 on December 16, 2019, where the Bulgarian lost due to an interference from Lana.
However, McMahon stretched this storyline in 2020, featuring Lashley and Lana’s on-screen wedding during the December 31 edition of Raw. But the more he stretched this storyline, the more Rusev lost his hype as a heel. McMahon ignored how the love-triangle storyline made Rusev the babyface as Lana and Lashley became the heels by betraying him.
Check out an instance where the crowd booed Lashley violently during his 2019 TLC match with Rusev:
McMahon may have appreciated and wanted Rusev as a heel, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say that this storyline, unintentionally, took all his steam away as the heel who could “sell tickets.”
Rusev found his footing back in the subsequent years and currently holds a commendable position in the roster. However, he has an opportunity lined up that can increase his notoriety in the community severalfold.
Rusev Is a Contestant of the Last Time Is Now Tournament
Rusev has locked horns with several top-tier WWE stars, including Roman Reigns and Randy Orton. However, many might argue that his 2015 feud with John Cena was the pinnacle of his WWE career to date. The fact that fans still discuss Rusev’s iconic WrestleMania 31 entrance in a Russian tank suggests that the argument cannot be ruled out.
So, it wouldn’t be wrong to predict that another match with Cena can take Rusev’s popularity to an all-new level. Well, he has one final opportunity to make this a reality.
During the broadcast of the November 1 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, the WWE brass announced a 16-man tournament to elect John Cena’s final WWE opponent, whom he would face in his last match on December 13.
The promo of the tournament showcased Rusev, implying that he would participate in it, but its final confirmation came during the November 3 episode of Raw. In one of its segments, General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Rusev and Damian Priest will face each other in the inaugural match of the tournament on the November 10 episode of Raw.
THE LAST TIME IS NOW TOURNAMENT BEGINS NEXT WEEK! 👏 FIRST ROUND MATCH JUST ANNOUNCED:
DAMIAN PRIEST vs. RUSEV!
Who will move one step closer to being John Cena’s final opponent? pic.twitter.com/ZUS6DHy08l
— WWE (@WWE) November 4, 2025
Rusev will have to cross several other hurdles in the quest after Priest to earn another shot at Cena, which doesn’t look easy at all.
However, do you think he will defy all the odds to emerge as the victor of the tournament and proceed to face Cena on December 13? Let us know in the comments below.
