RUSEV IS ONE OF THE BEST ALL ROUND WWE SUPERSTARS IN THE COMPANY RIGHT NOW. A FANTASTIC IN RING WORKER- HE MANAGES TO BE HONESTLY FUNNY WITH THE USUAL POOR SCRIPTS ALL MEMBERS OF THE ROSTER ARE GIVEN THANKS TO HIS NATURAL CHARISMA AND TALENT.
As of today when I write this, two days after Money In The Bank 2017, Rusev hasn’t been seen on our television screens for months due to multiple injuries. However, there are highly reliable sources stating that he is now ready and able to compete again. So, what should he do when he returns? I say- give him the belt.
My idea of how to re-debut the man formerly known as Alexander Rusev is to have him interfere in a SmackDown Live main event that involves Jinder Mahal, take him out and whoever the opponent is, stand tall and lift the title above his head. Statement made. He deserves it- whenever Rusev has been tasked with something by management- he has made it good. Even, EVEN, the terrible love interest angle between himself and Summer Rae vs Dolph Ziggler and his real-life partner Lana; whenever Rusev was on screen, he was entertaining. But he’s also a legitimate badass heel that the company can build around for years to come. At 31 years old, the same age as Seth Rollins, he has plenty of years left in the tank so there will be no issue- at least from my perspective- to push him to the moon and back.
While yes, the gimmick of being anti-American is currently being used by two members of the SmackDown Live roster; being Kevin Owens and Jinder Mahal – you don’t need to do that with Rusev. Just let him come back, be angry that he has been overlooked for so long and destroy all those who gets in his way. That’s all that needs to happen for fans to accept him as a legitimate threat and it will work. Push him into a program with Jinder and have him be a Stone Cold type of anti-hero or, put the belt on a face and let him be a heel; Rusev can do both.
The added intrigue of this also is the former relationship Rusev and Jinder had together. For a number of weeks, Jinder played as Rusev’s henchman when they were feuding with Enzo and Big Cass. They could create the angle that Rusev feels if he hadn’t gotten injured- he would be getting the main event spot- not Jinder. This could either create Rusev as a lovable babyface who has had a great opportunity unfairly taken from him OR a vindictive heel who is trying to create an opportunity that was never there for him in the first place. I for one would be incredibly intrigued in either one of those storylines.
Overall- Rusev deserves to be in the main event- regardless of him returning as a face or heel. Obviously we will just have to see where the company decides to go with his storyline but we all will wait with baited breath to see if he can ‘Machka’ the modern day Maharaja…