WWE’s Big Rusev Comeback Is Quietly Falling Apart—And It’s Not What Fans Expected
Rusev’s WWE return was supposed to be a redemption story. Instead, it’s starting to feel uncomfortably familiar. After a rocky run in AEW—where he wrestled under the name Miro—Rusev came back to WWE in 2025 with real momentum. Backstage buzz suggested the company saw him as a potential main-event monster, someone who could be rebuilt into a serious threat almost overnight.
Fast forward to early 2026, and that vision appears to be slipping away.
From AEW Frustration to WWE Fresh Start
Rusev’s AEW stint was plagued by long, unexplained absences from TV. Reports at the time claimed there were creative disagreements and frustration over match outcomes, with accusations that he was reluctant to lose in key moments.
When he returned to WWE, many believed those issues were behind him.
He was immediately placed in a meaningful program with longtime friend Sheamus, then slid into the Intercontinental Championship picture alongside Dominik Mysterio and Penta. On paper, it looked like WWE was serious about making him relevant again.
Then He Just… Disappeared
Rusev’s last notable SmackDown appearance came when he lost to Jey Uso in the quarter-finals of the Last Time Is Now tournament. Since then, his presence has been almost nonexistent.
One match on Main Event.
No follow-up storyline.
No television direction.
For a wrestler once positioned as a dominant force, the silence has been deafening.
WWE Officials Reportedly “Disappointed”
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE’s internal expectations for Rusev were far higher than what actually materialized.
Meltzer pointed to footage from WWE Unreal, which revealed that Rusev was originally penciled in for major moments — including a King of the Ring final loss to Cody Rhodes and a pay-per-view title match against Jey Uso.
None of that happened.
The reasoning, per Meltzer, wasn’t a lack of opportunity — it was a lack of connection.
WWE didn’t bring Rusev back to sideline him. They wanted to rebuild him as a monster. But when that didn’t click with the audience, plans quietly shifted, leaving him where he is now: off TV and without a clear role.
Is the Royal Rumble His Last Chance?
There’s still a slim possibility Rusev could resurface as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble on January 31. If that happens, it would instantly put him back in the spotlight — at least for one night.
But expectations should be tempered.
Even if he does enter the Rumble, there’s little belief internally that he’s being lined up for a WrestleMania 42 title opportunity. At best, it would be a reset. At worst, just another brief appearance before fading back into limbo.
The Bigger Question
At this point, the real concern isn’t whether Rusev can return — it’s whether WWE still believes he can be the guy they once envisioned.
For a superstar who’s been given multiple fresh starts across multiple companies, time may finally be running out.
