WWE Battleground 2017: Rusev Bound to Lose Again

With the impending flag match at Battleground, is Rusev destined for another underwhelming tenure at SmackDown Live?

Rusev would make and underwhelming return to live TV this week on SmackDown Live. The Bulgarian Brutes rants had some level of truth it. He would discuss how no hype had been given to his return while WWE went way out of their ways to celebrate Cena’s return. One is a veteran of the game who has his one foot outside the door, the other is a young and upcoming star who could carry the company to the next decade.

It would get announced later in the night via Twitter that Rusev would face Cena in a flag match at Battleground PPV. This came after the Bulgarian Brute initially declined Cena’s challenge in the first place.

The question must be asked: is Rusev being set up for failure yet again?

Their match at Battleground would be Cena’s first PPV match ever since WrestleMania. Considering how he has become a free agent now, the odds of Cena losing the first match following this move are slim to none. On the flip side, Rusev has to struggle to make it on his own as a singles act. He no longer has Lana by his side. At least, for the moment, it seems like Lana could be involved in an alliance with Tamina.

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WWE potentially missed the ball with Rusev’s return. They could have gone with other ways to make his return a more memorable one. One of those ways would have been to have him enter the battle royal to determine the new No. 1e contender. Eliminating Styles or Zayn to claim his spot as the new challenger for the US title would have given him some real heat. A match between KO and the Bulgarian Brute would have been an excellent addition to the PPV. In addition to it, creative would have had the opportunity to present him with the US title and imminent rise to stardom almost instantaneously.

Another option would have been for a face Rusev to make his return. The WWE Universe has always seen the Bulgarian as a foreign heel. In this time and era, it would indeed be more realistic to present him as a hardworking man who is fighting for his place in the American society. Rusev as a face has a lot of potential and would have been a nice change of pace too.

Next: John Cena, Rusev Return in Same WWE SmackDown Segment

It seems at the moment that WWE has gone back to their old ways with the Bulgarian Brute. What do you think about the move? Would you have picked somebody else to face John Cena instead? How would you have booked Rusev’s return?