WWE: Rusev Will Be Bobby Roode’s Next United States Title Challenger
Bobby Roode successfully defended the United States Championship at the WWE Royal Rumble 2018 pay per view by pinning Mojo Rawley, but he will have a tougher test ahead of him in Rusev.
There’s no doubt that Rusev is one of the most “over” superstars in the WWE, as evidenced by the popularity of his new T-Shirt and the fact that he’s been receiving thunderous pops for months. Rusev came out as the first entrant in the WWE Royal Rumble, and while he didn’t come close to winning, the crowd was behind him.
Tonight on SmackDown Live, Rusev was a part of a Fatal Four-Way for the United States Championship No. 1 contendership, The US Title is currently held by Bobby Roode.
Jinder Mahal, Kofi Kingston, and Zack Ryder were the other wrestlers in the match, and it seemed like Jinder was the obvious choice.
PANCAKES and BODIES are FLYING as @RusevBUL @ZackRyder @TrueKofi & @JinderMahal square off for the opportunity to face @REALBobbyRoode for the #USTitle! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/lWebikYXvF
— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2018
However, the WWE surprised the fans in a pleasant way by having Rusev win the match, as he put the Accolade finisher on Kofi to pick up the win.
Rusev will get his shot at Roode’s title next week on SmackDown Live, and fans will be hoping that he can pull off the upset. Roode, of course, won the title in a tournament after Dolph Ziggler vacated the championship.
HEAD OF STEAM on The #BulgarianBrute @RusevBUL! He wants BACK in the #USTitle picture! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/YPN4s9fbsa
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 31, 2018
If Rusev wins the title, it will be interesting to see who his opponent would be. Many people expect Roode and Mahal to feud over the United States Championship at WrestleMania, barring a return from Ziggler for a WrestleMania match involving the title.
Next: State Of The WWE Universe Address
As the WWE played up during tonight’s Fatal Four-Way, Mahal and Rusev have a history together, so the WWE could conceivably pull the trigger on a Rusev face turn to have the two feud for the US Title. That is, provided, Rusev defeats Roode for the title, which seems unlikely at this point. Sadly, it seems like Rusev is just a stopgap opponent for Roode and the US Title.