WWE Money in the Bank 2018: The Case For Rusev As A Sleeper

Although The Miz is understandably the favorite – and most logical option – to win the men’s briefcase at WWE Money in the Bank 2018, I’d like to make the case for Rusev as a sleeper to grab the contract.

For years, Rusev has been one of the most talented performers in the company, and at WWE Money in the Bank 2018, the Bulgarian George Clooney (I refuse to call someone with his savoir faire a “brute”) has a chance to become a world champion for the first time in his career.

Admittedly, his chances are slim, because the WWE hasn’t pulled the trigger on Rusev for quite some time. So why would they make a sudden change now? Why would they suddenly make him the WWE Championship via an MITB cash-in?

It’s all about capturing lightning in a bottle, and that’s what the WWE should be doing with Rusev. When he was paired up with Aiden English, it seemed like both guys would be dead in the water. Instead, Rusev did what every single wrestler in the WWE is told by guys on podcasts – carve out an opportunity for yourself.

In the months since Rusev and English became a team, “Rusev Day” has become one of the most popular acts in all of professional wrestling. If the crowd isn’t into a match, they’ll chant “Rusev Day!” This chant has, in some ways, usurped “CM Punk!” as a defiant (no, not that “Defiant”) crowd’s weapon of choice. Heck, ROH Wrestling fans once chanted “Rusev Day!”

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English’s singing, Rusev’s charisma, and the whole package that comes with the phenomenon that is “Rusev Day” has taken WWE by a storm. The “Rusev Day” shirts sold at an incredibly high rate, and it’s almost unbelievable how Rusev has been able to click with the fans in a way that most wrestlers could only dream of doing.

Could you imagine Rusev holding the briefcase? Could you imagine the thunderous roar of the crowd as he grabs the contract hovering above the ring? How about the segments where he and English brag together, taunting the WWE Champion? Or how about teasing potential friction between Rusev and English, especially after Lana appeared on SmackDown Live and seemed to indicate that “Handsome Rusev” should cut ties with the former Vaudevillain?

There are so many possibilities here. The fact that Rusev can be an entertaining briefcase-holder is important, because last year’s men’s winner, Baron Corbin, was not. When he held the briefcase, it seemed like a bit of a prop. Rusev is a far better promo than Corbin, and while bringing up Corbin does invoke thoughts of Rusev losing the briefcase, I doubt that would be the case if he were to win. I mean, would the WWE really tease the fans like that? Would they really have a fan favorite lose the briefcase a year after someone else already met the same fate?

In any case, Rusev isn’t the most likely option to win at WWE Money in the Bank 2018. He is, however, a real sleeper pick due to his situation with English and Lana, his popularity, and his talent. Rusev has always been a good wrestler and a solid promo, but he didn’t start truly blossoming until he returned from an injury last year.

The man went from being “good” to “great”, and those improvements have extended to story-telling and crowd interaction in the ring. Go watch his matches with Shinsuke Nakamura at Fastlane and Daniel Bryan on the May 8 episode of SmackDown Live for examples of this.

Next: The Miz Is In WWE's Elite

While Rusev is a two-time United States Champion and once had an undefeated streak that was broken by John Cena at WrestleMania, he hasn’t had a defining victory or moment in WWE. That would all change on June 17 if he were to pull off an upset by winning the Money in the Bank ladder match. Again, it’s unlikely, but all the ingredients for a possible shock are there. The Miz is my personal pick (he really needs to win and cash in on Bryan), but Rusev is a darkhorse worth rooting for.

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