WWE SmackDown: 5 Possible US Title Opponents For Rusev

Samoa Joe

We could see Rusev feud with Lars Sullivan or EC3 on WWE SmackDown as he looks to make his third United States Championship reign his best one yet, but we could just as easily see The Bulgarian Brute attempt to fend off a legend of the squared circle like Samoa Joe. I mean, EC3 has plenty of experience dating back to Impact Wrestling, but Joe is in the Randy Orton tier of living wrestling demigods.

Joe, however, hasn’t been able to grab a championship in WWE despite his technical prowess and underrated athletic ability. He lost to Brock Lesnar in a Universal Title feud at Great Balls of Fire in 2017, and he was unable to defeat AJ Styles for the WWE Championship on multiple occasions this summer and fall.

WWE has positioned Joe as a main event talent in spite of his losses, because his menacing promos and in-ring chops have caused him to gain the WWE Universe’s utmost respect. That said, Joe may have to aim a little bit lower if he wants to win a title in WWE, especially with Daniel Bryan keeping the WWE Championship close to his chest.

A Rusev vs. Joe rivalry would be amazing, as their deliveries on the mic couldn’t be more different. While Joe is all business and has this absolutely evil way of cooly dissecting an opponent’s weaknesses before building to a thunderous crescendo when he speaks, Rusev is all about throwing shade and having a good time. But Rusev absolutely has pride in his work and confidence in himself as an athlete, so when the bell rings, the fans will be treated to matches that showcase both mat wrestling and athletic counters.