10 Predictions For WWE's Direction After SummerSlam 2016

10. A Big Push For Rusev

Much has been written on both Rusev’s downturn and that of the once-celebrated United States Championship, but if recent weeks are anything to go by, both are back on an upswing. Rusev’s revival started when he and Lana were put back together late last year, and while the League of Nations storyline did little for him, he’s been made to look incredibly dominant in recent months.

The rumoured Roman Reigns match is huge for Rusev, and the result will provide a big insight on how WWE intend to proceed with both performers. Rusev has been stuck with the likes of Zack Ryder and Titus O’Neil since winning the US Title from Kalisto, and Reigns represents a huge step-up. Say what you will about him, but Reigns has been positioned in and around WWE’s main event scene for months: he’s divisive, sure, but he’s still a big deal, and a Rusev victory will do wonders for The Bulgarian Brute.

Look for Rusev to defeat the doghouse-bound Reigns, and continue his and the United States Title’s rehabilitation by moving away from the Zack Ryders of the world, and onto the Sami Zayns and Cesaros. Raw is packed to the brim with exciting in-ring talents whose workrate can be a huge boon to the US division, and Rusev stands tall among them.

As the US Title scene’s dominant alpha dog, look for Rusev to finally ascend beyond the upper-midcard, and towards main event stardom.