10 Beloved Wrestlers FIRED By WWE
8. Rusev
Rusev and WWE never did get on, which was strange: he ticked many of their boxes.
While he wasn't a from-scratch developmental prospect, he might as well have been. He wasn't a name elsewhere, and had no real experience in or ability to get over, which in the old WWE was somehow a bad thing. He had a naturally tough-looking and thick physique, almost imported from a different time period. He was naturally funny and thus capable of elevating WWE's bad comedy material. He could also go in the ring. He wasn't outstanding, but then, that was hardly encouraged.
The fans also connected with him and, oh no, that can't happen. In fact, it didn't, if you believe Vince McMahon. He thought the fans were patronising Rusev by forking out real money for his popular line of Rusev Day merchandise.
"They're only spending money that is hard to come by to patronise you, a handsome jacked superstar earning a huge salary."
Even though his career had declined and badly, through being cuckolded by Paul Heyman's very odd and damaging creative, it was still shocking that WWE would release such a well-liked five-tool player.
One suspects Miro wishes it was still Rusev Day. You'd have thought he'd be used to doing jobs, but apparently not.