This isn't as insane as it sounds. Rusev is undefeated and the United States Champion. He's beaten a slew of top names, and could feasibly win the Rumble via nefarious or unusual means means (Lana jumps on the apron, a superstar is attacked by another superstar, leaving Rusev the winner by default). Let's also remember the Raw episode back in October when Rusev and Lana were confronted by The Rock. Let's also remember that Rusev and Lana were guests on Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel, too, meaning that it's quite obvious that the company has a ton of faith in what Rusev and Lana bring to the table as performers. Even if using Rusev winning the Rumble as a way to shift the title match onto someone else that wasn't in the Rumble (maybe John Cena for starters), the Bulgarian Brute and Ravishing Russian are a captivating pair of talents who clearly are ready for a greater role in WWE. Could the Rumble be where Rusev breaks out from the pack? It would certainly be a swerve if it were.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
