The debut of Rusev on the main WWE roster this year was really needed because they need some heels that are very old school in how they act. He was such a raw performer in NXT for much of 2013, but he's shown in 2014 that WWE was wise to invest a lot in him as a heel monster. Even though he's Bulgarian, they have transformed him into this Russian jerk along with his manager Lana, who might be an even better heel than he is. When fans hear his music they boo. They know that Lana's going to come out there to trash America while Rusev will annihilate whoever he is in the ring with. That's why the character works. Too often we might see heels that are out there making jokes or trying to be "cool" for the fans. Not Rusev or Lana. You can't buy their merchandise and nobody ever chants for them. WWE needs more heels like them. Rusev has yet to be pinned or submitted in WWE. He has lost via other methods, but in singles matches nobody has beat him in that sense. They might be saving him for a big showdown with John Cena possibly around WrestleMania. He has the talent to belong. You can see that he's a great athlete who continues to improve every time he gets out there. As the current US Champion, Rusev is already in a featured role. In 2015, that role will likely get bigger. He's definitely a star on the rise.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.
