10 Mistakes WWE Can't Afford To Make With Hell In A Cell 2016
9. Bury Rusev
This week’s Raw presented Rusev as a sympathetic foil to Roman Reigns, which is the exact opposite way you’d expect WWE to play a feud between their chosen golden child and an anti-American heel. Despite this, the company have done a good job building heat between the two, and Reigns vs. Rusev has been a bitter, bloodthirsty rivalry.
There’s little chance Rusev wins on Sunday. Reigns is still very much “the guy,” regardless of his current card position, and he has only just become United States Champion. Barring major shenanigans, it’s highly likely that the Samoan emerges victorious from the first of HIAC’s three “main events.”
This’ll be hugely disappointing to Rusev, who has only just recovered from his destructive run-ins with John Cena last year. His career nosedived after taking multiple losses to Cena, and WWE can’t afford to let that happen again. Reigns can go over, but Rusev must be made to look strong throughout, and by no means should he be treated as a stepping stone for Roman (as he was with Cena).
Rusev is a rare Raw heel who’s actually capable of getting legitimate jeers, not the big mixed reactions that typically greet Kevin Owens and co. It’ll be hugely disappointing if WWE run him into the ground again: he can lose on Sunday, but not without looking like a monster.