Xenophobia is a touchy subject at the best of times, but it's one WWE seemingly can't pry themselves away from. Russian heels have been prevalent throughout wrestling history, and the latest to play the Soviet bad boy is Rusev, a Bulgarian who has aligned himself with the communist regime. In his corner stands the 'Ravishing Russian', Lana, Rusev's real-life girlfriend, and the woman who acts as the behemoth's spokesperson on most occasions. The pair are a good fit together on-screen, and the character has thus far been a successful one, even if WWE have relied on the same tired cliches of 'my country is better than yours' predictability to sell the gimmick up to this point. At some point, Rusev is going to have to break out of the one-dimensional schtick, and spread his wings. It remains to be seen how Lana would play into such a change, but for now, the pair are a solid unit. Rusev has been largely protected by the WWE creative team, which bodes well for his future. If the couple can stick together on television, who knows what the future may hold.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
