10 Wrestlers BANNED From Getting Over

5. Rusev Day Comes To An End

Daniel Bryan
WWE

People loved Rusev, and while his initial push as 'The Best Man' in AEW didn't work out, he alluded on his YouTube channel to it all going somewhere further than the wedding. He was The Best Man because was a gifted all-rounder who was strong in almost every area: he could talk, he could go, he could be scary and intense, but also really funny with his gleeful asides.

A man you could have a beer with before the mood shifted into something very ugly, the idea (if not the execution) was very good.

So why didn't this ultra-talented all-rounder - who was ideal for WWE's favoured top role of "gregarious powerhouse welcomes you to Monday Night Raw" - crack the main event scene?

Well, the act that promised to launch Rusev into that stratosphere was senselessly abandoned. The Rusev Day stable was a very entertaining and over midcard bit, to which fans responded enthusiastically. It wasn't fading in popularity. It just...ended, and that is because Rusev was effectively banned from making that connection with fans.

As Rusev told it in a 2020 podcast appearance with Ryback, "I was told, "don't look at the people, don't smile, don't do this". Vince told him that the crowds didn't like Rusev and were just "f*cking" with him.

Vince heard something he didn't want to hear and twisted the narrative to his own, deranged liking.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!