10 Wrestlers Who Got Into Incredible Shape This Year

4. Rusev

Rusev's omnipresence has perhaps been his undoing in this particular field.

The 'Bulgarian Brute' hasn't ever been in bad nick, but it's hard to notice changes and gains when the tired character remains a purpose-free fixture on television. A recent Instagram post revealed his "body transformation" using pictures from various points in his career and the changes - particularly considering the hard life of a well-worn wrestler - from his early days on the main roster to now are stark.

Might this physical overhaul finally be the moment Vince McMahon's heart is won?

Rusev's reached for countless brass rings in the past, so it's hard to see this latest one going any better than the genuinely phenomenal 'Happy Rusev Day' movement, but it's legitimately impressive to see a man remain so motivated in the face of rank indifference from his employers. A rumoured release-requester a few times in the past few years, he's built a body and a body of work that could be beneficial to others out there if the company persist in putting him on the backburner.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett