5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (Sept 26)

2. Loser: Rusev

Lana Rusev Roman Reigns
WWE.com

Rusev took a disappointing United States Title loss to Roman Reigns at Clash of Champions. The match itself was fine, but there was only going to be one winner when Lana was banished from ringside, and it’s always frustrating to see an ineffective character profit at the expense of an effective one.

Reigns, a perpetually disappointing babyface, is now the champion, and Rusev has been dethroned. One of WWE’s most effective heels, he has been used as a platform for Reigns’ increasingly doomed “revival”, and while there are definitely weaker opponents to lose the belt to, Rusev’s reign ended on a whimper.

Last night pushed him further down the line. The show opened with a rematch between the duo, but while it ended in a double count-out, Reigns, as usual, had the last laugh. Rusev was left lying following a Spear and a chairshot, which keeps the feud alive, but destroys the heel’s momentum.

Rusev has now ran into his second brick wall after tangling with John Cena last year. He might yet recover, but these are worrying times for The Bulgarian Brute and all who support him.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.