6 New Directions For Rusev After WWE Clash Of Champions 2016 Defeat

3. The Hired Gun Of The Authority

A largely unexplored aspect of Rusev's character. The Bulgarian Brute has always been somewhat in the pocket of The Authority. It may have purely been luck of the draw, but surely it isn't a total coincidence that the very first man he attacked on arrival on the main roster at the 2014 Royal Rumble was the last man Triple H & Co wanted to win that match (CM Punk).

Rusev also represented The Authority at Survivor Series at the end of that year, ending as the only member of their team not to be pinned or made to submit. Clash of Champions confirmed to us all that Stephanie and Hunter are still the two most important people on the show, so what better spotlight for Rusev than as their personal hired gun?

Of course, the problem with this is that he would inevitably be made to look fairly weak straight away, slipping on bananas and standing on rakes, but what if he didn't? Almost a decade ago Umaga was used well as the hired gun of Vince McMahon, a similar role for Rusev would work as a fine holding pattern of sorts for him over the next few months.

Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton are all opportunists that may be difficult to fully control. Rusev is a 2+2 animal, just what the doctor ordered.