9 WWE SmackDown Angles That Should Follow Money In The Bank 2017
4. Bring Rusev Back To Feud With Kevin Owens
Rusev's potential as a babyface has been widely discussed here and elsewhere, and now is the right time to pull the trigger on a turn. With a fresh start on SmackDown and Lana competing separate in the women's division, 'The Bulgarian Brute' is a blank slate for the creative team to work with.
If decades of history is anything to rely on, Vince and company can't fathom how a foreigner like Rusev could get cheered by WWE's audience, but the sense of nationalism is no longer the singularly uniting thread that it once was. All you have to do is run the Nikita Koloff angle - preferably minus the legitimately paralyzed rival part - and have Rusev say that he's seen the error of his ways and has embraced his new home. Boom; all is forgiven.
The ideal opponent for this new man is Kevin Owens. He calls himself 'The Face of America' while not being American nor a face. The two could have have some great matches together and KO is one of the best at taking the fan support he often receives and throwing it back at the audience, rejecting their attempts to cheer him. He recognizes the point of his role and works hard to achieve his goal of drawing heat.
Ultimately Rusev can take the United States championship off of Owens and bring some honor and prestige to the belt, furthering his redemption story in the process.