Rusev Pledged $20,000 Of Own Money To WWE Production Workers
Bulgarian made astonishing gesture weeks before release.
Rusev Day came to a sad end last night, after WWE announced that popular superstar Miroslav 'Rusev' Barnyashev had been released from his contract. It was no secret that the Bulgarian had been unhappy in the company for a while - in particular, with their mode of operation, as typified by yesterday's savage cuts - but choosing to release him at this precise moment smacks of spite.
For all his misgivings with management, Barnyashev was magnanimous about his release, stating a humble "thank you!" on Twitter shortly after the news broke. Just two weeks prior, with the lockdown sweeping America, the former United States champion demonstrated the full extent of his humility, via an astonishing gesture designed to ease the financial difficulties of his colleagues.
On 24 March, Barnyashev Tweeted a Bulgarian saying: "It's not a lot but it's from the heart." He then pledged $20,000 to any of the extended WWE family currently furloughed without income, concluding "we can't do it without y'all."
Such an extraordinary act of kindness was not mirrored by his former employees, who, despite having $500 million in reserves, slashed a swathe of talent and production staff from their books yesterday. This philosophical conflict goes a long way to explaining why Barnyashev wanted out - and why he won't struggle to land on his feet when the crisis is over.