Rusev's WWE Contract Expiring Soon - Is He AEW Bound?

The Bulgarian Brute could soon become the hottest free agent in the wrestling industry.

by Andrew Pollard
Rusev Beard
WWE

In the midst of WWE apparently offering lengthy, costly deals to any and all talent currently under WWE contract, now comes word on a certain Bulgarian Brute who could soon be set to depart the company.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Rusev’s WWE contract is set to expire in the near future. Uncle Dave didn’t specify exactly when the former US Champion’s contract would run out, but he did add that Rusev has long been unhappy with his positioning in WWE.

Despite likely causing countless headaches amongst WWE higher-ups, Rusev has regularly taken to Twitter to voice his unhappiness with how he’s been utilised in WWE. Whether it’s taking swipes at opportunities afforded to other talent, complaining about not being featured on TV, or even mocking how WWE dropped the ball with the whole Rusev Day schtick, Rusev has never shied away from making his true feelings known. In fact, the reason he's off TV right now is because he's requested time off due to being disillusioned with how he's being used.

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Given how this is a hugely talented in-ring talent with a ridiculous amount of natural charisma, it’s criminal to think that Rusev has never really been given a fair crack at breaching the main event scene of WWE. Combine Ru-Ru’s disgruntlement with his expiring contract, and you’ve potentially got one of the hottest free agents in the wrestling industry on your hands.

AEW, take note.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.