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Rusev always got me down in the dumps. Another anachronistic foreign heel. I wasn't a big fan of the push. I know it's classic wrestling booking to send a guy on an undefeated streak, but I just didn't feel he was the guy for that push. It was about the time he came out on a tank at WrestleMania 31 with the graphics displaying "Rusev Crush" that I decided that there was something fun about this act.
He got booked pretty shit after that. I was actually for the US Title change at WrestleMania -- that's the way the story was supposed to be go. I also liked that it was only with one Attitude Adjustment too. I like it when finishers actually end matches. I wasn't particularly stoked on him losing to Cena at the next two PPVs to drive the point home that Cena was absolutely 100% better on any given night though.
The stuff with Dolph Ziggler was awful too. I have a feeling a lot of this was a big reason that Dolph was put into Wrestling Personalities Room 101. A funny thing happened during this horseshit though -- like a blooper in Bulgarian porn, interestingly enough: Rusev was genuinely entertaining in brief moments. Whether it was him informing Summer that the gift he was presenting her was a fish, or just by not being Dolph Ziggler in this feud, Rusev shone like a gem.
The League of Nations was depressing too, but the only memory I have left of it is Rusev running from the back and doing a dramatic jump. That lad really put effort into it. Little things like giving Vince a hug at the Royal Rumble after beating up Roman Reigns helped keep Rusev's head above water and made him look bulletproof.
I now wish he was booked better. Maybe he could go on an undefeated run and capture the US Title, building to a match with John Cena at...oh.
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