During a detailed conversation with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, WWE Superstar Rusev revisited his memorable rivalry with John Cena, especially their WWE United States Title showdown at WrestleMania 31. The event featured Rusev’s striking entrance in a tank, an idea that came together unexpectedly but perfectly matched his persona.
Rusev described the tank appearance as a powerful example of manifestation.
“Manifestation, brother. Manifestation, nothing else. I couldn’t even believe that, because CJ sometimes reminded me, No, we literally took a paper and we just kind of, Oh, what if it’s this, what if it’s this, what if it’s this? We’re not gonna go to [Vince McMahon], it’s my first few months. I’m not gonna go, ‘Vince, what about this?’ But then all of a sudden, a few days before the show, they call us in the stadium, oh, there’s a tank. Whoa, there’s the guns. Whoa, there’s a Russian soldier. It was just something, I couldn’t ask for or dream for anything more. And it was all because, like I said, just we thinking about it, manifesting it, and then somehow it’s getting to Vince’s head for him to put it up there.”
Lessons Learned from John Cena’s Wrestling Approach
Rusev highlighted the most valuable insight he gained from John Cena: mastering timing and patience in the ring. He emphasized the importance of understanding the audience’s reaction and adapting accordingly rather than distinguishing between TV matches and live events.
He explained,
“Just timing, take my time. There’s no such thing as a TV match and a live event match, like there’s no such thing as a bad crowd. If they’re not reacting, it’s because you’re not giving them what they want to see. Him listening, ‘Okay, is it a high pitch? Is it low-pitched? Who’s out there tonight? What’s the vibe?’ He’s always there, watching and learning the crowd as much as everything else. Not everything has to be like [fast paced] it’s got to make sense, and it’s got to take your time and listen to the crowd. I think that’s the most important thing. Just listen to the crowd. They’ll tell you what to do.”
Rusev’s Role in the League of Nations
When discussing the formation of the League of Nations stable alongside Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, and Wade Barrett, Rusev shared that the group was created primarily to counter Roman Reigns.
“I think they needed somebody for Roman, to be honest. I think that’s how they came up with it. It was not like, oh, we have this great idea for these four guys. I think they needed somebody for Roman to be a babyface, and that’s why they put us together, which was fun. We got a WrestleMania match. I got to eat the stunner from Steve Austin, which was another dream come true.”
Title Battles Between Rusev and John Cena
Earlier in 2015, at WWE Fastlane in February, Rusev successfully defended the WWE United States Title against John Cena. However, Cena reclaimed the championship in their subsequent rematch at WrestleMania 31, marking a notable turning point in their heated rivalry.
The Lasting Impact of Cena’s Guidance
Rusev’s reflections reveal how working alongside a seasoned performer like John Cena influenced his in-ring strategy and understanding of audience connection. By adopting Cena’s focus on timing and crowd engagement, Rusev enhanced his performances and wrestling psychology. This insight not only shaped his WWE career but also highlights the continuing influence Cena has on rising stars and veterans alike in the wrestling world.
