Rusev, a former WWE United States Champion, left All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2025 after joining the promotion in 2021. Despite initially appearing set for success, tensions over match outcomes reportedly led to his exit. Rusev publicly stated that he departed because he wanted more in-ring action, having competed in just 11 matches since joining AEW. However, wrestling insider Dave Meltzer disputes this explanation, claiming that Rusev’s refusal to accept losses resulted in AEW owner Tony Khan benching him and eventually removing him from television.
The Bulgarian Brute, who became well-known during his nearly decade-long WWE career before being released in 2020, returned to WWE following the 2025 WrestleMania season. Meltzer shared on Wrestling Observer Radio that the real issue was Rusev’s unwillingness to lose, stating,
“You’ve got to be kidding me. The whole problem he had in AEW was he didn’t wanna lose so they stopped booking him. The thing with Tony is, you can negotiate with him but there’s a certain point you can’t cross. These guys aren’t gonna say that to Levesque. They try to take advantage of Tony. They don’t respect him like they respect Levesque.”
This insight suggests deeper backstage frustrations influenced Rusev’s departure from AEW.
Reflection on Rusev’s Popular ‘Rusev Day’ Era in WWE
During his WWE run, Rusev, alongside Lana and Aiden English, created the viral and beloved “Rusev Day” faction in 2017. This phase became one of the most memorable storylines of his career, though Rusev revealed in a recent interview that the phenomenon was never planned to reach such heights of popularity. He explained,
“I don’t know. It was never meant to be over. It was never supposed to be anything. It was supposed to be a celebration. Here’s the key from the mayor of Plovdiv, my hometown, and uh, it just worked for some reason. I was a heel, but then I started to, like, relax. Be more of my personality, and I guess people started buying that.”
Now that Rusev has rejoined WWE, fans are curious to see if the “Rusev Day” celebration might be revived in some form, potentially marking a nostalgic return to one of the most endearing wrestling storylines of the past decade.
Implications Behind the AEW Departure and Future Outlook
Rusev’s move back to WWE highlights the ongoing challenges AEW faces in managing talent who hold strong opinions about match outcomes and character direction. Tony Khan’s firm stance on booking decisions, as noted by Meltzer, shows the fine line between negotiation and control in wrestling promotions. This episode underlines the complexities behind the scenes that can shape a wrestler’s career trajectory beyond in-ring performance alone.
As for Rusev, this return to WWE opens fresh opportunities to rebuild momentum and possibly reintroduce elements of the persona that made him a fan favorite. However, the controversy around his AEW exit serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adaptability and cooperation within the wrestling industry.
Rusev said he left AEW because he wanted to wrestle more.
"You've got to be kidding me. The whole problem he had in AEW was he didn't wanna lose so they stopped booking him. The thing with Tony is, you can negotiate with him but there's a certain point you can't cross. These… pic.twitter.com/bvBlXQ3Frg
— Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) February 25, 2026
