From the WWE Rumor Mill: Big double-turn could be on the way on SmackDown Live
What's the story?
When you're a member of the WWE roster sometimes you need to freshen up your character a little bit. Everyone needs a refresher now and then and that includes WWE Superstars.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that a very interesting double-turn scenario could be on the way for Rusev and Tye Dillinger over on the Blue Team.
In case you didn't know...
Tye Dillinger has always been a face under his current persona as he rallies people to chant "10" in his direction while he spins in the ring. It's quite a sight to witness live as a packed arena calls him The Perfect 10.
But generally, someone who goes around proclaiming he's a Perfect 10 is regarded as a heel in pro wrestling. This certainly makes Tye Dillinger an interesting anomaly in pro wrestling for sure because he seems to be pretty popular.
On the other hand, Rusev is the Bulgarian Brute who first burst onto the WWE landscape with an Anti-American gimmick that crowds despise. When he had Lana as his mouthpiece he drew insane heat. But there's always been a fraction of the audience who enjoyed Rusev's antics simply because it was evident he was enjoying himself so much.
Now that he's broken up with Lana (on-screen) and every day is Rusev Day, he might be bringing, even more, people over to his side. If you add in the fact that people get to see his true hilarious personality on Total Divas then you've got a good recipe for an ironic babyface that people could really latch onto.
The heart of the matter
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that a recent WWE house show in Raleigh, North Carolina saw an interesting turn of events during a match between The Perfect 10 and The Bulgarian Brute.
During the match, the two participants executed a double-turn on the crowd which saw them cheering wildly for Rusev by the end of the match. Meltzer said there were still plenty of "10" chants being chanted out but they were used like the "what" chant is used during a match.
Therefore, by the time Rusev locked on The Accolade and made Dillinger submit, everyone was celebrating Rusev Day.
What's next?
If Rusev turned babyface it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Tye Dillinger also might benefit with a heel turn. After all, there's always the chance WWE officials could strap a rocket to Dillinger during a new heel turn and shoot him straight up the roster.
Author's take
Rusev has always been one of my favourites because it is evident he loves doing what he does in the ring. After all, he used to wrestle without boots on and you have to want to do it if you're willing to wrestle barefooted.
A babyface turn for him might open up his character and allow him to exhibit a little bit more of the kind of personality that won over a girl like Lana.