Opinion: Why Rusev must win the casket match at The Greatest Royal Rumble
Yes, you read it correctly. Rusev must defeat The Undertaker in the casket match at The Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As highly controversial as this opinion may be, the star in question is one of the most over wrestlers in the company today, and you never know what WWE has in store for their fans.
So, let's get started. Shall we?
Much long before the whole "Rusev Day" gimmick got popular with the WWE Universe, Alexander Rusev, or simply Rusev, made his debut as an anti-American character which saw him announced as having relocated to Russia, and having been named "Hero of the Russian Federation."
After defeating a string of big names like Big Show, Mark Henry, and Jack Swagger, Rusev faced his first loss at the hands of John Cena at WrestleMania 31, thus ending his undefeated streak at 146 days. What followed was a drastic drop in his push, and WWE reduced The Bulgarian Brute to just being a lower mid-carder with no momentum whatsoever.
WWE tried various angles to get him over with the fans again but in vain. After unsuccessful storylines against Dolph Ziggler and a part of "The League of Nations," Rusev's downfall showed a lack of interest in him by WWE.
The final nail in the coffin was Rusev losing the United States Championship to Roman Reigns at Clash of Champions in September 2016. The man who was destined to be the poster boy of the company was nowhere to be seen and almost forgotten.
But then came the Superstar Shakeup in 2017, and along with it came the highly popular Rusev Day gimmick. Possibly the most over gimmick in WWE today, with chants and merchandise filling the stands, it has brought a bit more freedom to his character and resurrected his status from being more than just another performer on the roster.
The gimmick has opened many doors for Rusev, which has been a long time coming. There's nothing better than a fan-favorite wrestler who is a serious threat inside the ring and captivates the crowd every time he steps into the squared circle.
So with a career full of ups and downs, Rusev is finally getting a much-deserved recognition as a top draw after a forgettable period of around two years, and him getting destroyed at the hands of The Undertaker would spoil all his momentum. One of the most underrated performers in WWE today, Rusev is a main event package with incredible in-ring abilities and undeniable charisma, and a victory of this magnitude would elevate him right to the top of the food chain.
Only a handful of superstars have defeated The Undertaker clean, and Rusev being the latest one would have a huge impact and will surely make him an overnight sensation once again.
As for The Undertaker, he's back after successful hip surgery and is rumored to make multiple appearances this year. With one of the most illustrious careers in pro-wrestling history, The Deadman has already proved his mettle countless times, and him putting a young talented individual over once again will prove that he is the ultimate team player who cares about the business.
The WWE Universe has been waiting for Rusev's moment for the longest time, and for a long-term perspective, the dream might turn into reality come this Friday. There is no better time for Rusev to get a big push than now.
And by the way, Happy Rusev Day everybody!