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WWE Rumors: Rusev To Feud With Sheamus For US Title

By @nickmarsico

Rusev - WWE Facebook

Rusev – WWE Facebook

The former Bulgarian Brute, now generic (but still awesome) Evil Russian Rusev has been dominating everybody he has entered the ring with. Big E was his first test, but the former Intercontinental Champion was done away with fairly quickly. Jack Swagger, the Real American, was next to charge forward at Rusev, but suffered the same fate. Then it was former two-time US Olympic qualifier and World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry, but he was also handed two losses at the hands of Rusev. Henry’s friend and sometimes tag partner The Big Show has taken up the task, and he is the first man to truly give Rusev a run for his money.

On the final SmackDown of September, we saw Show and Rusev in their first official match, which ended in a Rusev disqualification when he had to resort to an international object (in this instance the Russian flag) to stop the forward-moving train that is The Big Show. He was unable to stop him for long, however, because a post-match attack from the BulgRussian was met with a giant fist to the face. Rusev’s attack on the most recent episode of SmackDown yielded a better result, as he didn’t end up getting punched in the noggin. He was, however, unable to keep Big Show down, even after an extensive attack with the flag and a sidekick to the head. The two will have what is assumed to be their final confrontation tomorrow night on Monday Night RAW.

The next challenge, rumor has it, will be the United States Championship. It is a completely logical progression in the story — Rusev has put down all comers for months, and he has defeated every man who tried to defend the honor of America. What could be better than not only conquering American wrestlers, but also taking the title named after our great nation hostage? Possibly nothing, I would surmise. Of course, the current US Champ is an Irishman, but champion Sheamus has long been a man of respect and resolve. Not only will he obviously step into the ring to defend his title (and also to have a fight, because come on, it’s Sheamus), but he would certainly be obliged to defend the WWE Universe and his adopted home, the United States of America, in the process.

With Rusev finally doing some talking on his own, the best way for him to announce that he wants to challenge for the US Championship is to do so verbally instead of having Lana do the talking for him. That act makes the challenge much more personal and can help the fans and everyone involved get just a little bit more invested in the upcoming struggle for the title. Instead of going the usual route, I would like to see Rusev defeat Sheamus in a hard-fought contest to win the belt without the former champ receiving his contractually safeguarded rematch. In lieu of this, Sheamus can begin his far past due run as a heel, sparked initially by having the extra weight put on his shoulders and being tasked with not only fighting for his title, but also for fighting for a country that he doesn’t identify as his own.

Rusev defeating the non-American accomplishes two things: the Evil Russian is now the champion of the United States, and the honorable Irish brawler is now a pissed off fighter with a chip on his shoulder and vengeance to be had against all (except for the new champ – he can go after the IC title because his former belt will be busy).

There you have it. If Rusev’s next step follows in the footprints of a logical wrestling booker, he will be YOUR next United States Champion very soon and the stakes will be that much bigger when he finally tastes defeat.

Nicholas A. Marsico is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickmarsico and Like him on Facebook!

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