Released WWE Superstar Rusev Reveals an Intense Meeting with Vince McMahon

Rusev ex-WWE superstar speaks about his dream come true moment when he faced the Undertaker at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.

Rusev is easily one of the best future prospects underutilized by WWE. Good built, brilliant ability to get crowd reactions, good technical wrestler, and a beautiful manager, Rusev had all the ingredients for a successful career.

Rusev was the first-ever Bulgarian wrestler in the WWE. Rusev did have some good days during his time in WWE, three United States title reigns, an undefeated streak, a Slammy for the match of the year.

However, the greatest year in WWE for him was 2017 in the Rusev Day angle

In 2017 Rusev formed an alliance with Aiden English. English would then use a catchphrase ‘Rusev Day’ before every match signifying every time Rusev walked to the ring it was his time to shine.

Rusev Day gave him an enormous crowd reaction irrespective of him being the good guy or bad. This was the year when Rusev’s dream would come true.

Rusev felt he wasn’t on Undertaker’s level

In 2018 Rusev had a dream come true moment as Vince McMahon called Rusev to inform him about facing The Undertaker. Rusev speaking on his YouTube show said he took it as a joke, as he felt the boss was joking. Rusev felt it was way above his level to work with the Phenom.

“I thought it was a rib. I got called in the office by Vince. He said ‘Miro, I got you working with The Undertaker in Saudi Arabia’. I’m like (laughs) and ‘I’m winning right?’ That’s exactly what I said, that’s what exactly my reaction was.

“Because I thought he was joking. So I said, ‘I’m going over, right?’ He was like ‘Hahaha.’ He looked at me kind of weird. I’m like ‘Alright sir, I’ll see you next time’,” recalls Rusev.

This didn’t sit well with the then WWE producer and head writer of SmackDown, Brain James a.k.a Road Dogg. James felt the behavior towards the boss was inappropriate.

However, Rusev explained saying he felt it was a joke, with James clarifying it wasn’t.

“Then I went out and Road Dogg goes, ‘Why did you act like this?’ I’m like ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like ‘Why would you say that?’ I’m like ‘Well, he’s joking with me, I would joke back with him, I’m not gonna just sit there.’

He’s like ‘No that’s not a joke, you are actually working Taker.’ I was like, ‘No freaking way! I’m such an a**hole.’ Yeah, it was a funny story,” said Rusev.

Prince of Saudi saves Rusev’s dream

WWE was planning to turn Rusev babyface. Losing at a PPV with a 60,000 plus crowd would hamper the babyface turn and making Undertaker lose in a casket match to a newbie would be a bad decision.

Hence Rusev was then replaced by Chris Jericho.

A call from the Saudi Prince called forced Vince McMahon to change his decision and reinstate Rusev in the match. Rusev fondly remembers this moment as he jokingly said he was over in Saudi Arabia.

“The Prince called and said, ‘Why is Rusev out of this match? I want Rusev back in this match’. And guess what happened? Rusev was back in the match, and Rusev went to dinner with the Saudi Prince. Rusev was over in Saudi Arabia brother,” reminisces the Bulgarian.

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