Rusev's Original WWE RAW Return Plans Scrapped

WWE originally planned to pair Rusev with Ethan Page upon his return to television, but his time on the sidelines forced creative to pivot in a completely different direction.

As Page aligns with Big Cass to face Chad Gable and Dragon Lee on tonight’s WWE RAW, details have surfaced regarding the spot that was initially earmarked for the former United States Champion.

Original Tag Team Direction Shifted To Big Cass

WrestleVotes broke down the backstage alterations surrounding Ethan Page’s current tag team storyline. The company had actively searched for a partner to align with Page, but Big Cass was far from the original choice.

“The tag match — Chad Gable and Dragon Lee taking on Big Cass and Ethan Page,” JoeyVotes stated.

“They wanted to find someone for Ethan Page — find a tag team partner for him,” TC explained, noting that the spot belonged to Rusev before injury setbacks disrupted the timeline.

“It was supposed to be Rusev. Rusev’s dealing with a little injury. He’s on his way back,” JoeyVotes revealed.

TC added a lighthearted take on the last-minute pairing: “If Ethan Page and Big Cass lose, we know why Rusev didn’t wanna be in this match.”

Rusev’s Road Back To Television

July 27 Injury Incident: Rusev’s television absence began following a match against Je’Von Evans on RAW, where he suffered a neck injury and experienced numbness in his hands.
Misconceptions Cleared: While his hasty backstage exit fueled initial rumors of frustration over the match outcome, CJ Perry clarified that he was rushing to get evaluated by WWE’s medical team.
Return Preparation: After receiving medical clearance in September, Rusev resumed in-ring training at the WWE Performance Center and Natalya’s Dungeon 2.0 to prepare for his eventual return.
In-Ring Return: Rusev made his official in-ring comeback during WWE’s live event in Honolulu on October 16, competing for the first time in nearly three months against Joe Hendry.
Current Status: While his physical clearance has been confirmed through live event action, creative teams must now formulate a new direction for his television return following the changes to his original storyline.