|
Post by Mid-Carder on Aug 29, 2014 11:42:26 GMT -5
I like him a lot, always have. I like Lana with him as well, but I'm worried about what will become of him when he's no longer undefeated.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 11:42:40 GMT -5
Rusev in 2014 is even more out of place than Kamala was in the mid 90s
|
|
BigJerichool222
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
THE BIG DOG!
#NotInMySalad
Posts: 17,424
|
Post by BigJerichool222 on Aug 29, 2014 11:56:06 GMT -5
In ring I think he's great but I hate his gimmick for reasons I can't get into. We're all adults here (I hope), it's OK to talk about it. I too am disgusted at the way he frantically pumps both his arms forward into the air. Also his hair is FAR too long.
|
|
mizerable
Fry's dog Seymour
You're the lowest on the totem pole here, Alva. The lowest.
Posts: 23,475
|
Post by mizerable on Aug 29, 2014 12:04:50 GMT -5
Eh, I just find the gimmick and the look to just be bland. Reminds me of Kozlov in terms of blandness, although he's a better wrestler than Kozlov was. I'm sure he'll find his niche just in time before they release him.
|
|
|
Post by jason1980s on Aug 29, 2014 12:12:07 GMT -5
I think Russian character has been done better before by several guys.
Personally, I don't like Rusev or Lana. I hear many stories about how they treat fans asking for autographs or photo ops. I get that, on their own time, it sucks being asked but so many BIGGER stars willingly sign and take photos. Lana and Rusev have to act in character. If they really do it because they love wrestling lore and kayfabe, awesome. But kayfabe was killed a long time ago. Even during the days of kayfabe, a major heel like Iron Sheik would sign autographs during his 1980s run. To use kayfabe to treat fans disrespectfully is crap. I'm sure they'll both be on the indies in a year or two, hoping fans come to their table while they act like Virgil yelling out "I was in WWE."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 12:23:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Prince Petty on Aug 29, 2014 13:08:29 GMT -5
I think Russian character has been done better before by several guys. Personally, I don't like Rusev or Lana. I hear many stories about how they treat fans asking for autographs or photo ops. I get that, on their own time, it sucks being asked but so many BIGGER stars willingly sign and take photos. Lana and Rusev have to act in character. If they really do it because they love wrestling lore and kayfabe, awesome. But kayfabe was killed a long time ago. Even during the days of kayfabe, a major heel like Iron Sheik would sign autographs during his 1980s run. To use kayfabe to treat fans disrespectfully is crap. I'm sure they'll both be on the indies in a year or two, hoping fans come to their table while they act like Virgil yelling out "I was in WWE." Having seen how some people reply to Lana on twitter and instagram, I'd say kayfabe certainly isn't dead for everybody.
|
|
|
Post by Speedy Cerviche on Aug 29, 2014 13:31:07 GMT -5
I don't really know anything about Rusev. As soon as Lana stops saying things about Putin I spend the entire time glaring intensely at his knees.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 14:40:45 GMT -5
His apathetic stare is endearing.
|
|
|
Post by Hit Girl on Aug 29, 2014 16:36:16 GMT -5
Wrong character
Should have been playing some sort of wildman from the Amazon, like Blanka
Lana ironically needed someone who looks like Jack Swagger, because he resembles Drago
|
|
ZERO
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,933
|
Post by ZERO on Aug 29, 2014 17:25:32 GMT -5
If they dropped the dated gimmick and just emphasised the "Super Athlete" aspect of the character and him being a badass monster, I think they could do more with him.
It's odd to me how WWE wants to be this big global brand, yet they have an "Evil Foreigner" gimmick in 2014.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 17:28:53 GMT -5
If they dropped the dated gimmick and just emphasised the "Super Athlete" aspect of the character and him being a badass monster, I think they could do more with him. It's odd to me how WWE wants to be this big global brand, yet they have an "Evil Foreigner" gimmick in 2014. Summerslam onwards, the Russian part of me that does not exist was near the point of being offended by JBL's commentary. His "disgust" at that "dirty Russian flag" being on display struck as near Xenophobic and I have no idea how on earth Russian WWE fans are supposed to feel about this. At no point have Cole or Lawler made any attempt to say that the general Russian people are no different to anyone else - it's just 100% "You Russian? You're worthless shit". I do NOT offend easily and even I was getting to the point of it being uncomfortable.
|
|
keezy
Dennis Stamp
full time slacker
Posts: 4,621
|
Post by keezy on Aug 29, 2014 17:41:39 GMT -5
I was a fan after his matches with Big E, just awesome big man matches with loads of physicality, then was a bigger fan after his match at Summerslam, his selling of the ankle damage was brilliant and him going full force on the Accolade with pain in his face and Swagger unconscious was a great visual. Also, Lana is hot and is pretty good on the mic.
|
|
Just Jay
Unicron
DIESEL!?!?!
Posts: 3,282
|
Post by Just Jay on Aug 29, 2014 17:52:12 GMT -5
I've been a fan of Rusev's since the start.
I'll echo the sentiment I said back then--I don't think I've seen anyone make the Camel Clutch look that devastating since, well The Iron Sheik. I like how he grasps his hands before wrenching it in. You really get the sense that his large arms are really cranking your neck. He makes it look good.
He has incredible speed and great ring awareness. Like others have said, he's got great attention to detail and is REALLY good at selling. There's something really interesting about seeing a monster struggle to put his opponent away in a pay per view match. It shows that the face is really putting Rusev to the limit, and that makes for a compelling match.
As always, Lana's ridiculous over the top accent is so bad it's good.
Yes, the gimmick is dated, but that's the point. There hasn't been a foreign heel type in quite some time, and this one is really just oozing with ridiculous. You've got the Russian themed colors, Putin in the titantron, the Russian flag after the end of a match. I mean, it SCREAMS throwback. But here's what I love about Rusev--he really is pulling it off. By being the silent badass monster type, he also has the ability to move away from the super nationalism once he's close to the WWE WHC picture without it being a stretch for his character to do so, because he hasn't really embraced the gimmick in that sense.
Plus, his theme is all types of badass. Anytime that music hits, I think someone is about to get humbled.
I'll close with this--there were a lot of folks who didn't think highly of Rusev when he debuted. I remember several years ago that Umaga was in the same exact boat. He had a dated gimmick, but by destroying everyone in his path and making it look convincing, he got over to the point where he definitely would have been a WWE champion eventually.
Rusev is on the Umaga path, and I for one love it!
|
|
Phil Parent
El Dandy
Your Favourite Teacher
Posts: 8,508
|
Post by Phil Parent on Aug 29, 2014 17:52:47 GMT -5
Rusev is an enigma to me. Never expected him to be good.
So here's this powerlifter from Bulgaria who looks like Gary Albright and Bill Kazmaier had a child. He comes in, and nobody expects anything from him but being this basic hoss with no redeeming values. He'd be the new Mark Henry, really: If he ever amounted to anything good, it would take him a long, long time and given the current patience levels of WWE management, he probably wouldn't get enough time to improve.
And then he started selling the leg during that Flag match. Effective selling. Believable selling. Meaningful selling. And that's when I realized he could be special. He's a piece of clay for WWE to mold into something that could really make some good money. I believe that. He's got the mind of a wrestler, he's got good wrestling IQ, you either have it or you don't and he does. From there, it's all about expanding the moveset, stay healthy, catch fire heat-wise at some point and boom.
|
|
ededdneddy
Hank Scorpio
ededdandembed
Posts: 5,697
|
Post by ededdneddy on Aug 29, 2014 20:15:10 GMT -5
How much do you want to bet that they will make it so that Cena will never tap out to the Accolade and when Rusev is in the STF he taps right away. Making every Swagger submission attempt look like utter shit.
|
|
AFN: Judge Shred
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wanted to change his doohicky.
Member of The Bluetista Buyers Club
Posts: 18,221
|
Post by AFN: Judge Shred on Aug 29, 2014 20:44:41 GMT -5
His apathetic stare is endearing. I love when he has the Accolade on and he just looks like nothing is going on. So expressionless. The big guy can move. He can sell. He has a good look. I am all for him. Lana, well, she reminds me of Kristen Johnston in Austin Powers and Rene Russo in Rockey and Bullwinkle. So basically she is a cartoon character I don't have to feel weird about finding attractive.
|
|
|
Post by champviadq on Aug 30, 2014 10:34:41 GMT -5
Good in-ring talent. I saw him at Payback and he's very quick for a guy his size. Probably wouldn't get as much heat from the fans if it weren't for his managaer Lana. I think he's been booked very well since coming to the main roster. He's got a good thing going right now. I'm not a big fan of the evil Anti-American heel, but he's been doing well so far. I think he can go far honestly. I could see him as a future Main Eventer, just not right now. He's a perfect midcard act and there's really no shame in that for being a rookie. I think the future is quite bright for Rusev. I'd like to see how the WWE books him from now on.
|
|
|
Post by Prince Petty on Aug 30, 2014 10:49:53 GMT -5
A lot of complaints that he's just being built up to lose to a top face. The guy is obviously going to lose some day. The fact that his first loss is probably going to be a top babyface is a great sign for him. At least he's being built up. Now, what happens after that initial loss is the question. If he gets Bray Wyatt'd, then all is for nought. The problem I see is that without Lana, he'd probably get cheered. And as long as he's with Lana, they have to do the Russia #1 USA hackpooey gimmick. Otherwise, she has no point. So, how long a shelf-life does it have? Well, they'd just need to have Lana give a promo about how she wants to prove that she is the number one wrestling manager and her client is the way she's going to do it. Simple. No more need for 'Russia #1', though she would have to keep the Russian accent. That would open the way for her to manage other guys as well, and if things really worked well, the chance of a programme with Heyman and Brock, somewhere down the line. Manager vs. manager, with their fearsome ape wrestlers pitted against one another. As it is, the likely programme with Cena could still leave Rusev looking good (am I being naive?) if the WWE booked him as a credible threat who Cena really struggles to overcome. Make Rusev look strong, but Cena just a bit stronger, and then transition Rusev into another high profile feud afterwards, which he actually wins.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2014 10:55:37 GMT -5
My cousin had the thought that Rusev could end up ditching Lana, winning the Rumble and being the guy to beat Lesnar.
That would be...completely unexpected, yet awesome?
|
|