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Post by Brother-RD on Aug 30, 2014 11:11:40 GMT -5
They have a United States title. They have an unstoppable character who claims superiority over the US. Put the damn belt on him and make it worth something. Run a string of guys trying to win the belt back for their country, and when someone finally does, move Rusev up against main eventers.
But we'll probably see him fed to Cena or Reigns, split from Lana, and then join the Oddities or something. (tm OSW)
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Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby
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Post by Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby on Aug 30, 2014 23:33:33 GMT -5
My biggest issue with the gimmick has always been the fear that it will taint an amazing performer. Well, OK, and it makes wrestling that much more embarrassing in the company of my Russian girlfriend and Ukrainian best friend. But Rusev, the wrestler, has been fantastic, and by all rights he should be a fixture in WWE for years to come.
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Post by No Name is needed Bro Beans on Aug 30, 2014 23:35:41 GMT -5
He's very confused in this craxy mixed up world
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Post by Henry Mark on Aug 31, 2014 0:18:09 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! I feel the same way, but I'll add that in addition to the small details he does so well and how great he makes the Camel Clutch look, the stomp on the spine before locking it in is such a small thing but just makes so much sense for doing that move to someone that no one else seems to do on a submission that isn't quickly locked in. One final hit to that area and then perform the hold. Imagine if every time Swagger went for the Patriot Lock, he beat his opponents ankle against his knee or something, like an angry baseball player snapping a bat in half. Or Cena shooting his heat vision on the back of his opponents neck before the STF. Flair would occasionally kick the back of the knee before performing the Figure Four, would like to see more of this, it just makes sense for the non-quick submission application, and Rusev is great at it.
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Blindkarevik
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Post by Blindkarevik on Aug 31, 2014 0:25:55 GMT -5
Honestly, with Brock Lesnar as the champ... Rusev feels like mini-Brock. Like, I get the whole USA vs. Russia thing, it definitely gets the crowd riled up... but he doesn't have the same "oh shit" factor as a Yokozuna had. It took everything to beat Yoko even by countout, so the whole thing about them decrying their superiority over the USA felt like they had our number. Unstoppable monsters are great, but they have to stand out like Umaga did. Sure you have guys like Big Show, Kane and Mark Henry, but they've also been used enough to put over how "unstoppable" a guy is so often, they just don't come off as threatening anymore.
But, as I've said in the past, Brock has legitimacy to him. He legitimately looks like an unstoppable monster, he has an aura to him where there really isn't anyone on the current roster who looks like they have a shot against him. That makes Rusev look like a mini-me in comparison as he's unstoppable on a mid-card level, whereas Brock is literally unstoppable.
It's why I think Rusev just needs to tap or lose to someone, to remove the whole undefeated thing, then have him come back out on RAW for revenge and have some vicious, savage, beatdown to say he's still a threat, but is unburdened by having to be the unstoppable mid-card monster and can stand out as a separate threat.
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SAJ Forth
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Post by SAJ Forth on Aug 31, 2014 0:44:09 GMT -5
I like him, but he's stuck doing the same thing over and over again. How many times can he beat down Swagger? It seemed like last week we'd get him vs Henry, but they didn't do anything with that. Maybe next week I guess. The big surprise is if Verne McGagne actually lets that happen.
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