How will the 'Rusev Vs Swagger' feud end? Or has it already been concluded?

[MartialHorror]

WWE has gotten weird with some of the booking. When Swagger turned face and challenged Rusev, I was sure he was just going to be another respectable jobber- like Khali, Kofi, RVD, Big E, etc- who would be a stepping stone for Rusev. I suspected that Rusev would eventually enter a feud with John Cena and would then lose.

But then fans reacted very positively to Swagger and suddenly, I wasn't so sure. I knew he wouldn't defeat Rusev during their first match because Swagger dominated the majority of their confrontations. But they didn't get as physical for the build up to their Summerslam bout. I started to think Swagger might win, especially as these patriot feuds usually end in the favor of the USA in the WWE. Big E might have waved the flag around, but the flag played a major role in Swagger's character. But then Rusev ultimately did win and it was a pretty definitive victory.

On RAW, Swagger fought Cesaro- whom he has been wrestling with a lot more lately. I always did feel WWE failed to deliver a proper feud between these two, but I don't think anyone cares right now. Swagger was being booked as a loser when Cesaro had momentum and now it's the opposite. So I don't think they'll abandon 'Rusev Vs Swagger' for this. Although they also teased a potential conflict with Bo Dallas. But then Mark Henry came out and challenged Rusev in a pretty elaborate way, suggesting they're entering a feud...even though WWE has been pushing Henry as a tag team competitor. So will this be a one-time deal. If the Rusev Vs Swagger feud will continue, shouldn't that be their focus every week? If Mark Henry just had a match with Rusev, that would be one thing, but spending an entire segment on a promo...I dunno.

So is it over and if it is, will Swagger ultimately win or lose? I'd like to think Swagger will win the "war", but would that hurt Rusev's momentum? Swagger has been shown to be a threat, but prior to the feud, he was losing to...everyone. He was practically a joke character, so Rusev's streak being beaten by him could effect his credibility. Will John Cena- another all American face- take up the flag and be the one to conquer Rusev? What do you guys think? I highly doubt Rusev will lose to Mark Henry, regardless if that will lead to a single match or a full fledged PPV feud.

 

[L@RISANO]

I wouldn't be surprised if WWE were to re-visit the Swagger-Rusev story at some point.

However, I am not too keen on that at all as I do not really see the point of curbing Rusev's Heel potential by having him lose to Swagger at any point.

Right now, moving onto Mark Henry is a good step for Rusev, though I wanted him to go after the US title and setup a feud with Sheamus. That said, Sheamus is Irish, and WWE seem to want the American vs Russia stuff to continue.

As for Swagger, it seems he has start BO-lieving very soon, or his push might end abruptly.

 

[laodaron]

This feud was eye-gougingly bad for me. I don't think Lana is that good, I don't think that Zeb is that good. Swagger and Rusev are downright terrible on the mic, and I don't like either of them in the ring. I hope we never see this feud again.

 

[Stan Hansen]

Zeb was the best part of the feud between the two.

I do think it's over, for now, but we could see it down the line. If we do see it down the line I think it would only be for Swagger to finally go over as I don't see them having him continue to lose against Rusev. It would create for a good story and would only work if they continue to build Rusev to 'Mania. Though I don't think having Swagger be the one to beat him is the best idea I could certainly see them playing it out that way.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'd say that it's finished for the time being, but it'll pick back up at some point down the line. Based on last night, I'm thinking that WWE is going to have Swagger go on a losing streak because his loss to Rusev has shaken his confidence in himself. As a result, he's unsure of what to do with himself due to feeling as though he "let everyone down", especially Zeb Coulter. Zeb will probably be off TV for a while selling that he's injured before returning to reinvigorate Swagger. With the way Swagger lost at SummerSlam, he was protected in that he wasn't pinned or forced to submit. I think he should have been kept in the Accolade for longer before ultimately "passing out" from the pain and trauma, but the fact that he'd have rather endured such trauma instead of tapping or saying that he quit is an indicator that they might not be done with this program yet. Rusev's wins over Swagger, the count out win at Battleground and Swagger passing out at SummerSlam, are somewhat ambiguous and undecisive.

As for Rusev, he may wind up in a very brief program with Mark Henry that goes to Night of Champions. Another option is that he avenges himself upon Henry next week by attacking him, getting the better of him and mercilessly beating him down until Sheamus hits the ring to break it up, leading to a match between them at Night of Champions for the United States Championship. Given that Rusev is now "a hero of the Russian Federation" and that Russia's been embroiled in some heavy international controversy for much of this year, I could see WWE garnering more heat for him by having said Russian sympathizer become the new WWE United States Champion.

I could see Rusev going on a strong heel run with the title and WWE possibly reinstating his feud with Swagger as part of WrestleMania season with Swagger redeeming himself by capturing the US title at WrestleMania XXXI.

 

[OYDK]

Yeah, probably finished for a while, whether WWE decides to pick this feud up again in time for Wrestlemania has everything to do with Swagger and Rusev at this point. For me, there are a few things to take into consideration when thinking about continuing this feud at some point down the line.

1) Can Swagger keep his momentum as a babyface rolling all the way until Mania?
2) Can Rusev and Lana keep this anti-American shtick up for another 7 months?
3) Can Swagger and Rusev continue to grow and adapt with their respective characters and managers?

If all of the points listed above, do actually come to fruition, than I can see a great program between the two heading into Mania.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

This is actually playing out exactly how I said a few weeks back... with Zeb hurt at the hands of Rusev and Swagger being "at a loss", it's classic Rocky III territory and it's set up now for the most obvious thing... Swagger puts his career on the line to get another match against Rusev...

Lana can get it so Zeb is barred from ringside/not cleared so Swagger is set up to fail... Zeb appears on the screen and "I'm not sending Jack Swagger out for his most important match without a Real American backing him up..." Cue the music, cue the Hulkster as Rusev goes out of his mind as Swagger picks up a quick win from the distraction. Problem is this match now doesn't make sense till Survivor Series with the theme of Survival it's a good one on one match to add to the show or even as 5 on 5 that allows Hogan to "participate" as well... Henry, Swagger, Show, Sheamus and Hulk vs Rusev's team...

Henry is a good "filler" opponent and they can throw Show into that mix too.

 

[willthomz7]

I think swagger will go on some loosing streak with zeb gone, maybe then after TLC paperview zeb will come back almost give swagger a new lease on life. swagger can then win the U.S title and then start the programme with rusev again. Zeb can play on the fact that rusev never got a clean win over swagger. WE THE PEOPLE!!