MartialHorror
Mid-Card Championship Winner
Rusev, for some reason, has consistently been booked as a face despite being the monstrous heel. When Swagger and him fought, his injured his ankle and kept on fighting. While Swagger also hurt himself, it seemed like more focus was on Rusev's injury and Swagger's ribs only tended to be an issue when he stupidly did the swagger bomb. At one point, Rusev almost looked like he wasn't going to be able to do the match because of his ankle. But he did.
That injury lasted through his feud with Mark Henry, so in a way he overcame the odds like a face would. Against Big Show, Show pulled down the flag which was a good spot- but usually heels are the ones who mock other countries like that. Admittedly Rusev was much more villainous throughout the duration of that feud, but there was that one bit where Show and Henry cornered Rusev who valiantly fought back like a face would. He even had Lana step back before doing so. When Rusev finally beat Show, Henry came out to attack...like the heel would, but Rusev took him out and proceeded to beat the Big Show. Once again, that kind of writing is usually reserved for the good guys.
Now he's practically forced into the authority and has to endure his girlfriend/manager getting verbally abused by Stephanie.
My question is: Is this intentional? It's possible that Rusev is being booked in a way that he can be more easily accepted as a hero in Russia. Based on my memory, 'Shawn Michaels Vs Bret Hart' came down to more about the battle of values and nationalities than 'good vs evil'. Maybe this is the same way. Unlike Kane, Rusev isn't necessarily a bully, but just wants to be a source of pride for the country he has taken residence in...who just happens to have a strained relationship with most other countries. Even the kicking the soldier bit can be argued as self defense. Or maybe WWE is just botching his angles.
One thing I do like about Rusev is that he's not just big and strong, but he has consistently written as intelligent- whereas Rollins is supposed to be this way but comes across as an idiot at times. He'll focus on weak areas and this will play a major part of the outcome.
Edit: Usually when WWE realizes someone is being unintentionally sympathetic, they correct it rather quickly. Rollins, for example showed one moment of niceness when he expressed concern for his stooges when Ambrose was beating him up. But during the next PPV, he pretty much reversed this by forcing them to climb the cage in his place. Yet while Rusev has had his heel moments, the main reason why we're supposed to hate him is his pro-Russia stance.
That injury lasted through his feud with Mark Henry, so in a way he overcame the odds like a face would. Against Big Show, Show pulled down the flag which was a good spot- but usually heels are the ones who mock other countries like that. Admittedly Rusev was much more villainous throughout the duration of that feud, but there was that one bit where Show and Henry cornered Rusev who valiantly fought back like a face would. He even had Lana step back before doing so. When Rusev finally beat Show, Henry came out to attack...like the heel would, but Rusev took him out and proceeded to beat the Big Show. Once again, that kind of writing is usually reserved for the good guys.
Now he's practically forced into the authority and has to endure his girlfriend/manager getting verbally abused by Stephanie.
My question is: Is this intentional? It's possible that Rusev is being booked in a way that he can be more easily accepted as a hero in Russia. Based on my memory, 'Shawn Michaels Vs Bret Hart' came down to more about the battle of values and nationalities than 'good vs evil'. Maybe this is the same way. Unlike Kane, Rusev isn't necessarily a bully, but just wants to be a source of pride for the country he has taken residence in...who just happens to have a strained relationship with most other countries. Even the kicking the soldier bit can be argued as self defense. Or maybe WWE is just botching his angles.
One thing I do like about Rusev is that he's not just big and strong, but he has consistently written as intelligent- whereas Rollins is supposed to be this way but comes across as an idiot at times. He'll focus on weak areas and this will play a major part of the outcome.
Edit: Usually when WWE realizes someone is being unintentionally sympathetic, they correct it rather quickly. Rollins, for example showed one moment of niceness when he expressed concern for his stooges when Ambrose was beating him up. But during the next PPV, he pretty much reversed this by forcing them to climb the cage in his place. Yet while Rusev has had his heel moments, the main reason why we're supposed to hate him is his pro-Russia stance.
