Rusev's new style?

[Mustang Sally]

I was glad to see Rusev return to the ring last night on Smackdown but I'm not so sure I like his new way of fighting.

Instead of the 'methodical heel' method he used before, he was strictly a brawler against Fandango, using punches and body-blocks during most of the contest. He barely kicked at all.

At his best before the injury, Rusev would scientifically break down his opponents by body section, kicking and chopping while probing for weaknesses, then using the Accolade to finish off the guy. He did use it to defeat Fandango.

In fairness, Rusev might have been protecting his damaged foot by using mostly upper-body maneuvers to get through the match.....but it still didn't look like Rusev and I hope he returns to his original method of operation once his foot heals.

The idea of a heel who fights cleanly still works for me.....and makes Rusev unique among wrestlers.

 

[MartialHorror]

I haven't seen the match, but to be fair, it is Fandango so I have to presume it was a squash. When Rusev squashes, it's usually through conventional beatdowns. But I hope I'm right because I agree with you, his methodical style is a lot of what made him interesting to begin with.

 

[SJ5522]

Yeah probably keeping the ankle easy. It's also hard to tell in a squash like that. As much as I hate the angle, when he faces Ziggler will be the real test to see if he's modified his style, hopefully we at least get a good match out of this

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I think perhaps you're overreacting to this. It was just a throw-away squash on Smackdown, which most WWE fans probably didn't see.

 

[V Dogg]

I just hope that for Rusev's sake, the WWE somehow, someway gets Lana back with him. Summer Rae just ain't working out. Now Rusev is the pit of obscurity, stuck in a lame boyfriend/girlfriend vs. boyfriend/girlfriend feud. Mixed tag match will soon be confirmed for Battleground if it doesn't come on Raw on Monday.

 

[Prince Vee]

I guess this is just a move of desperation from WWE. Why should they make Rusev return so soon than he had to? Let him heal 100% let him be fit and then maybe just maybe they can bring him back for "THIS" feud. The chemistry between Lana and Dolph has been awful albeit not asinine as Rusev-Rae Chemistry. They should probably wrap this up and scrap the idea of pushing Lana as the Female face of the company. Rusev should've been in the World Heavyweight Title picture by now instead he is been tormented in the Midcard feuds, Asinine!!

 

[Navi]

I don't think he has a choice to come back fighting the way he has. I haven't seen the match yet, but from what you say, he's probably protecting his ankle.

This soap opera between him, Lana, Ziggler and Summer Rae has been mostly a fail in my eyes. And he seems to have fallen a long way since they split up. The injury did nothing to help it. Sooner it's over and done with the better for all of us.

To be quite honest, I'm surprised to see him back so soon, and thought he would be out for at least another month. He's either in such excellent health that it healed quicker than it should, or the break wasn't as bad as we all thought. Hoping they haven't rushed him back into the ring before he was really ready to be there.

Like Sally I like the fact that he is a heel that doesn't cheat, there are just too many of them and for me anyway it gets tiring and predictable. He is unique in that respect.

 

[Vanilla Midget]

The best thing about Rusev is the fact that he's a heel that doesn't cheat. WWE heels have gone to the cheating well far too many times. It kind of hurts the suspension of disbelief in that you have to wonder if the rule book favours outcome over how you get there.

One match on a pre-recorded show is a little soon to say his style has changed forever. I'm betting Rusev is another week from being 100%, so they went this route to give him some momentum going into Battleground. Let's see how things unfold, hopefully this "style change" is little more than a stop gap.

 

[R-Buck]

I don't have a problem with his wrestling style but those boots really sucked! He either needs to try new boots or get some kneepads. He just looked awkward to me.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Rusev should've been in the World Heavyweight Title picture by now instead he is been tormented in the Midcard feuds, Asinine!!

So he'd be in the world heavyweight title picture... feuding with Seth Rollins?

 

[Prince Vee]

So he'd be in the world heavyweight title picture... feuding with Seth Rollins?

Doesn't that necessarily mean he should be feuding with Seth Rollins, does that? If you introspect yourself about this comment, you'll get the answers.

Cheers!!

 

[MartialHorror]

Actually, I just saw the match and I sort of agree with Mustang Sally. I thought it was strange seeing Fandango put up a relatively good fight against Rusev. In a way, I thought Rusev was trying to put Fandango over, while at the same time showing more versatility in selling moves- such as when Fandango wrapped his legs around Rusev and flipped him over. He fought more like a middle weight than a heavy weight, which didn't look bad, but felt...weird.

I don't know what they're doing, as this style seems more intense than Rusev's usual power based way of fighting...maybe I'm wrong and it's easier on the ankle. I guess we just need to see where they're going with it.

 

[Mustang Sally]

In that amazing three-way fight last night with Kevin Owens and Cesaro, Rusev looked terrific. He mixed in more of his original style with the brawling that having two opponents in one match tends to demand.

But even as some of us were speculating he might have been taking it easy on the 'legwork' he's used so effectively, last night's effort indicates he's closer to being fully ready than many thought. Rusev battled long and hard, appearing to give everything he had to give.

The best part is that Lana wasn't involved at all, showing that Rusev's return to the ring isn't going to be based entirely on his relationship with her. Yes, they'll get back to that, but for now, the fans got to see Rusev begin to reinstate himself as a dangerous factor at a high level in the organization.

That John Cena (who, as many on this forum tell us, never puts over anyone ) was doing the deed by being seemingly unable to escape from the Accolade applied by the exhausted Rusev, is a good indication that Rusev's push will continue.