Interview: Rusev on US Championship Significance and WWE Career Frustrations

A recent episode of the Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia podcast had Rusev and Lana as the guests and some of the topics discussed included the significance of the United States Championship, Rusev’s frustrations with his WWE career, and the next direction for his career.

On the topic of the significance of the United States Championship, Rusev stated he holds a special reverence for the title since it was the first championship he ever won in WWE.

” It was the first championship I ever won. It hurts me because nobody cares about it. It feels like I’m the only one that cares about the title. I wanted to make it bigger. I wanted to make it what it was back when I wrestled John Cena for it. But it seems like every time somebody else has it, nothing happens. Now that I’ve lost it, the title is probably going to get lost again. And I’m going to get lost probably too.”

While discussing more about the U.S. Championship, Rusev stated he feels that without the title his character will get forgotten again similar to every other time he lost the title.

“I picture myself (at WrestleMania)…but again….we became so strong and we’re featured but the more you hang around, the more you’re forgotten. It doesn’t matter how good you are. I think I’m good. It doesn’t matter what I do. It kind of ends up the same thing.”

On the topic of being frustrated with his WWE career, Rusev stated he has been trying several different ideas to improve the direction of his career but feels nothing ever changes due to not having the support of Vince McMahon.

“I do want to look my best, I do want to be at my best ’cause I do want to be WWE Champion, I do want to be on top. I don’t want to be forgotten, but that’s what irks me, I do all these things but nothing changes. And that’s where the frustration comes. Alright then, what am I supposed to do? Cut my hair? I did that. It was not a good decision. No, I love the short hair but I got a few uncles that [didn’t like it]. I’m just trying to do something to catch Vince McMahon’s eye, with this, with that I’m trying. We go, we pitch, we talk, he just never comes to anything.

It was last year around WrestleMania and before that when the whole Rusev Day started and everything. I thought it was my time. And I keep pushing for it to be my time and I keep talking to everybody, but nobody wanted to do anything. It’s very frustrating. But still, as frustrating as it is, I’m like, alright, let’s go to the gym. Let’s get better, let’s do whatever we can.”

On the topic of the next direction for his WWE career, Rusev stated it will not involve anything related to Rusev Day.

“Not Rusev Day. I mean, as I said, we tried to push it a year too late, so nobody cares about it anymore. I mean, [Lana] will say, ‘That’s not true!’

Management had different visions and we fought, we fought [because we wanted to keep it going]. If it ain’t broke, there’s nothing to fix. Because I keep referring back to last WrestleMania and all that because I just watched the WWE 24 special. And the whole weekend, the whole months leading in after was all about Rusev Day and people singing. Top selling merch, everything.”