Tag: Rusev

Rusev (Fka AEW Star Miro) Returns To WWE On Raw After Mania

Just when fans thought the surprises were over after an epic WrestleMania weekend, WWE pulled out one more stunner on the post-Mania edition of Monday Night Raw. In one of the night’s most jaw-dropping moments, Rusev—formerly known in AEW as Miro—made his long-awaited return to WWE after a five-year absence.

The return came during a segment featuring the newly crowned World Tag Team Champions, The New Day, who had just captured the titles from the War Raiders on WrestleMania Saturday. As they basked in their Vegas celebration, they were cut off by Maxxine Dupri, flanked by Otis and Akira Tozawa of Alpha Academy. Dupri wasted no time throwing shade, reminding the champs of their previous, embarrassingly short loss to Alpha Academy. With a little verbal baiting—labeling them the “Minute Men”—Dupri goaded The New Day into an impromptu title defense.

But the match never got underway.

As the bell was about to ring, the arena lights cut out. Moments later, a thunderous new theme hit—and out stormed Rusev to a roaring crowd. Ditching his AEW persona and returning to his WWE roots, the Bulgarian Brute wasted no time making an impact. The New Day wisely bailed from the ring, leaving Otis and Tozawa to face the wrath of the returning powerhouse.

Tozawa was quickly dispatched, and fans were treated to a brief but intense staredown between Otis and Rusev. Just as Otis tore off his shirt to throw down, Rusev unleashed a brutal headkick, followed by a signature Machka Kick and the Accolade submission to put Otis out cold.

This surprise return comes just two months after reports confirmed Rusev’s quiet departure from AEW, where he had been competing as Miro since 2020. His last in-ring AEW appearance was back in December 2023, with a one-off match in Qatar earlier this year being the only other time he stepped into a ring post-AEW.

Now back in WWE—and clearly not wasting any time asserting dominance—Rusev looks poised to shake up the RAW roster in a big way. Whether he’s targeting The New Day, Alpha Academy, or has his sights set even higher, one thing is certain: Rusev Day is back, and the WWE landscape just got a lot more dangerous.

Miro (Rusev)Reportedly Returning to WWE After AEW Departure

Another former AEW star is heading back to WWE, and this time, it’s none other than Miro. The man formerly known as Rusev was reportedly spotted at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, with PWInsider reporting that he has signed a new deal with the company and is finalizing the details of his return.

Miro’s wife, CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana), was not seen at WWE HQ, leaving questions about her potential involvement in his return.

This marks the end of Miro’s five-year absence from WWE. After debuting in the company’s developmental system in 2010, he made a name for himself as Rusev alongside Perry, dominating as a powerhouse and winning the United States Championship three times. He had memorable rivalries with John Cena, AJ Styles, and other top names but struggled to break into WWE’s main event scene consistently.

Following his release in 2020 as part of WWE’s COVID-19 budget cuts, Miro made the jump to AEW, where he initially thrived as TNT Champion. However, after dropping the title to Sammy Guevara in late 2021, his in-ring appearances became sporadic, and he wrestled only 13 matches before requesting his release in 2024. He was officially let go this past February, opening the door for his WWE comeback.

Miro’s return is part of a growing trend in 2025, with multiple former AEW talents making the switch to WWE. Penta and NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints have already debuted, while Rey Fenix is set to appear for the first time this Friday. Meanwhile, Malakai Black is also rumored to be on his way back to WWE in the near future.

With Miro rejoining WWE, the big question now is how he will be reintroduced—and whether this will be the long-awaited push that eluded him during his first run.

Malakai Black, Ricky Starks And Miro Depart AEW: What’s Next for These Stars?

The wrestling world has seen a wave of roster shake-ups lately, and AEW is no exception. Following a series of WWE releases, it has now been confirmed that three notable AEW names—Miro, Malakai Black, and Ricky Starks—are no longer with the company. Even more intriguing, they are free to sign and compete anywhere immediately, as their contracts do not include non-compete clauses.

According to Fightful Select, AEW removed all three from its official roster page on Monday, signaling their official departure. Let’s break down the situation for each of these now-former AEW stars.

Malakai Black’s Unexpected Exit

Black’s AEW run seemed poised for longevity, with AEW President Tony Khan previously suggesting his contract could keep him with the company until 2027. However, reports indicate that Black was actually finished with AEW as early as January—well before the Royal Rumble. AEW has already adjusted creatively, repackaging Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart from the House of Black into a new stable, the Hounds of Hell.

Given Black’s reputation as a unique in-ring performer and storyteller, speculation will likely swirl about a potential WWE return—especially considering his past as Aleister Black and his connections in the company.

Miro’s AEW Run Fizzles Out

Once one of AEW’s most dominant forces, Miro had been missing from action for quite some time. Despite being healthy, he wrestled only a handful of matches in 2023 and had not been included in creative discussions for at least six months. Reports indicate that Miro actually requested his release back in September, which means his exit may have been in the works for a while.

Originally signing a long-term contract extension in 2022, Miro was expected to remain with AEW until 2026. However, his absence from TV and lack of creative direction made his departure seem inevitable. Now, the question is whether Miro—formerly known as Rusev in WWE—will head back to his old stomping grounds or explore opportunities elsewhere.

Ricky Starks: A Frustrated Star Moves On

Perhaps the most surprising departure is Ricky Starks, who had long been considered a rising star in AEW. According to reports, Starks asked AEW not to pick up his contract’s option year in late 2023. However, AEW did the opposite—exercising the option but then not utilizing him on TV.

Starks reportedly requested his release in January, and his situation was further complicated when he was pulled from GCW events due to backstage friction. Despite this, Starks managed to make headlines over the weekend by winning the DEFY World Championship from KENTA just before his AEW release became public.

What’s Next?

With no contractual restrictions holding them back, Miro, Black, and Starks have the freedom to appear anywhere at any time. Could we see one—or all—of them make surprise appearances in WWE, NJPW, or even TNA? The industry is wide open, and their next moves will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans and promoters alike.

For now, one thing is certain: AEW’s landscape continues to shift, and these departures could lead to major shake-ups across the wrestling world.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!

Miro (Rusev) Debuts On AEW Dynamite

Rusev aka Miro was revealed as Kip Sabian’s best man last night on AEW Dynamite.

It all went down during a segment which began with Kip and Penelope Ford coming to the ring to make the announcement. Sabian then introduced his best man, but someone else came out. Kip informed them they weren’t the best man, then tried to make the reveal happen again. This time Brian Pillman Jr came out thinking he was the one who got the ask. Kip let him know he misread the text though and told him to leave.

Sabian then once again introduced his best man and former WWE star Rusev aka Miro walked out.

Miro talked about being under a glass ceiling for the past ten years with an imaginary brass ring at the top, then said you can shove that brass ring up your ass. “Elite recognizes Elite,” he added. “My name is Miro … and I’m All Elite.”

According to sources, Miro has indeed signed with AEW. We’re told his deal lasts for over a year. AEW confirmed this after he made his debut by announcing Miro is “All Elite” on Twitter.

As you’ll recall, Rusev was released from WWE in April alongside many other wrestlers. This was said to have been done in an effort to cut costs in the wake of the pandemic.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1303858107139985415

Rusev Test Positive For Coronavirus, Gives Update On Lana’s Parents (Video)

Below is video of former WWE star Rusev, where he gives and update on Lana’s parents who have the coronavirus and announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

 

Impact Wrestling Features Released WWE Superstars In Slammiversary PPV Promo Video

Impact Wrestling released a new Slammiversary PPV video Tuesday night which starts out with someone in a hood pouring a drink into a glass and watching a “You’re Fired breaking news report” about over 20 plus superstars released from contracts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The video shows brief clips of Eric Young, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Rockstar Spud (Drake Maverick), Curt Hawkins, Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis and EC3. There was also an apparent reference to Rusev as the Bulgarian flag was shown.

These wrestlers’ that appeared in the video are all under a 90-day non-compete clause with WWE so none of them can legally negotiate with another promotion until early July.

It should be noted, however, that each wrestlers’ non-compete clauses expire just a few days before the Slammiversary pay-per-view.

This year’s IMPACT Slammiversary takes place, live Sunday, July 18.  A location for the event has yet to be announced.

 

UPDATE:

Drake Maverick has re-signed with WWE.

Rusev Indicates He Will Become A Free Agent Soon

It looks like Rusev may be planning on leaving WWE soon.

Rusev recently changed his Twitter bio and indicated that he will become one of the hottest free agents in pro wrestling soon.

The Bulgarian Brute’s Twitter bio now reads like this: “soon to be free agent”

There’s no word yet on if Rusev really is on his way out of WWE, but he is known to mess around with fans on Twitter at times.

It was confirmed back in November that Rusev’s wife Lana recently signed a new five-year deal with the company. It was reported then that Rusev was still in the middle of contract talks with WWE officials, but there’s no confirmation on when his current deal expires.

Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley is scheduled for tonight’s RAW as their feud continues. Liv Morgan is set to be in Rusev’s corner while Lana will be in Lashley’s corner.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bobby Lashley And Lana Make A Steamy Return To WWE TV

WWE Raw this week ended with the returns of Bobby Lashley and Lana whose surprise appearance together included an uncomfortably long steamy makeout session.

This week’s Raw was originally scheduled to feature Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio in the main event. Mysterio and his son Dominick was taken out by Brock Lesnar at the top of show and was  later replaced by Rusev.

Mid-way through the match, while cutting to commercial, a limousine was shown pulling up.

The match ultimately came to a no-contest ending when Lashley’s music hit and he hit the stage to taunt Rusev. Moments later, Lana joined Bobby onstage and they started their long steamy kissing session as Lana’s husband Rusev watched from the ring.

Rusev Returns To WWE Action

Following a brief hiatus from WWE TV, Rusev returned on Raw this week and got involved in the baby drama between Mike and Maria Kanellis.

Last night’s edition of RAW featured a gender reveal party that ended with an angry Maria telling Mike that Ricochet was the father of her baby. Frustrated over the revelation, Mike challenged Ricochet to a match … even though the former United States champ denied the accusation.

Ricochet picked up the win with ease and Maria scolded her husband for it afterward. She then said Ricochet obviously wasn’t the father, but teased revealing the father in that moment.

That’s when Rusev’s music hit and he made his way to the ring in tremendous shape with a new look. After a brief interaction in the ring, Rusev demolished Mike Kanellis.

Rusev’s last match in WWE took place back in June at Super ShowDown.

According to sources, Rusev was kept hidden backstage before and during RAW to keep the surprise return a secret. It’s unclear if he’ll eventually be re-paired with Lana, and her status in all of this was also questioned during RAW.

Below are the videos of what happened from last night’s RAW:

Backstage Talk On Rusev’s WWE Contract Status And Hiatus

Rusev’s WWE contract is reportedly expiring relatively soon, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

There’s no word yet on if Rusev is interested in leaving WWE, but it would not come as a surprise to many as it’s believed that he is unhappy with his position in the company due to some of his comments in media interviews and on social media.

Rusev is currently away from WWE as he recently requested some time off. There’s no word yet on when he will be back, but it’s likely just a short hiatus. Meltzer speculated that the hiatus has to do with Rusev being unhappy. It was also speculated that WWE could extend the length of the contract due to the time off by freezing it, which they do when a talent is out of action with an injury.

Rusev would obviously generate interest from some of the top wrestling promotions, including AEW and NJPW, as was speculated by Meltzer, but that’s not confirmed. Depending on Lana’s contract status and future with WWE, there is also the potential for the Rusev – Lana package deal in other promotions.

Source: Wrestling Inc.