WWE Pulls Returning Star From TV To Avoid “Wasting” Him In Pointless Matches

Rusev made a shocking return to WWE in April 2025 on the Raw following WrestleMania 41, but the “Bulgarian Brute” has been noticeably absent from television in recent months. The former United States Champion hasn’t competed since a November episode of SmackDown, where he suffered a loss to Jey Uso. According to a new report, his absence is a strategic move by creative rather than a disciplinary one.

Waiting for the Right Creative

PWInsider reports that WWE officials made the call to pull Rusev from television to protect his character. The feeling backstage is that they do not want him “wasted in pointless matches,” particularly those where he would be booked to lose without purpose.

“Instead, they would rather hold him back and wait until new plans are in place that warrant his presence on WWE programming.”

A Rocky Road

Rusev’s second stint with the company follows a rollercoaster few years. After winning the U.S. Title three times during his initial run, he was released in April 2020 amid budget cuts. He subsequently joined AEW, where he captured the TNT Championship but struggled with consistent television time—a pattern WWE seemingly wants to avoid repeating, even if it means keeping him on the sidelines until a substantial storyline emerges.

H/T to PwInsider for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article.