Alexander Rusev Will Quickly Emerge as Strong Heel Title Contender

Alexander Rusev is a difficult man to like.

Luckily for him, that’s more than can be said about most heels in WWE today. So far, so good.

In an era where an increasing vocal pocket of fans feel they are not above cheering for villains, some WWE heels have adapted, or succumbed, to inverse crowd reactions.

So-called villains are now pandering to their newfound acceptance with sing-a-longs and Cesaro swings, becoming more likable and planting the seeds of an eventual babyface turn.

However, Alexander Rusev is a throwback.

His pre-match ceremony—where Rusev drops to his knees in an apparent prayer to a higher power—harkens to Muslim sentiments commonly seen in nationalist heels. Effective heels like the Original Sheik and the gone-too-soon stylings of Muhammad Hassan come to mind during this ceremony.

Rusev diffuses any cool factor by playing to very human, xenophobic tendencies as opposed to playing to the crowd itself.

His theme music, called “Roar of the Lion,” is the type of nationalist anthem designed for a non-American soldier’s march. If the usually muted Rusev is intending to announce himself as king of the jungle via an intimidating instrumental, he succeeded.

Rusev's fear-mongering tactics create a stark contrast to that of Bray Wyatt. Very little is scary or threatening about a cult leader who can articulate his concepts in an entertaining sermon—especially to a jaded audience trained to appreciate these qualities in a wrestler.

The same cannot be said about a silent killer paired with a sinister diplomat who carries a thick accent, masculine features and a straightforward delivery.

Lana, as she is known, comes with no clever or thought-provoking rhetoric. In fact, their rather bland intentions of world domination make them more unlikable in the black-and-white way necessary to build strong heels.

With Lana and Rusev come talks of a potential monarchy and thinly veiled threats of domestic terrorism. What’s not to fear about that?

These goals make the perfect foil for WWE World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan, who—for obvious reasons—is on top of WWE’s world.

Bryan can easily be presented as an underdog in any situation, which will always create more compelling feuds. Against a killing machine like Rusev, little promotional efforts will be needed to pass off the aptly named “super athlete” as a threat.

Rusev can only vanquish so many enhancement talents before the quality of his competition will need to increase. To truly become a feral monarch—and possibly a public enemy—he’ll need to enter the WWE title picture sooner rather than later.

The thought of Rusev as WWE champion is a thought that very few fans like. Everyday people simply cannot relate to him, and that's exactly how he wants it.

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