Quality of Opposition Key to Rusev's Long-Term Main Event Success

"Listen to me, you American piece of garbage!"

It was a defiant statement from Rusev, one that indicated that, unlike other heels who had come through World Wrestling Entertainment over the last five years, he would not back down in the face of opposition. Not even if that opposition was "the most electrifying man in sports entertainment," The Rock.

The Bulgarian Brute stood across the ring from the industry icon, unfazed by the litany of insults hurled at him. And suddenly, it clicked with WWE Creative: The bigger the star Rusev shares the ring with, the bigger the star fans will eventually perceive him to be. Even better? Booking him to look strong, to stand up to the former champions he shared the ring with rather than turning tail and running, as he had done on a few occasions previously.

Days after the segment with The Great One, Rusev defeated Dolph Ziggler in what may very well have been the rookie's best match to date. This past Monday night, he hung with Big Show in a much-hyped match and even appeared to have the World's Largest Athlete beaten until Mark Henry saved the day.

That he did not back down from what was sure to be a two-on-one beatdown at the hands of Big Show and Henry only further established his toughness and his take-no-prisoners attitude.

It is exactly the sort of booking WWE Creative must deliver on a consistent basis if it is to ensure that Rusev succeeds at the highest level possible. He was handicapped with the foreign heel gimmick right out of the gate but has improved with every passing week, and Lana has delivered on the microphone far beyond what anyone could have expected, making the act far more effective and valuable.

Fans have seen a steady increase in the quality of competition Rusev has faced since debuting in-ring the night after WrestleMania. His recent wins over Henry, Ziggler and Big Show have catapulted him further up the ladder in less time than victories over R-Truth or Big E ever could have. Now, he stands at the precipice of a huge main event run.

The only way to get there is to convince fans that he can beat guys they already perceive to be headliners, guys that have built a connection with audiences and have established themselves as elite names in the industry.

He is off to a good start. After dispatching of Big Show at the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, it will be imperative that he move on to someone such as Sheamus, whose United States Championship would make for an excellent addition to Rusev's anti-American stance.

Otherwise, continued victories over former WWE and World Heavyweight champions is the perfect way to continue building momentum for a guy who, if handled properly, could fill a spot at or near the top of the WrestleMania card come next April.