Rusev Should Be Prominently Featured in the Royal Rumble Match

Rusev is a bad man.

In an era where wins and losses are as interchangeable as Uber drivers, Rusev has never been pinned or submitted. 

The Royal Rumble will mark one full year since he debuted on the main roster. Yet WWE has refused to bastardize the dominant heel tactics that have contributed to his success.

A current United States champion, Rusev holds victories over The Big Show, Mark Henry and Jack Swagger. Each is a former world champion. He's eviscerated every patriot America has sent his way.

With Hulk Hogan and John Cena as the only big targets left, it's like he's saving them for dessert.

Rusev has a chance to lay claim to the biggest heel victory of WrestleMania, putting him in line for a world championship title shot. F4WOnline.com (h/t Marc Middleton of WrestlingInc.com) reported WWE might be preparing Rusev for a WrestleMania feud with John Cena.

Even if he loses this rumored match, there's a sense of victory in getting to work with WWE's biggest star. 

Rusev is scheduled to compete in the 2015 Royal Rumble. In a field rife with transitional talent, he will walk into the Battle Royal as the most polished and complete all-around character.

Few WWE Superstars deserve to be highlighted more than Rusev. Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns will be the match's two key stars. But with both coming off recent injuries, one can easily argue Rusev was more successful in the calendar year.

Bad News Barrett is also coming off injury. Dean Ambrose is on a losing streak in singles competition. Bray Wyatt is largely kept away from the world title picture.

Rusev is head and shoulders above them all.

Assuming Ryback doesn't get his job back by the go-home Raw, the Royal Rumble will be Rusev's only stage. The resumes of most WWE Superstars who will surround Rusev at the Royal Rumble pale in comparison.

Rusev's booking should reflect just that.

Whether it's a long stay or a generous handful of eliminations, Rusev needs to shine. There's no excuse for an underwhelming performance from a man nobody can beat.

Announcers must make a big deal out of a presumed elimination. Last year, Rusev was nowhere near the success he is today. Still, it took multiple entrants to eliminate the then-Bulgarian Brute. Michael Cole even went out of his way to mention how impressive he was in his Rumble debut.

This year, the word "impressive" should only be used to describe the WWE Superstar(s) who manages to eliminate him.

If the Royal Rumble truly is WWE's all-star game, Rusev is a bona fide starter. He should receive significantly more of the spotlight than most entrants in a Royal Rumble filled with undercooked talent.

Rusev is a bad man. The Royal Rumble should serve to prove it.

Follow @ThisIsNasty.