Rusev's Potential Loss to John Cena at WWE WrestleMania Will Not Derail His Rise

Despite all signs pointing to John Cena beating Rusev clean at WWE’s WrestleMania 31, the Russian sympathizer has been booked so well over the last year and in this feud that the defeat will not impact his long-term momentum.

On the road to WrestleMania, Rusev and his manager, Lana, have been two of the top heels in the company.

Since making his debut on the main roster, there are few Superstars who have been portrayed stronger. Without a pinfall or submission loss on his resume, he is arguably the toughest monster in the WWE not named Brock Lesnar.

While many wrestling fans will complain about Rusev not winning clean in his first matchup with Cena, the champion showed tenacity and in-ring awareness at Fastlane when he took advantage of a distraction to hit the challenger with a low blow. The cheap shot not only helped him retain the U.S. title, but it also gave him even more heel heat from the WWE Universe.

Win or lose at WrestleMania, Rusev and Lana have built-in heat due to their Russian sympathizer gimmick. Each has been incredible in their role and has maximized the potential of this character, but it is still a cheap gimmick that draws reactions everywhere the WWE goes.

Most wrestling fans understand that Cena will get his victory back at WrestleMania and end Rusev’s unblemished record, but it has been the champion who has depicted the direction of the storyline. Instead of chasing Cena, Rusev has forced the 15-time world champion to be the one begging for another shot at the title.

Rusev has gotten the upper hand more often than Cena in this feud, and the fact that he has continued to turn down Cena’s offers for a match makes him the quintessential heel. This is a throwback gimmick, and the old-school storytelling is working to perfection.

The WWE Universe would love to see an epic swerve that involves Cena taking a clean loss and an overall defeat against a fresh face the company is building. Rusev is one of the best big men in the ring, and his brutal style makes him a worthy opponent for anyone in the company.

The WWE’s dedication to Cena likely indicates he will get the win at WrestleMania, but the momentum Rusev and Lana have built over the last year will keep them at the top of the card for the foreseeable future.

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