Rusev Would Benefit from a Tag Team with Sheamus

Rusev's rivalry with John Cena is heading for its final chapter at WWE Payback on May 17.  It's unknown whether the big Russian will get over on Cena, but what's clear is that Rusev is one of WWE's biggest heels right now.

But he could be bigger and one of the ways he could get there is in a tag team with a guy who's had a lot of practice at wearing the black hat, Sheamus.

Heels usually have a bit of a tough time working together, but in this case it would all work out just fine. The reason for that is both Sheamus and Rusev are only concerned with inflicting pain and proving their superiority in the ring. Anything else is just an unwanted distraction.

This is a unique time for WWE in many ways due to the advent of the popular heel. Guys like Damien Sandow and Cesaro did the best they could to make the fans hate them but instead they drew incredible support. There was just something about both men that was very likable and caused them to turn face.

Credit: WWE.com

Neither Sheamus nor Rusev have this problem. Therein lies their primary connection: They are true heels in every sense of the word.

There is nothing redeemable about either man, nothing that would cause fans to look at them in a favorable light. Sandow is very entertaining, so that opened the door for fans to love him. Cesaro is very strong and skilled in the ring, which led fans to develop a great amount of respect for him.

Rusev has strength as well, but instead of being graceful and sleek in the ring he's very rough and brutish. Cesaro's matches resemble the work of a highly skilled surgeon expertly performing an operation, while Rusev's matches look like the work of a ferocious animal that was just let out of his cage.

Sheamus is entertaining in his own right, but it's not fun and games with him. Gone are the days when he would run heel and be the butt of the joke. He's not running from The Nexus or anyone else this time around.

When two heels of this caliber inhabit the same air at the same time, endless possibilities begin to develop.

Credit: WWE.com

Why not put these two together and see where it goes? WWE is notorious for building tag team combinations from the ground up, and most of the time it's due to guys not being able to get over individually. In this case, the exact opposite would be true.

Rusev and Sheamus are both over right now separately, but together they could become a monster tag team. Sheamus' influence would only help Rusev and he would get to work closely with a former WWE and World champion.

Their partnership would inevitably lead to the tag team championships, which would be another step in the right direction for Rusev as well.

The experience he would gain from this team would be invaluable and he could continue to develop. If the company didn't want to keep them together all the time, then Rusev and Sheamus could still be used individually and then reconnect whenever the need arises.

The fact is Lana's turning babyface and when that does happen Rusev will be left on his own. Rather than put him in a scenario to fend for himself before he's ready or just replace her with a manager, why not just give him a partner? Rusev could continue crushing and Sheamus could continue Brogue Kicking more than ever before.

The tag team division is always in need of another good duo and right now is no exception. The New Day are champs and have found a new lease on life by turning heel. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd are red-hot as new babyfaces and both teams work well together.

But The Usos are currently out of the picture and there are really no other tag teams that can step in and bring fan interest the way Rusev and Sheamus could.  hey could strengthen the division and help themselves at the same time.

When the time is right, the team could go its separate ways and Rusev would be stronger than ever before. All he needs is a little help along the way.