Former WWE US Champion Rusev finally returns

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 22, 2025, 10:40 IST

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After a four-year absence, Rusev made a shocking return to WWE on RAW after WrestleMania 41. Interrupting a confrontation between The New Day and Alpha Academy, the Bulgarian Brute unleashed a brutal attack on Otis and Akira Tozawa. Rusev's comeback marks his second stint with the company, promising an exciting new chapter for the former United States Champion.

Former WWE US Champion Rusev finally returns

Image via WWE

After four years, former AEW star Rusev finally came home and made his thunderous return to WWE..
Rusev came to prominence as a dominating force of nature that was a top fixture in WWE for years. In 2021, Rusev left the company to sign with rival promotion AEW. However, rumors began to swirl at the start of 2025 that Ruseve was set to leave AEW. It turned out to be true as the former WWE United States Champion made his thunderous return to the global juggernaut after WrestleMania 41.

Rusev made his return to WWE after four years

WWE RAW after WrestleMania 41 saw the arrival of The New Day, who won their record-setting 12th WWE World Tag Team Championships at The Show of Shows by dethroning The War Raiders. The aggressive duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods bragged about their supremacy as a top team in the company. This led to the arrival of The Alpha Academy. Maxxine Dupri proposed a challenge for the tag team titles for her teammates, Otis and Akira Tozawa.
Dupri also reminded Kingston and Woods that the last time both teams squared off, Otis and Tozawa defeated them in 'sixty sweet seconds.' As they entered the ring, Xavier Woods turned down the challenge, but both teams were looking to brawl. Just as they were about to land punches, the lights went off, and when they came back on, it was the return of Rusev that shocked the fans in attendance for the RAW after WrestleMania 41.

The Bulgarian Brute received a huge ovation and marched down to the ring. He entered the ring and stared down the New Day, who retreated, before taking down Akira Tozawa and Otis. He laid a beatdown on both Alpha Academy members and made an exclamation point by locking in his submission move, The Accolade, on Otis.
Rusev made his return to WWE after being away for four years. In his stint in the company, he remained undefeated for an extended time period and won multiple championships and accolades. With the former WWE United States Champion back in the global juggernaut, it will be interesting to see his second coming.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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