UPDATE: There are some conflicting reports on Rusev’s current status with WWE. While we can confirm that he has still not re-signed with the company as of this writing, he is telling WWE officials that he’s been suffering from a “back injury”.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer, the feeling within WWE is that the “injury” story floating around backstage may actually be a cover of sorts and Rusev “backed out of the show, essentially.”
Rusev was also not backstage at Monday’s RAW TV tapings in Winnipeg.
ORIGINAL: As noted earlier here on eWn, WWE had advertised that Rusev was set to be one of the participants in Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match at Super ShowDown. However, during Monday’s episode of RAW, Rusev was seemingly replaced by Rey Mysterio despite the graphic still advertising him.
According to reports, Rusev has still not signed a new contract with WWE and the decision was made to not have him compete at the show due to that. So no Saudi Arabia money for Rusev this time around and the Saudi events pay huge. Whether it’s being done as a form of “punishment” is unknown at this time but some believe that to be the case.
