Over the past few years, there’s been a bit of a homecoming party going on inWWE. Major stars like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk have returned to massive fanfare, as many performers are beginning to realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. All Elite Wrestling - once considered a haven for disgruntled former WWE employees - has now released many of those names. One of the most intriguing isMiro, formerly known as Rusev. After many stops and starts during his AEW tenure, The Bulgarian Brute’s career never really blossomed with the promotion. Now, it’s beenall but confirmedthat he’s heading back to WWE to try and recapture some old magic.

After a terrific TNA title reign, Rusev faded quickly in AEW, only wrestling a few times in 2023, and not having a single match in 2024. Clearly, he was a commodity that Tony Khan never fully cashed in on. Now, he’s prime property for the promotion where he had his greatest notoriety. It will be interesting to see what happens now, asRusev will attempt to blend into Triple H’s new creative vision for WWE.

It’s Rusev Day Again For WWE Fans

The Audience Loved His Former Persona

Despite his massive physical stature, Rusev’s personality was an even greater asset than his power during his initial run with WWE. He played the role of a stereotypical ‘foreign menace’, in the same vein as many heels of the past. But his eventual babyface turn as a jovial giant had the crowd chanting for him. Alongside Aiden English, he established one of the truly great babyface entrances of all time. As the crowd chanted ‘RUSEV DAY’ with his cohort, they hit the perfect note together.

But, inexplicably, the character was eventually sidetracked by a strange storyline involving Rusev’s real-life wife Lana (CJ Perry).While his WWE stint may have been like a roller coaster, his time with the competition felt stagnant.He was featured less and less, eventually becoming marginalized and irrelevant in All Elite Wrestling.

Miro Was Underutilized in AEW, But Will Things Change in WWE?

The Landscape Of The Promotion Has Changed

In the end, the now 39-year-old veteran felt that he needed to pursue new horizons. He thought those opportunities would arise with a fresh start with AEW. However, he reportedly clashed with the creative department (including Tony Khan) and sat on the sidelines until his deal expired.

Rusev now has a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of many of his contemporaries. He can enjoy the same inspiring creative environment that they have and even possibly pursue a fresh start with WWE, the same kind he was searching for when he jumped ship to the competition.

Having said that, there are reasons to believe thatRusev may not be able to achieve the acclaim that he had before. Now under new management, many faded stars have given way to a new generation. The WWE has been doing so well that it’s facing an unusual challenge: having too many main-event level talents. That leaves many fans and observers asking: what does Rusev have left to offer in the WWE Universe?

What Can Fans Expect From Rusev/Miro in WWE?

Will He Return As A Main Event Superstar?

Unfortunately, the overall outlook for Rusev’s return to prime time is likely a ticket to mid-card status with WWE. In the continuing evolution of the company, new stars have replaced rebooted acts. Several established veterans (like Sheamus and The Miz, for example) have been slotted into more serviceable roles now. They no longer occupy the most prominent spots within the organization.

While Cody Rhodes is clearly a success story, other stars who came back from AEW have not enjoyed the same prominence, such as Andrade, who has been floundering in the midcard. That could be Rusev’s destiny in WWE from here forward. While he will undoubtedly receive a huge ‘welcome home’ pop by the live crowd and will likely be a babyface upon his return, his time at the top could be over. In many ways, this might be considered his farewell tour with the promotion.

However, this may not be the case at all. Triple H’s creative regime keeps the wheels spinning, and perhaps there is a need for the kind of physical dominance Rusev can bring to the ring, possibly in a heel role. Surely, the talent is there, and Rusev can shine in many roles. Even if that won’t be the case, and he never wins another title, he will at least be able to finish out his career in WWE and leave a lasting legacy that few others can claim. So, for every day he still has left in the squared circle,we should all celebrate Rusev Day.