"They said Tony Khan fumbled" - Fans react to former WWE champion’s booking after leaving AEW

Fans have been going bonkers over the recent booking of a former WWE champion, who left AEW to make his return to the Stamford-based promotion earlier this year. People on X believe it is a downgrade, as he was doing better in All Elite Wrestling.

Former United States Champion Rusev recently wrestled at several NXT live events. It was a surprising sight for fans, as the 39-year-old had been featured in a major storyline with Sheamus on Monday Night RAW for multiple weeks. Before his WWE return, The Bulgarian Brute was working with AEW. Many believed Tony Khan was never able to capitalize on his talent during his run with the Jacksonville-based promotion.

Therefore, when Rusev made his WWE return on the RAW after WrestleMania 41, it felt as if this could be the breakthrough point of his career. However, his recent appearances at NXT live events have raised a lot of eyebrows. Some people on X have pointed out the irony by calling out those who previously criticized Tony Khan for ‘fumbling’ Rusev, suggesting WWE might now be doing the same.

Moreover, some people shared their opinion, saying Rusev's career has been on a downward slope for the past few years, recalling how he used to ride tanks for his entrance. Also, some fans claimed that The Bulgarian Brute's potential move to NXT could be the only hope for his career.

Check out fans' comments below:

Rusev defeated former WWE Champion Sheamus in his first WWE Premium Live Event match after leaving AEW

Rusev was recently involved in a heated feud with former WWE Champion Sheamus. After having a series of matches on Monday Night RAW, the two stars went toe-to-toe in a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match at Clash in Paris. It was a hard-hitting battle between the two titans, with The Bulgarian Brute eventually emerging victorious.

It was the 39-year-old's first WWE Premium Live Event match since leaving All Elite Wrestling. His last AEW match was on December 30, 2023, at Worlds End, where he defeated Andrade El Idolo. Moreover, fans in the arena enjoyed Rusev's performance against Sheamus at Clash in Paris, sparking chances of a potential babyface turn down the line.

Additionally, the former United States Champion also competed on this week's edition of Monday Night RAW. He faced Penta in a singles match and achieved a huge win. It will be interesting to see what is next for the former AEW star in WWE.

About the author

Anugrah Tyagi is an AEW writer at Sportskeeda. With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, his academic background is rooted in business. However, his true passion has always been storytelling, especially the kind of tales that unfold in the world of professional wrestling. Writing gave him a way to channel that passion, and soon it turned into his profession. He has been working as a sports journalist for over two years. During this time, he has contributed to multiple prominent sports media outlets.

He first got into pro wrestling in 2014, during the unforgettable Daniel Bryan vs. The Authority storyline in WWE. As a journalist, accuracy and integrity are non-negotiable for Anugrah. He always verifies facts through credible sources before publishing anything. Whether it’s breaking news or analysis, he double-checks details. He has written over 2000 articles so far, with one of his pieces drawing a positive reaction from NXT's Thea Hail.

Anugrah's favorite wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's work ethic, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his craft. If he could travel back to the Attitude Era, he would have loved to manage Chris Jericho. Anugrah feels Y2J was the perfect mix of charisma, rebellion, and in-ring talent in WWE. He would have helped the multi-time world champion scale new heights.

When not watching or writing about pro wrestling, Anugrah likes diving into movies and TV shows, especially ones with strong storytelling. He's also into calisthenics; it's his way of staying grounded and pushing his limits. Anugrah also enjoys reading books and solving puzzles that challenge his thinking ability.

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Edited by Anugrah Tyagi