Original Plans For Rusev At WrestleMania 34

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and other members of the creative team made a decision to add Rusev to a key match at WrestleMania 34 at the last minute.

As seen on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live in Pittsburgh, PA at the PPG Paints Arena on the USA Network, it was announced that Rusev had been added to the United States Title match at WrestleMania 34. It will now see Randy Orton defending the title against Bobby Roode, Jinder Mahal, and Rusev in a Fatal 4-Way.

We now know the reason for this as Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason why Rusev was added to the match at WrestleMania 34 was because of his massive merchandise sales.

Those who are wondering what the WWE originally had planned for him, it was noted in the report that Rusev was initially slated to be in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale at the event, but plans were changed.