Rusev Recalls Mixed Messages From Vince McMahon Over Being A Babyface Or Heel
Throughout his career, Rusev has played both sides of the coin, whether he was the Bulgarian Brute running through competition as a heel, or leading Rusev Day, getting over as a babyface.
Speaking on Identity Crisis, Rusev and his wife CJ Perry (Lana) recalled mixed messages sent by Vince McMahon after his charater.
“In this world, Eastern Europeans and Russians are conditioned to be the bad guys. You [Rusev] have studied all the greatest bad guys and villains on TV and movies. You have really perfected that. That was his [Vince McMahon’s] way of complimenting and saying, ‘You’re the best at being a villain,'” said Lana.
Rusev said, “He called me in the office before the Goldberg thing. ‘Hey, do this favor for me. I’m going to owe you one. What do you think about turning babyface?’ I’m like, ‘Vince, if you’re behind it, I’m behind it because I know it’s going to work.’ He’s asked me to be babyface before, but then he’s asking me to be a heel again after. There is all these mixed messages with nothing inbetween.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Lana explained how Vince saw Rusev as his Bulgarian Brute. You can find her full comments here.
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