WWE fans were treated to a big surprise on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw when Rusev, formerly Miro, returned to the company. He made his surprise return by attacking the Alpha Academy. The moment led to a thunderous “Rusev Day!” chant from the Las Vegas crowd.
And the fans were not the only ones delighted to have him back. Apparently, the WWE locker room was also very happy to have the former AEW star back with the company. Furthermore, it seems like “The Bulgarian Brute” is being set up for a notable push on the WWE Raw roster.
According to PWInsider, “Many talents in WWE were happy to have Rusev back in the fold.” Sources also confirmed to the outlet that WWE signed Rusev to a new two-year deal and plan to have him “back in the mix in a big way.”
The Bulgarian Brute hadn’t been in WWE since his 2020 release. He spent the last 5 years in AEW under the ring name Miro, where he won the TNT Championship and was dubbed as the “Redeemer”. His AEW run ended in early 2025 after he grew frustrated with ongoing creative differences.
While no storyline plans have been announced yet, WWE bringing back Rusev aligns with their efforts to strengthen the roster ahead of the summer season. Online buzz is already building around potential matches for Rusev, including with Gunther, Bron Breakker, and Seth Rollins.
Related: AEW Veterans Miro And CJ Perry, AKA Rusev And Lana, Get Re-Married: Is A WWE Return Next?