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NEWARK, N.J. – There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And not only has Rusev crossed that line, he has practically obliterated it. In an interview prior to his United States Championship Match at WWE Extreme Rules, The Bulgarian Brute told Tom Phillips that he was already the U.S. Champion, that victory was a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately for his opponent, Kalisto, Rusev’s hubris proved more of a premonition than an idle boast.
The Bulgarian Brute polished off the Mexican highflyer at Extreme Rules, though his path to victory was well paved by the atrocity he committed six days earlier on Raw when he nearly snapped Kalisto’s spine by locking in a merciless Accolade. The barbaric act left Kalisto unable to compete at SmackDown, just two days prior to Extreme Rules. The injury, strained back muscles, and its aftermath was still evident inside the Prudential Center when The Bulgarian Brute locked his opponent in a devastating bear hug, targeting Kalisto’s lower back. He released the hold only to drop an unflinching knee to Kalisto’s spine.
The masked Superstar, however, would hardly go down without a fight. At different points in the bout, he punished his massive foe with a sleeper hold and hurricanrana that propelled Rusev head-first into the steel steps. The flashes of offense would prove ineffective against the behemoth, though. After Kalisto was driven spine-first onto the ring apron, the referee summoned medical personnel to check on his condition. The delay frustrated Rusev, who disregarded the referee’s pleas and attacked Kalisto before snapping on a wince-inducing Accolade and forcing the champion to tap out.
For Rusev, the victory ensured his second U.S. Championship reign, the first of which ended in March 2015 after 146 days. With fiancée Lana at his side to help feed his ego, it’s difficult to imagine his arrogance halting any time soon – along with his championship reign.