WWE Superstar, Rusev, has returned to in-ring competition after spending nearly three months away from action following an injury sustained in July.
The Bulgarian Brute made his comeback during WWE’s live event in Hawaii on October 16, taking on Joe Hendry in a singles contest. Although Rusev was unable to secure a victory, the match marked an important milestone as he competed for the first time since July 27.
Rusev’s absence followed an incident during his match against Je’Von Evans at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The situation raised concerns after he reportedly experienced numbness in both arms during the contest.
His wife, CJ Perry, formerly known to WWE audiences as Lana, provided an update on his recovery in September, revealing that he had received medical clearance to return to competition.
CJ Perry Explains What Happened During Rusev’s Injury
Perry previously described the frightening moments that unfolded during Rusev’s match against Evans. According to her account, the injury was serious enough to prompt discussions about potentially stopping the contest.
She explained how Rusev temporarily left the ring after losing sensation in his arms, while the match officials considered whether it was safe for the bout to continue.
“It was the Intuit Dome in LA; he had a match against Je’Von Evans, and in the match, something happened and his arms went completely numb. He had to roll outside of the ring and the refs were thinking about calling the match. He’s like, ‘I can’t feel my hands.’ I didn’t hear this; I was about ten rows back, and I missed it, but someone got on camera and went viral on Twitter.”
The incident also sparked disagreement among fans online, with some expressing concern about Rusev’s condition while others questioned whether the situation was connected to the possibility of him losing the match.
Perry addressed those contrasting reactions, explaining that Rusev briefly remained outside the ring before deciding to continue once he regained sensation in his hands.
“The fans were debating and fighting each other because some were like, ‘He’s really hurt and injured.’ Some were like, ‘He just doesn’t want to lose.’ He took a couple of seconds outside, and when the ref was like, ‘We’re going to call the match. Your hands are going numb.’ Once he had feeling, he was like, ‘No.’ He rolled in and finished the match.”
Perry Rejects Claims That Rusev Avoids Putting Others Over
Perry also pushed back against suggestions that Rusev is reluctant to lose matches or help elevate other performers. She maintained that his approach to professional wrestling is focused on delivering compelling stories and contributing to the business.
She said:
“Those rumors are not true when people are like, ‘He doesn’t want to put people over.’ That’s not accurate and not true. He’s always there to do business. He always fights for a good story. That’s how people get over.”
According to Perry, Rusev continued performing despite being in considerable pain, before making his way backstage to seek further medical attention.
She noted that the online discussion surrounding the incident eventually reflected what had happened, which she found encouraging.
“He finished the match. He was in a lot of pain and tried to get out the ring as quick as possible and get back to medical. That’s when the rumors started. I saw the internet reported the true story, and that was encouraging.”
Perry further clarified that Rusev’s decision to return to the ring during the match was not motivated by a desire to avoid taking a loss. Instead, she said, he chose to continue competing rather than have the match stopped.
“It had nothing to do with the loss. He could’ve had WWE stop the match and not lose, but he chose to roll back in the ring and do what’s right for business. He just had to get back to the back as quick as possible because he wasn’t well at the time.”
Rusev Begins His Return to WWE Competition
Rusev’s appearance in Hawaii represents his first documented in-ring outing since the July incident. His medical clearance in September had indicated that he was eligible to resume wrestling, although his return to actual competition came later.
His match against Hendry on October 16 brought an end to the lengthy gap between appearances, even though he did not leave the event with a win.
Following the injury scare and the speculation that surrounded it, Rusev’s return marks a notable development in his WWE run. His appearance also follows Perry’s earlier explanation of the circumstances surrounding the July match, offering context for the time he spent away from the ring.
