Rusev Calls Out AEW’s Creative Chaos After Vanishing From TV for Over a Year

Rusev’s AEW run started with a bang—but it ended in silence.

After a brief stint as TNT Champion, the former WWE star disappeared from AEW television, leading to fan speculation and frustration. Now back in WWE, Rusev is opening up about that frustrating stretch in AEW that nearly derailed his career.

During a conversation with CBS Sports, Rusev didn’t directly confirm or deny rumors that he was pulled from AEW TV for refusing to lose. Instead, he focused on the emotional toll of being stuck on the sidelines while his body—and passion—sat idle.

“In the past five years, I have had 20 or 30 matches. Back in the day, I had 30 matches in 30 days,” Rusev said. “The dead time sticks out the most. We only have this body and age for so long. We can’t do this job forever, so we must take advantage of it while we’re young. I sat on the sidelines for so long, unable to do what I love, which is performing for people in professional wrestling.”

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That prolonged absence forced Rusev to confront his identity outside of the ring. Without creative direction or a production team guiding him, he felt cast into a void—one that he had to climb out of alone.

“You go out in the wild, in the dark, in the abyss, and have to figure everything out for yourself. You don’t have the producers or the creative team…”

With the support of his wife, C.J. Perry, Rusev channeled that frustration into something new. He created The Redeemer, a darker, more introspective version of himself that reflected his real-life hunger for meaning.

“I dug deep inside myself to find out who I am and what I wanted to stand for. From there, we started developing ‘The Redeemer’ character.”

Now back in WWE and attempting to chase the Intercontinental Championship, Rusev isn’t just back—he’s focused on reclaiming his time. While he still hasn’t addressed the AEW benching rumors directly, his words make it clear: that “dead time” still lingers in his memory. AEW may have put him on ice, but Rusev came out sharper.