Rusev has not been seen on WWE programming since the July 27 episode of Monday Night RAW, where he lost to Je’Von Evans, and a new report sheds light on why.
According to Fightful Select, Rusev took a hard shot to the neck during the match and began losing feeling in his hands. The referee asked whether the match should be stopped, but the former United States Champion chose to keep going. His condition got worse, and once the match was over, he left the ring quickly to get medical attention.
There were signs on the broadcast that something was off. After Evans hit the Red Dot, Rusev rolled to the floor and the referee followed him out to check on him. Rusev returned to the match anyway, and it ended after Evans hit a Stunner followed by the OG Cutter.
WrestlePurists @WrestlePurists Follow Rusev returned to the PC after a couple weeks off… Show more
9:03 PM · Sep 4, 2026There is also a belief that Rusev was placed in WWE’s concussion protocol. He was given a few weeks off and eventually made it back to the Performance Center, but he then came down with an undisclosed illness.
Speculation that Rusev stormed out of the ring upset over the loss was shot down shortly after the show. A WWE source said at the time that he had lost feeling in his hand and was worried he might be hurt, and that there was no backstage issue involving his creative standing.
Rusev and Evans had already crossed paths before that match. On July 13, Rusev made the Young OG tap out to the Accolade during a Gauntlet Match for the Intercontinental Championship. Months earlier, both men were part of the WrestleMania 42 Ladder Match won by Penta.