Rusev’s absence from WWE television appears to be nearing its end after CJ Perry confirmed that he has been medically cleared following the injury situation that took place during his July 27 match against Je’Von Evans on Monday Night Raw.
Perry, known to WWE fans as Lana, discussed the incident during an appearance on Not Sam Wrestling. Her comments provide the clearest account yet of why Rusev had to step away from television following the bout at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The situation had led to online speculation over the nature of the problem, as well as unfounded discussion surrounding the finish of the match.
According to Perry, Rusev experienced a sudden and alarming loss of feeling in his arms while wrestling Evans. The issue was serious enough that he went to the floor during the match, and officials considered stopping the contest. Rusev ultimately elected to return to the ring and complete the planned match rather than have it called off.
Rusev reportedly lost feeling in his hands during the Raw match
Perry said the incident occurred in the middle of the match at the Intuit Dome. She was present in the building but explained that she was seated roughly 10 rows back and did not hear the exchange involving Rusev and the officials. Still, she later learned that a fan had captured part of the moment on camera, fueling debate online among viewers who believed he was hurt and others who questioned what they were seeing.
For more background on this topic, read Logan Paul and Jake Paul Announce Fight Game Competition Series for Hulu and ESPN.
“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,” Perry said. “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.’”
The possibility of a performer losing feeling in their hands is naturally a major concern in a physical environment such as WWE, where a wrestler’s ability to protect both themselves and an opponent can be immediately affected. Perry did not offer a specific diagnosis for the injury. She instead focused on the immediate circumstances, including the fact that WWE officials were prepared to end the match because of the severity of what Rusev was experiencing.
She said that, after taking a brief period outside of the ring, Rusev regained enough feeling to make his own choice to continue. In Perry’s telling, he did not want the match stopped once his hands began responding again.
“Once he had feeling, he was like, ‘No.’ He rolled in and finished the match,” Perry said.
That decision has become a key point in clarifying the conversation around Rusev’s television absence. The bout with Evans was his last WWE appearance before he was sidelined, and the abrupt nature of his disappearance invited assumptions about what happened behind the scenes. Perry firmly rejected one particular theory that emerged after the match.
Perry disputes claims Rusev objected to losing to Je’Von Evans
Online reaction to the Raw match included suggestions that Rusev’s trip outside the ring or his rapid departure after the finish had something to do with not wanting to take a loss. Perry said those claims were false, stressing that he had the option of allowing the match to be stopped but instead chose to finish it.
She characterized Rusev as someone who understands the importance of following through on a wrestling story and helping other performers gain momentum. In her view, the conclusion of the Evans match was not an example of him declining to cooperate with a result; it was the opposite. He completed the bout while in significant pain, then made getting to WWE medical personnel his priority.
“Those rumors are not true when people are like, ‘He doesn’t want to put people over,’” Perry said. “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.”
Perry added that Rusev could have avoided taking the loss if WWE had called the match because of the medical issue. Instead, she said he returned to the ring after briefly recovering enough sensation in his hands and did what he believed was best for the planned business.
“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,” Perry said. “He just had to get back to the back as quick as possible because he wasn’t well at the time.”
The clarification is notable given how quickly isolated clips and partial live reports can shape the narrative around an injury angle or a real medical concern. From the crowd, an unexpected pause can look ambiguous. For those who saw Rusev exit the ring and then observed the swift post-match departure, the sequence created room for speculation. Perry’s comments frame the moment as a legitimate health issue handled in real time, not a dispute over creative direction or an unwillingness to work with Evans.
Rusev has now been cleared to return
The most encouraging update is that Rusev has received clearance. Perry stated that he went to the WWE Performance Center the previous week and was cleared after the injury-related evaluation. She also noted that he had dealt with another health matter, though she did not identify the nature of that issue.
“He went to the PC last week and got cleared,” Perry said. “He had a little bit of another issue with health going on, but he’s cleared now.”
There had previously been discussion that Rusev was placed in concussion protocol after the Raw match. Perry did not specifically confirm that aspect of his medical status. Her remarks established that the in-ring incident involved numbness in his arms and hands, while her reference to an additional health concern appears consistent with reports that he was also dealing with an undisclosed illness.
What remains uncertain is the exact date of his WWE television return. Clearance is an important step, but it does not necessarily mean an immediate appearance on the next episode of Raw. WWE can choose when to reintroduce him based on creative plans, the broader direction of the Raw roster, and the story WWE intends to resume upon his return.
In the meantime, Perry said Rusev will continue training with Nattie Neidhart and TJ Wilson at the Dungeon. The Dungeon has long been associated with intensive in-ring preparation and technical wrestling, making it a fitting setting for a performer seeking to stay ready while waiting for a call back to television.
A return date has not been announced
There is no confirmed timetable for Rusev’s next WWE appearance, and neither Perry nor WWE has announced a specific episode for his return. Still, the clearance news changes the outlook considerably. The focus is no longer on whether the July incident will keep him out for an extended period, but on when WWE elects to bring him back into the fold.
For Rusev, the immediate priority appears to be maintaining his conditioning and ring readiness after a frightening moment that could have ended the match early. Perry’s account also offers a direct rebuttal to the claims surrounding the Evans loss: Rusev was injured, was evaluated during the match, chose to finish once he had feeling in his hands, and then headed to medical attention as quickly as possible.
Until WWE confirms his return on television, the exact plans remain unknown. But with Rusev now cleared and continuing to train, his time away from Raw may soon be over.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.