Rusev has shed new light on the circumstances behind his extended absence from WWE television, explaining that an injury scare during a July episode of Raw was followed by an illness that he does not believe was connected to the in-ring incident.
The former United States Champion last appeared on the July 27 edition of WWE Raw, where he faced Je’Von Evans in a singles match. Rusev was defeated by Evans and left the ring quickly after the bout, a moment that prompted concern among viewers. He subsequently disappeared from WWE programming, and it was later confirmed by CJ Perry in early September that he had been dealing with an injury but had been cleared to return to the ring.
Speaking about the situation, Rusev confirmed that he was kicked in the head during the match with Evans and experienced alarming symptoms in the immediate aftermath. However, he was able to complete the contest before the full period away from WWE began.
“I did get kicked in the head, my hands went numb,” Rusev said. “Felt better, finished the match. Then, I got a little sick after that. I don’t believe it was related.”
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Rusev said the illness was what kept him sidelined after the match. While he did not specify the nature of the illness or offer a medical diagnosis, he was clear that he does not view it as being caused by the kick he sustained during the bout. The distinction is important, as the initial scene on Raw and Rusev’s abrupt departure from the ring naturally led to questions about whether the issue was more serious than first apparent.
He also indicated that the recovery process has been complete for some time. By his own estimate, Rusev has been ready to work for approximately two months and is now simply awaiting the call to resume a regular role on WWE television.
“I’ve been ready. I’ve been good for about two months,” Rusev said. “I’m just waiting to go back to TV.”
Rusev Has Returned to In-Ring Activity
Although he has not yet reappeared on an episode of Raw, Rusev’s comments confirm that he has been actively preparing for his return and has already worked WWE live events. That is a meaningful development for a performer whose television absence had left the status of his return unclear.
Rusev said he resumed training at NXT and also trained at Kech Academy, his wrestling school in Nashville. The combination of training time and live-event matches has allowed him to get back into ring condition while WWE determines when and how to reintroduce him to its weekly programming.
His first WWE matches back came at the company’s live events in Hawaii. Rusev said he was contacted unexpectedly about making the trip and immediately accepted the opportunity. Beyond the wrestling itself, he described the Hawaii dates as an especially enjoyable experience, citing time at the beach and the strong crowds at the sold-out shows.
“They called me out of nowhere just to go to Hawaii for a couple of live events,” Rusev said. “Of course I will.”
The Hawaii appearances gave Rusev a chance to work with a varied group of WWE talent and provided a clear indication that he is physically able to compete. On one night, he faced Joe Hendry. Rusev jokingly referenced Hendry’s musical persona and also played on their past association from roughly a decade earlier, saying Hendry “used to be my lawyer back ten years ago.”
Rusev said he enjoyed getting the better of Hendry in Hawaii, continuing the kind of boastful, confrontational attitude that has long been central to his WWE presentation. The remarks also suggest that, despite the time away, Rusev has not lost the outspoken personality that has made him a distinctive presence whenever he is positioned in a featured role.
On the second Hawaii event, Rusev teamed with Page against Chad Gable and Rey Mysterio. Rusev spoke positively about sharing the ring with Gable and Mysterio, calling it “always a blast” to work with performers of their caliber. The match was another useful test in a live setting, particularly given Mysterio’s experience and Gable’s reputation as one of WWE’s most technically accomplished wrestlers.
What Rusev’s Comments Clarify
The update offers a more complete timeline than was previously available. The physical issue began during the July 27 match against Evans, when Rusev took a kick to the head and felt numbness in his hands. He finished the bout, then became ill afterward. The illness kept him out of action, but Rusev does not believe the two situations were related.
It is worth noting that Rusev did not provide an exact date when he was cleared, nor did he identify when he expects to return to Raw. His description of being ready for around two months establishes that the current delay is not, in his telling, about a continuing inability to wrestle. Instead, he is waiting for WWE creative and production plans to bring him back to television.
That waiting period can be difficult for any WWE talent, particularly someone who had been involved in a televised singles match immediately before going away. An absence that begins with a visible in-ring concern often creates anticipation around the eventual comeback, but it also leaves fans wondering whether the performer will resume an unfinished program, enter a different rivalry, or return with a changed direction.
For now, there is no confirmed television storyline attached to Rusev’s return. There is also no indication that his Hawaii bouts were intended to reveal a specific future feud. The live-event work does, however, demonstrate that WWE has already put him back in active competition and that he has been able to work opponents ranging from Hendry to Mysterio and Gable.
A Return to Raw Remains the Next Step
Rusev’s status now appears straightforward: he is training, he has wrestled WWE live events, and he says he is healthy enough to return. The remaining question is when WWE will choose to place him back on Raw and what role will be waiting for him when that happens.
His July loss to Je’Von Evans was the last televised chapter of his run, but a return does not necessarily require WWE to pick up from that exact point. The company could revisit that matchup, place Rusev in a new rivalry, or use his return as an immediate statement against another established name. Nothing has been announced, so any direction remains speculative.
What is not speculative is Rusev’s own readiness. His account makes clear that he has moved beyond the injury-and-illness period that took him away from television. He has described the initial kick and the numbness that followed, acknowledged the separate illness that came afterward, and stated that he has been good to go for months.
With WWE’s live-event schedule already providing him an opportunity to get back in the ring, attention now turns to the next episode of Raw and beyond. Rusev is waiting for his television return, and WWE has another experienced, physically imposing performer available whenever the decision is made to put him back in the spotlight.
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.