Rusev’s absence from WWE television appears to have a medical explanation behind it, with the former United States Champion reportedly expected to return sometime in September after dealing with an in-ring scare and an illness.
The WWE star has not appeared on television since the July 27 edition of WWE Raw, where he lost to Je’Von Evans. His post-match behavior, including an apparent frustrated exit after the defeat, prompted speculation among fans that there could be an issue between Rusev and WWE. The available details, however, indicate that his time away has been connected to his condition following the match rather than confirmed dissatisfaction with his role.
During the bout with Evans, Rusev reportedly landed awkwardly on his neck during a spot. People at the WWE Performance Center were said to have indicated that Rusev experienced numbness in his hands following that landing. The situation reportedly became serious enough that the referee checked on whether the match needed to be stopped.
Rusev is said to have elected to continue the match, but the numbness reportedly worsened as the bout went on. He was also believed to have entered concussion protocol after the match. WWE has not publicly detailed the nature of the issue, and there has been no official diagnosis disclosed. Still, the reported sequence offers a different explanation for why Rusev disappeared from the weekly program shortly after his loss to Evans.
The July 27 Raw Match Took On Greater Significance
At face value, Rusev’s defeat to Evans was a notable result. Evans has continued to be presented as one of WWE’s rising young talents, while Rusev returned to the company with the reputation of an established, hard-hitting veteran capable of immediately affecting the Raw roster. A loss to an emerging opponent can naturally create storyline questions, particularly when it is followed by an apparent emotional reaction.
But the reported neck landing changes the context around that moment. Wrestling matches are carefully planned while still requiring performers to react in real time when something goes wrong. An awkward landing, especially one followed by numbness, is not a minor matter. The decision to continue can also make it more difficult for viewers to recognize that a performer may be working through an issue until more information emerges afterward.
That does not mean every part of Rusev’s reaction on Raw was necessarily unrelated to the match’s result. WWE often uses frustration, confrontations and sudden departures to advance stories. However, there is no confirmed indication that Rusev’s television exit represented a walkout, a creative disagreement, or a request to leave. The reported physical concerns provide important context to speculation that grew after he was no longer featured.
Recovery Was Reportedly Delayed by Illness
Following the Raw match, Rusev was reportedly given a number of weeks away before returning to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. That initial period appears to have been connected to the issues that emerged during the match with Evans.
His absence was then reportedly extended when he became ill after returning to the Performance Center. Rusev was said to have been awaiting clearance last week, with the expectation that he could resume appearing on WWE television this month. As with any return projection, that timeline remains dependent on medical clearance and WWE’s creative plans. No exact return date or specific show has been announced.
The distinction is important because it explains why an absence that initially may have looked brief continued beyond the weeks immediately following the July 27 episode of Raw. A wrestler can be ready to resume training or report to the Performance Center while still needing to satisfy medical requirements before returning to in-ring competition or television. An illness can further complicate a schedule even after progress has been made on the original concern.
WWE’s approach to concussion-related situations and possible neck issues is understandably cautious. While performers are accustomed to the physical demands of the ring, numbness after an impact is the sort of symptom that requires evaluation. Rusev’s reported desire to finish the match reflects the toughness often expected of wrestlers, but it does not eliminate the need for follow-up care once the match is over.
Rusev Had Been Active Before the Setback
Before his television absence, Rusev had been regularly working across WWE programming and live events. He had teamed with Ethan Page in various tag team matches, placing two experienced and imposing personalities together in matches that gave both men a consistent role on the roster.
Rusev also competed in the number one contender’s gauntlet match that determined a challenger for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. Chad Gable ultimately won that gauntlet, ending Rusev’s opportunity to move directly into an Intercontinental title program. Even so, his inclusion in that match underscored that WWE had been keeping him active in a meaningful part of the Raw landscape.
Outside of television, Rusev had continued to wrestle during WWE’s summer live event tour. He had also worked on the company’s European tour before that. The steady ring schedule made his abrupt absence more noticeable, particularly because he had been consistently available in front of live audiences before the July 27 Raw match.
For WWE, the immediate question is how Rusev will be reintroduced once he is cleared. A return could pick up threads from his recent work with Ethan Page, revisit his standing after the gauntlet loss, or simply allow him to reestablish himself in singles competition. None of those directions has been confirmed, but Rusev’s physical presence and history make him a useful figure in several potential Raw programs.
A Return Would Mark Another Step in His Second WWE Run
Rusev returned to WWE in April 2025 after previously leaving the company and spending time in AEW. His comeback carried built-in interest because of his prior accomplishments in WWE, where he had been a United States Champion and one of the promotion’s most memorable powerhouse acts.
That background also helps explain why fans quickly interpreted his July exit through the lens of his career history. Rusev has experienced major changes between promotions before, and his on-screen intensity has long been a central part of his presentation. Yet the current reporting does not establish any conflict behind the scenes. Instead, it points to a sequence in which an awkward landing created a concerning physical issue, followed by a separate illness that delayed his return.
In an era when WWE’s weekly shows move quickly from one premium live event cycle to another, even a few weeks away can alter a wrestler’s momentum. Partnerships shift, contenders emerge and championships change hands. Rusev’s return will therefore matter not just because he has been absent, but because Raw may look different by the time he is medically cleared to compete again.
For now, the key development is that Rusev is reportedly expected back on WWE television at some point this month. Until WWE confirms his return on screen, the exact timing remains uncertain. What is clearer is that the absence following his loss to Je’Von Evans appears to be rooted in a health-related setback rather than the speculation that initially followed his departure from the July 27 edition of Raw.
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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.