Vince McMahon Was Disappointed In WWE Star For Losing Weight
A WWE superstar has revealed that Vince McMahon didn’t like it when the wrestler lost significant weight.
When someone loses a significant amount of weight, their friends and family are usually happy for them because it shows they are working hard to live a healthier life. However, former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is not like normal people.
Rusev is somebody who wrestling fans have been watching for more than a decade. Rusev started in NXT, had a long run of success on the WWE main roster, had his AEW run as Miro, where he barely wrestled, and made his WWE return after WrestleMania this year.
For much of his WWE run, Rusev was promoted as the “Bulgarian Brute,” though he once portrayed a Russian because WWE felt it would generate more heat. As a 300-pound man who had a background in wrestling, he looked the part of a badass who could beat up John Cena, Roman Reigns or whatever WWE superstar he was up against.
It was around 2019 when Rusev changed his body to become more athletic, and instead of looking like a 300-pound powerhouse, he weighed around 260 pounds. Rusev was still a bigger guy, but in Vince McMahon’s eyes, it just wasn’t the same.
Vince McMahon Wanted The Bulgarian Brute In WWE
By the late 2010s, Rusev had become a character who featured babyface runs rather than making him a heel monster. The “Rusev Day” gimmick with Aiden English was really popular until it ended suddenly.
While speaking on the Identity Crisis podcast hosted by his wife CJ Perry (fka Lana in WWE), Rusev and Perry discussed the time when Vince McMahon made it clear he wanted the Bulgarian Brute back.
Perry: Are you okay with sharing this story of how in 2019, you lost a bunch of weight, and we have a meeting with Vince. What did he say to you about your new look? You were 260.
Rusev: He said he wanted the big Bulgarian. He wanted the 300-pound guy.
Perry: I remember him saying to you, ‘Where is my 300-pound Bulgarian Brute? I want my 300-pound Bulgarian Brute. That man puts asses in seats. I want you as a heel. I want you as a 300-pound Bulgarian Brute because that sells tickets.’ What did you say to him?
Rusev: What did I say?
Perry: You said, ‘Turn me heel, brother. I’m the best heel in the business. Turn me heel.’ Vince was like, ‘I have so many babyfaces, but I don’t have any 300-pound Bulgarian brutes.’ (H/T Fightful)
It was later in 2019 when the infamous Rusev-Lana storyline saw her cheat on her husband with Bobby Lashley, which led to many awkward segments involving the trio.
In today’s post-Vince McMahon WWE world, Rusev came up short in his quest to become the Intercontinental Champion when he lost a match against champion Dominik Mysterio and Penta at Saturday Night’s Main Event.