Pro Wrestling Real Life Stories: Episode 3 - Lana, Rusev, his real-life fight, Russia, Bulgaria and the American Dream

#5 Genie Rusev

Rusev as a genie didn't really work out

Rusev put forth a rather hilarious impression of Dusty Rhodes, and revealed how he worked several outlandish gimmicks under Rhodes' guidance in WWE's developmental territories.

Anecdotes:

Recalling the fact that Rhodes gave him several gimmicks to try out and enact in front of the fans, he explained that Rhodes once gave him a gimmick where Rusev would play the role of a genie. Well, needless to say, the act didn't work out, and Rusev was back to square one.

Rusev then confirmed that Rhodes eventually suggested that Lana should work with "Rusenov" (mispronouncing Rusev's name in signature Dusty style!). The pair resultantly got together, and began working hard on their characters...