5 Reasons why the Rusev-Lana-Bobby Lashley storyline is the hottest feud in WWE right now

We get it. You most probably despise the rivalry going on right now between Rusev and Bobby Lashley that revolves around Lana. We get why. The entire premise of the story is quite silly and the fact that it's been going on for two full months now (with seemingly no sign of ending) makes many fans impatient and angsty.

The argument is that the storyline feels too immature and we can understand why. Lana cheating on her husband for being a sex addict to be with Bobby Lashley doesn't make much sense, but to be fair, neither does a lot of wrestling.

It's simply a bizarre world of entertainment of another kind and understandably, there have been a lot of downsides to the storyline but in reality, it's still the hottest feud in WWE today. We understand that may sound controversial, but let us explain why with five reasons.

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#5. The numbers on social media platforms back it up

Do they make a good couple?

How much ever fans complain, the reality is that numbers on social media and TV ratings are the measuring stick for a lot of different things in WWE. When you have the Rusev-Lana-Lashley segments doing numbers in the millions on YouTube and getting high viewership and engagement on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, what incentive does WWE have to discontinue it?

As we know, WWE loves bragging about their social media numbers and to their credit, they're quite good at that game. Every single thing posted is taken note of and the higher-ups are well aware with reports of what has been getting the most traction on these platforms.

The reality is that this storyline has been getting tremendous viewership and engagement online and the numbers back it up.

#4. These kinds of storylines get a lot of buzz and attention

Breaking the fourth wall

If there's anything that WWE loves, it's to get buzz and attention. Sure, they're not fans of negative publicity but in this case, it has gotten a lot of eyes on the three Superstars. It's safe to say that this is the most buzz that Rusev, Lashley or Lana has had in a long time (atleast over a year and a half for The Bulgarian Brute) and WWE is going to keep it that way.

When something gets so much buzz and attention, it automatically becomes hot and whether we like to admit it or not, the attention this has gotten has led to this becoming the hottest feud in all of WWE today.

For all we know, WWE is keeping it going for this very reason. There's likely a consistency in the attention and numbers that this feud is getting and that's why they haven't pulled the plug on it despite many fans online wanting it to end.

#3. It's a throwback to the Attitude Era days

Rusev getting escorted away

One of the biggest arguments between fans when storylines like this emerge is that it's exactly how the Attitude Era was and recency bias makes people forget that. To a large extent, that is true. As much as we glorify the Attitude Era, there were undoubtedly sleazy storylines and segments that simply wouldn't fit in today's environment and that's ok.

Even on WWE Backstage, Renee Young made the argument defending the storyline saying that this is a throwback to the Attitude Era and fans shouldn't necessarily complain when they get it. With that said, Paige counter-argued that this isn't the "type" of thing they want from the Attitude Era, perhaps referring to the desire for larger-than-life characters, chaotic segments, lively audiences and more.

With that said, there is substance in the argument that this storyline is a throwback to that period. We easily forget that while the Attitude Era was great in more ways than one, there were many sleazy aspects of it that are much better forgotten.

#2. It's helped get Rusev over

Rusev has been in creative limbo for a long time now

One of the undeniably positive aspects of this bizarre storyline is the fact that it's helped Rusev get more over. The last time he was this over was during the height of Rusev Day and we all know how that was squandered.

Rumors were floating around that Vince McMahon was laughing in the back, loving how much heat Lashley was getting. From a simple, wrestling storytelling perspective, the heel-face dynamic is quite clear and the babyface is being cheered and the heel is being heavily booed.

It has done something to progress Rusev's character and help him get favorable reactions, more than they had done with him for the last year and a half. It's all so bizarre because it started with mustache Rusev supposedly being the father of Maria Kanellis' baby. That storyline quietly faded into the background and we never even got an answer to that.

This has done some good for Rusev if nothing else.

#1. It's different from anything else on WWE TV right now

Should WWE be criticized for trying something different

We're admittedly a bit on the fence about this one. Fans complain a lot about the monotonous nature of WWE's programming and how they want the company to mix it up creatively and present something different.

The fact of the matter is that this love triangle storyline is very different from anything in WWE programming, whether we like to admit it or not. There's one side of the argument that fans shouldn't be complaining when WWE is trying their hand at something different (such as the red lights for Bray Wyatt's matches), but there's also the other side where fans feel they can't just let WWE get away with terrible ideas in the name of trying something different.

Perhaps the fact that they are trying something new is something to be positive about and hopefully, once the rivalry concludes, they can learn their lesson and move forward in a different direction. Either way, the fact that it's so different undoubtedly makes it WWE's hottest feud.