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#2 Rusev is reportedly on a leave of absence
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Rusev has not been on our screens for the last three months on SmackDown Live, while his only televised in-ring appearance during that time came in the 51-man Battle Royal at WWE Super ShowDown.
The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer recently reported that the three-time United States champion is expected to return soon after being granted a leave of absence, but it is unclear when he will be reintroduced to WWE’s storylines.
With no tag team partner around, it seems that WWE’s decision-makers were left with little choice but to give Shinsuke Nakamura the opportunity to break out as a singles competitor again.
After all, “The King of Strong Style” made his name in one-on-one matches in NJPW and during his one-year spell in NXT, so it is hardly a risk by inserting him back into a singles rivalry with Finn Balor.
