WWE Releases: 5 Superstars who could be on their way out

#1 Rusev

Rusev

Miroslav Barnyashev, known better to the world as the Bulgarian Brute Rusev, had only been wrestling for two years when he was brought into WWE's developmental territory of Florida Championship wrestling.

Rusev was kept in development for over four years, which is a moderately long time to be in such a place for an experienced wrestler. It's no where near as long a tenure in developmental as Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore once endured, but it's still a long time.

He joined the main roster in 2014 and enjoyed an undefeated streak, mostly because Vince McMahon really wanted a Russian heel (he'd tried once before with Vladimir Kozlov.) Because of Rusev's heavy accent, he was paired with Lana as a mouthpiece, who eventually became his wife.

Rusev has held multiple mid card championships but has never ascended to the main event, despite his popularity with the crowd due to his Rusev Day gimmick.

Why he might be facing his release soon: Rusev is a talented performer, but the fact is Vince McMahon has never believed in him since the monster Russian heel gimmick failed. Rusev has cut his hair and lost weight in an effort to impress the boss, all for naught.

Where he might go if he gets his release: Rusev, thanks to his strong social media game and appearance on Total Divas, has some appeal for promotions like Impact and New Japan, who like wrestlers with some internet fame. He could also wind up in AEW or Ring of Honor because he's skilled enough for those promotions. Rusev's release might wind up being a blessing.

There you have it - five WWE superstars who could be next for their release from the company. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article, and as always, thanks for reading!