Rusev Says He’s Been Ready for a WWE TV Return for Months
Rusev told TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast he was kicked in the head during his July 27 RAW match, experienced numbness in his hands, missed time due to a separate illness and has been ready to return to WWE television for about two months.
WWE performer Rusev says he has been ready and available for a return to television for roughly two months following a multi-month absence.
Rusev has not appeared on WWE television since the July 27, 2026, episode of RAW, where he lost to Je'Von Evans. His wife, CJ Perry, later said Rusev experienced numbness in his hands during that match. Speaking on TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast, Rusev said he was kicked in the head during the contest, finished the match and then went backstage for medical attention. He added that an unrelated illness kept him out of action for a period after the bout.
After nearly three months away from WWE programming, Rusev returned to in-ring action on WWE’s Hawaii live tour on October 16 and 17; he said he was contacted on short notice to work those live events.
Rusev told the podcast he trained for a comeback at the WWE Performance Center and at his Catch Pro Wrestling Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, and believes he has been ready to return to television for about two months. Reports have indicated WWE was planning for his TV return as early as September; WrestleZone reported on those indications.
Rusev and Perry discussed the situation publicly on the podcast; Perry had previously disclosed the numbness in Rusev’s hands after the July match. Rusev emphasized he completed the match despite the head kick and subsequent numbness and is preparing to resume appearances on WWE TV.