Rusev’s Return Reportedly Changed Due to Jinder Mahal’s Title Win

– Plans for Rusev’s return were reportedly changed due to Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship win. The WON reports that the plan was originally to have Rusev return for a WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank. Rusev had said during vignettes that he wasn’t going to return until he received a title shot and he was advertised for Smackdown a few weeks ago. Obviously that didn’t happen, and he has not been mentioned on air since then.

The site notes that the decision on giving Mahal the championship doesn’t seem to have been finalized until two weeks ago and with him as champion instead of Orton, there’s no spot currently in place for him so they now need a new way to get him back on television.