Rusev Reflects on How ‘Rusev Day’ Wasn’t Meant To Get Over, Explains Why It Worked

It’s only appropriate that Rusev talks about the glory of Rusev Day today. During a recent interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, WWE Superstar Rusev discussed his iconic “Rusev Day” catchphrase, which inexplicably got over, becoming a popular internet meme and bestselling t-shirt.

On When he First Started Noticing That ‘Rusev Day’ Got Over

“I don’t know. It was never meant to be over. It was never supposed to be anything. It was just supposed to be a celebration, and here’s the key from the mayor of Plovdiv, my hometown. And it just worked for some reason. I was a heel, but then I started to relax a little bit, show more of my personality, and I guess people started buying that. Then Aiden [English], of course, Aiden is such an essential part of this, with the songs, with introductions, with everything. Without him, probably wouldn’t even be the same. But just the combo work, man, it was just me having fun and doing the backstage with the New Day, and then the first shirt. Oh my God. They did one shirt of Happy Rusev Day, which is the first one. I remember putting it out in a backstage promo, and there’s the huge reaction from the crowd. What? It’s just a shirt. It’s not that big of a deal. But then it just starts picking up steam, and people love chanting Rusev Day and celebrating Rusev Day. I got that sweet treatment. I have a beach towel, I have sunglasses now that says Rusev Day. I have all these things that say Rusev Day. I was like, what is happening here? I couldn’t believe it. And then, yeah, we’re just getting over little by little. It was a good time, even to this day. Hey, happy Rusev Day.”

On If WWE Ever Had Talk of Making Him a Full Babyface After It Got Over

“I don’t know if there was any direction for it necessarily. I remember I’ve been off TV, and I’ve never been off TV. I remember being off TV for a couple of weeks, and I was like, What is going on? Why are we off TV? Before the shows, these people are chanting Rusev Day, and it’s not like, oh, let me get my sh*t in. I thought it was good for the show. If these people were chanting something, we should give them what they want. That’s why I started fighting for it, hey, let’s do something. Then it was getting a little more traction. But I became a United States Champion.”

On It Not Becoming Something More for Him

“A lot of things could be. I went over there, I talked to the boss, and I laid my cards in front of him. Everything I can, I did, but what comes after that is not up to me.”

On the Calendar

“There was a calendar. I remember January, every day, Rusev Day, Rusev Day… That was one of my favorite things was the calendar.”

Rusev was later released by WWE in April 2020, as part of budget cuts from the COVID-19 pandemic. He later signed with AEW, debuting as Miro later that year. He would eventually find his way back to WWE, returning in April of last year.