WrestleMania 42 promises a lineup of thrilling championship matches, including a highly anticipated Intercontinental Title defense by Penta against five challengers. Among these competitors is a former United States Champion, ready to vie for the prestigious workhorse title at The Showcase of the Immortals.
Cero Miedo will be defending his title against Rusev, JD McDonagh, Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio, and Je’Von Evans. However, Rusev, also known as The Bulgarian Brute, has been absent from the company’s broadcasts since March 9, 2026. His last appearance was in a match against Oba Femi on RAW, where he faced a swift defeat at the hands of The Ruler.
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Despite the recent setback against Femi, Rusev is set to compete for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 42, marking his return to the event after seven years. His last appearance on this grand stage was in 2019 when he teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura for a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Title.
This week’s RAW might see Rusev make his comeback after a brief hiatus, just in time for his title match in Las Vegas.
WWE could be planning a confrontation between the competitors of the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
The upcoming RAW is the final show before WrestleMania 42, and the creative team is likely to conclude several ongoing storylines. A climactic in-ring confrontation between the Ladder Match participants could be scheduled to build excitement for the contest.
Rusev’s presence on the program is crucial for this confrontation. The six competitors might engage in an intense and dynamic brawl on RAW, or the babyfaces could unite to face the heels in the ring.
Rusev might want to send a message before WrestleMania 42
With his vast experience, Rusev stands out in the Ladder Match lineup for WrestleMania 42. Since his return to WWE last year, he has been depicted as a formidable force. Having missed much of the buildup for the Intercontinental Title match, he could seize the opportunity on RAW to assert his dominance.
Rusev, also known as The Redeemer, might target the champion to intimidate his opponents or team up with JD McDonagh to overpower the babyfaces. Wrestlers rarely miss the critical lead-up to their WrestleMania matches, so it is highly probable that Rusev will make an appearance on the final RAW before The Showcase of the Immortals.
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Edited by Pratik Singh
