WWE Responds To Rumors That Rusev Has Left The Company, JR Reveals Serious Back Injury In Gruesome Photo

WWE Comments On Rusev’s Status

Rusev has been subject to quite a bit of controversy in the past several days. The Bulgarian Brute was originally scheduled to face The Undertaker in a Casket match at The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia later this month.

Those plans were later changed and Rusev was instead replaced by Chris Jericho. This comes just days after rumors began to float around that the former United States Champion had asked for his WWE release.

After news broke that Rusev had been replaced, The Bulgarian Brute removed all WWE references from his Twitter profile. He also changed his name from Rusev to his real name, Miroslav Barnyashev. This sparked some controversy from WWE fans, suggesting Rusev may have left the company.

Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated reached out to WWE on the matter, and received a response. WWE says that Rusev has not left the company and will be competing in the Royal Rumble match in Saudi Arabia instead:

Wrestling fans, I asked the WWE if Rusev has left the company. WWE said those rumors are not true, he is still with the company and he will be in the Royal Rumble match at Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. #RusevDay

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 13, 2018

Jim Ross Reveals A Nasty Back Injury

WWE Hall Of Fame commentator “Good Ole’” Jim Ross revealed on Twitter that he had finally undergone an MRI this past Tuesday for a back injury that occurred back in September. He posted the following photo, showing Ross’ battered and bruised back:

This injury occurred in September ‘17 and I finally got around to getting a MRI Tuesday.

Results: I’ve been diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae.

Worry not about the mules, just load the damn wagon! ? pic.twitter.com/RdRStRmGTu

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 13, 2018