The match between Randy Orton and Rusev was an abrupt decision of the creative from Smackdown Live. Before Summerslam, both Orton and Rusev were not scheduled to feature in in any of the feuds on the blue brand.
It led the officials to arrange for this rivalry that has never been witnessed in the WWE, before. The storyline came out all of a sudden with Rusev demanding for a bigger opponent at Summerslam.
The match too took place without any buildup with Orton prevailing against Rusev for the entire time of the feud. It was thought that The Bulgarian Brute would pick up the win to carry himself forward to the main event picture. However, he was squashed by The Viper on that night by digesting a loss in just merely ten seconds of time.
Rusev tried to gain the early advantage by delivering a pre-match ambush to Orton from behind. But, all it takes is one RKO, and The Apex Predator hit it ‘out of nowhere’ to put his opponent off in style. It handed Rusev two consecutive PPV losses following his return to the WWE in July. At Battleground, he suffered yet another defeat in a match against John Cena.
Earlier it was reported that Rusev suffering a backstage heat might have been the reason behind these huge losses. However, this possibility was dismissed by veteran journalist, Dave Meltzer. As per his reports on Wrestling Observer, the finish was just part of the storyline which will continue till the next PPV.
Apparently, Orton and Rusev headed towards Summerslam without any sort build-up. Hence, the crowd was not invested into the feud. So, the creative team decided to create a pre-match assault by Rusev to gain sympathy for Orton. It would have culminated into the successful RKO to which the crowd has marked out. So, as per Meltzer, it was not an “anti-Rusev” decision, at all.
This report also wiped out the previous report of Rusev probably leaving WWE in the near future. Rather, he is expected to make his return after one week’s absence and confront the Viper that might result yet another match at the next PPV in line, Hell in a Cell.