Tag: Miro

Lana on Rusev’s AEW departure: ‘He wanted to wrestle every week on TV’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Lana opened up a bit about her husband Rusev’s departure from AEW and return to WWE.

Rusev (Miro) spent nearly five years under AEW contract before his departure from the company this February. Toward the end of his run, he was off television for a considerable amount of time amid rumors that he was reluctant to lose matches. Tony Khan recently explained that he and Rusev had different visions of what they wanted, but he wished Rusev the best now that he’s back with WWE.

Lana explained on Insight that she does not like to speak for her husband too much because it creates controversy and goes viral on social media whenever she does. But she said the period where Rusev was off AEW TV was “really hard” for him given that he wants to wrestle every week. Rusev also loves the style of storytelling that WWE does.

“Both him and I love telling stories, and WWE is a storytelling factory. And he is incredible at what he does. He’s the ‘Super Athlete.’ He loves playing a villain. He loves, absolutely loves WWE-style storytelling,” Lana said. “And so I think it was — and he wanted to wrestle every week on TV. That was a big thing for him. He loves wrestling. It wasn’t about a check for him. So it was like, yeah, maybe he made more money at AEW or something, but he wanted — it was more important for him to get out there and be wrestling, it was really hard for him to not be working.”

Rusev was part of WWE’s Last Time is Now tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent, defeating Damian Priest in the first round before losing to Jey Uso in the quarterfinals. The tournament is down to Gunther and LA Knight with those two set to face off on SmackDown this Friday.

Along with Rusev’s return, Lana — who also was previously with AEW — has signed a WWE Legends contract. She has not popped back up on WWE TV yet but is always ready for the opportunity if it arises.

Tony Khan says he & Miro ‘at times had different visions of things’ during AEW run

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

AEW head Tony Khan addressed Miro’s departure from the company earlier this year and acknowledged they had some differences on the creative end of things.

Khan spoke to Ariel Helwani on Tuesday and during a segment in which he was asked about specific wrestlers, Helwani inquired about the current Rusev in WWE and what happened in AEW.

“I think he and I just, at times, had different visions of things. That’s ok because everyone is entitled to different opinions and different ideas,” Khan said. “We just kind of drifted into some different ideas of what we should be doing and that’s ok.”

Khan noted Miro/Rusev had worked in WWE before and “clearly that was a good experience for him so clearly he was excited to go back and did go back. I wish him the best.”

The 39-year-old was released from his AEW contract this past February after requesting it initially in the early fall of 2024. The former TNT Champion hadn’t wrestled in AEW since December 2023’s Worlds End pay-per-view after initially debuting in September 2020. He wrestled just 36 times for AEW during his run.

He returned to WWE this past April on the Raw after WrestleMania. His wife, Lana/CJ Perry, signed a WWE Legends deal at the same time but has not been seen on TV.

Rusev says he did not refuse to do jobs in AEW

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

In four years with All Elite Wrestling, Rusev went from a dominant champion and a prominent part of the show to being an afterthought who rarely appeared on TV. Reports surfaced that Rusev was refusing to do jobs, but he is now denying that was the case.

Rusev addressed the reports in an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri at SHAK Wrestling. Mahjouri noted Rusev’s long period of inactivity, then asked Rusev to address his” unwillingness to lose to guys when you were with the other company.” 

“There’s a lot of rumors out there, but the problem is that a lot of these rumors are spread by one person, by these dirt sheets, so-called dirt sheets,” Rusev replied. “And they have no evidence, no proof, right? They just can go out there, run a story … and nothing can be traced back to them. ‘Oh, I heard, I saw, duh-duh, duh duh.’ … Clearly, if you judge, just by this run, obviously that doesn’t make any sense. Clearly when I lost [the title to] to Sammy Guevara, that didn’t make any sense. When I lost to [Bryan Danielson] right after, that didn’t make any sense. When I lost to whoever … So let the people go back and review whatever and we can talk about that.”

The one person appears to be our own Dave Meltzer, who replied to this clip of the interview by saying “I remember when I wrote he had a knee injury, he said I was lying, then started wrestling with a giant knee brace on.”

After beginning his career in World Wrestling Entertainment, Rusev debuted with AEW during the pandemic in 2020. Using the name Miro, Rusev went on to win the TNT title from Darby Allin in November of that year and held it for 140 days before losing it to Sammy Guevara. He spent most of the next several years on the sidelines before returning to Raw in May. 

According to Cagematch, Rusev wrestled 36 matches for AEW, going 31-5. The five defeats:

  • Dec. 2, 2020: Miro participates in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal, a match eventually won by MJF and Orange Cassidy.
  • March 25, 2021: Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy defeated Kip Sabian & Miro in Arcade Anarchy when Taylor pinned Sabian.
  • September 29, 2021: Sammy Guevara pins Miro after a go to hell and 630 senton to win the TNT title. 
  • November 13, 2021: Bryan Danielson defeats Miro by referee’s decision in a World Title Eliminator Tournament.
  • June 26, 2022: Pac won the vacant All-Atlantic (now Unified) championship, submitting Clark Connors in a four-way that also included Miro and Malakai Black. 

Miro wrestled five matches for AEW in 2020, 20 in 2021, four in 2022, and seven in 2023. 

Rusev on being sidelined prior to AEW release: ‘We only have this body and age for so long’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rusev did not refuse to lose.

In a new interview with CBS Sports, the former Miro denied rumors that he refused to do jobs while in AEW. Despite this, he spent much of his time on the sidelines, having not wrestled for over a year before finally being released by the company in February. In the interview, he talked about having so little matches during his AEW run, particularly in the year prior to his release.

“In the past five years, I have had 20 or 30 matches. Back in the day, I had 30 matches in 30 days,” he said. “The dead time sticks out the most. We only have this body and age for so long. We can’t do this job forever, so we must take advantage of it while we’re young. I sat on the sidelines for so long, unable to do what I love, which is performing for people in professional wrestling.”

Before returning to WWE, Miro hadn’t wrestled in AEW since the end of 2023, defeating Andrade El Idolo at Worlds End. Rusev made his return on the Raw following WrestleMania 41. He is now set to challenge for the Intercontinental title at Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend.

CJ Perry launching podcast, announces first guest

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

CJ Perry is jumping into the podcast game.

Revealed on a new Instagram account, the show is called Identity Crisis and will be co-hosted by she and film producer Jonathan Saba, described as “two professional fakers who’ve made a living playing the part!”

Saba is listed as both the co-president and executive producer at Saban Films with previous roles at Anchor Bay Film, Image Entertainment, and Rilean Pictures which he co-founded.

The first episode launches on Monday, November 3 with a familiar first guest: current WWE wrestler and Perry’s husband Rusev. A short clip can be found below.

Since leaving the business after a short run with AEW, Perry has transitioned into acting with roles in two 2025 movies: Guns Up and The Stranger In My Home. Earlier this year, it was announced the former Lana in WWE is co-writing the novel Bulletproof Angel with author & screenwriter Blake Northcott as part of a new book-to-film initiative.

Rusev makes WWE return on Raw, Lana signs Legends deal

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rusev Day is back.

The former United States Champion made his return to WWE on the Raw following WrestleMania 41, attacking both members of Alpha Academy.

As the New Day were in the ring talking about their WrestleMania victory, Maxxine Dupri, Otis, and Akira Tozawa came out and issued a challenge to the new World Tag Team Champions. As the two teams were about to do battle, Rusev made his return after the lights briefly went out. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston bailed as Rusev laid out both Tozawa and Otis, who had a brief staredown with Rusev before being taken out with a kick. Rusev then placed Otis in the Accolade to end the segment.

Following his return, Deadline reported that Rusev had signed a two-year deal. Additionally, Rusev’s wife and former manager Lana has signed a WWE Legends deal.

“Rusev is back to crush the WWE and become World Champion,” Lana told Deadline. “We have been cooking this up from our Bulgarian kitchen since the day we left, and with the help of Paradigm, we were able to make this a reality! Machka Crush,” she added.

After being released by WWE in 2020, Miro joined AEW later that year, winning the TNT Championship once. After Worlds End 2023, he stopped being used and spent most of 2024 at home. In February, it had been reported that both Miro and Ricky Starks were granted their releases. Starks immediately showed up on NXT and recently won the North American Championship.

Big E confirmed last week that Rusev would be making his return to WWE during a Fanatics session held as part of WrestleMania 41 activities.

Big E confirms Rusev is returning to WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

During a live stream on Thursday, Big E officially confirmed that Rusev is returning to WWE.

Big E and Tyler Breeze hosted a Fanatics Live session at WWE World in Las Vegas, opening packs of WWE trading cards. When they pulled a Rusev card from 2017, Big E said Rusev has confirmed to him that he’s now coming back to WWE.

“Someone that has just been announced to return. You didn’t see that? I reached out to him, and he confirmed that the news is indeed true,” Big E said. “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but there is Rusev. A blast from the past. And actually this is very topical because he has just announced that he is returning to the squared circle here in World Wrestling Entertainment.”

It’s been expected that Rusev (known as Miro in AEW) would be returning to WWE ever since he was let out of his AEW contract this February. Ahead of his WWE return, Rusev was spotted at the company’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut earlier this month.

Rusev is in Vegas during WrestleMania week to make a special guest appearance for indie KnokX Pro, the wrestling school he graduated from. He’s appearing at their show this Friday.

Miro announced for WrestleMania Week indie shows ahead of expected WWE return

Posted on by Ian Carey

Miro will be in Las Vegas during WrestleMania week.

He has been announced as making “special guest appearances” at KnokX Pro’s events at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center from Wednesday, April 16 to Friday, April 18.

KnokX Pro is a California-based wrestling school and promotion founded in 2009 and run by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. Miro was part of the academy’s first-ever graduating class.

In October, WWE named KnokX Pro Academy as one of the first five schools to receive its WWE ID designation. As part of the program, WWE will collaborate with select wrestling schools to provide trainees with “enhanced developmental opportunities.” Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling, Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory, Seth Rollins’ Black and Brave Academy, and the Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center were also included in the initial group.

Knokx Pro wrote:

“KPE is proud to welcome home our highly esteemed special guest @tobemiro !
KnokX Pro’s very own alumni from the graduating first class of 2009! We are very honored to be in the presence of God’s Favorite Champion, The Redeemer, The Best Man, The Bulgarian Brute as he celebrates with us during Mania Week in Downtown Las Vegas on Rusev Day no less!”

Miro is believed to be returning to WWE shortly. PWInsider reported that he was spotted at WWE headquarters earlier this week.

Report: Miro spotted at WWE headquarters

Posted on by Ian Carey

Miro was reportedly at WWE headquarters on Wednesday.

According to PWInsider, he spent the entire day at WWE’s Stamford offices and was seen by multiple sources. The visit is believed to be related to his expected return to the company.

Miro was released from his AEW contract in February, along with Ricky Starks and Malakai Black. Dave Meltzer reported in the February 17, 2025 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is already developing creative plans for his return.

“The belief is that (Malakai) Black and Miro will also be in WWE very soon. It wouldn’t surprise me to see CJ Perry back involved with him, but that’s less of a definite. Those in WWE had said creative had been talking about Black and Miro,” Meltzer wrote.

Miro and Perry recently reconciled and renewed their wedding vows following a brief separation of less than a year. PWInsider noted that Perry (Lana) was not present with Miro at WWE headquarters on Wednesday.

Former WWE & AEW stars Miro and CJ Perry reconcile, renew wedding vows

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Former WWE and AEW wrestlers Miro and CJ Perry have reconciled and renewed their wedding vows.

TMZ reports that the couple have reconciled following their 2023 separation, and renewed their wedding vows in a Los Angeles ceremony “a few weeks ago.”

Exactly one year ago today, TMZ reported that the couple, married since 2016, had separated. The report emphasized that neither had accused the other of cheating, and that the pair had simply grown apart over the years.

In Tuesday’s reconciliation report, the outlet notes that the couple began speaking again last June, with things progressing over the ensuing months as “they slowly continued to rekindle their relationship.” TMZ also reports that the couple never officially divorced.

As Rusev and Lana, Miro and Perry were paired together on and off throughout their WWE stint from 2014 to 2020. Miro was released by WWE during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Perry remained with the company until she was released in June 2021.

Miro debuted for AEW in September 2020, and worked infrequently for the company until being granted his release earlier this year. His last match for the promotion took place at Worlds End in December 2023. He wrestled his first match post-AEW at an indie event in Qatar last month, losing to Alberto El Patron.

Perry briefly joined AEW for an on-screen stint between October and December 2023, but announced she was no longer with the promotion last year.

Miro wrestles first post-AEW match vs. Alberto El Patron in Qatar

Posted on by Ian Carey

Miro wrestled his first match in nearly 14 months this weekend at Qatar Pro-Wrestling’s Super Slam III event in Doha, Qatar.

The former AEW TNT Champion faced AAA Mega Champion Alberto El Patron (FKA Alberto Del Rio) on Saturday night. This was Miro’s first match since defeating Andrade at AEW Worlds End on December 30, 2023.

LuchaLibreOnline posted:

“AAA Mega Champion Alberto Del Rio was Miro’s first opponent in his return to the ring and it happened at QPW in Doha, Qatar, as part of the SuperSlam III super event, which will be available from March 2 on @FiteTV @QPWrestling”

Mick Foley, Matt Cardona, Nic Nemeth, Mustafa Ali and several others also appeared on the show. Results are not currently available. It will be available to stream on FITE beginning March 2.

Miro was recently released from AEW earlier this month and is expected to return to WWE shortly. Dave Meltzer addressed Miro’s future in the February 17, 2025, edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Meltzer wrote:

“The belief is that Black and Miro will also be in WWE very soon. It wouldn’t surprise me to see CJ Perry back involved with him but that’s less of a definite. Those in WWE had said creative had been talking about Black and Miro.”

Miro advertised for first post-AEW appearance

Posted on by Ian Carey

Miro has been announced for his first wrestling-related appearance since leaving AEW.

Qatar Pro Wrestling has revealed that the former TNT Champion will be part of this weekend’s Super Slam III, scheduled for Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22, in Doha, Qatar.

Miro departed AEW last week after being with the company since 2020. He had publicly requested his release in September. He is expected back in WWE shortly. Our own Dave Meltzer wrote in Friday’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that creative pitches have already been made for his and Malakai Black’s return.

Meltzer wrote:

“The belief is that Black and Miro will also be in WWE very soon. It wouldn’t surprise me to see CJ Perry back involved with him but that’s less of a definite. Those in WWE had said creative had been talking about Black and Miro.”

If Miro competes at QPW Super Slam III, it will be his first match in over a year. His last match took place at AEW Worlds End on December 30, 2023. Miro defeated Andrade on the show.

Also announced to appear at QPW Super Slam III are Mustafa Ali, Mick Foley, Bobby Lashley, Alberto El Patron, Nic Nemeth, and Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Minoru Suzuki, Marty Scurll, nZo (FKA Enzo Amore), Matt Cardona, Raj Dhesi (FKA Jinder Mahal), and Robbie X are also advertised for the show. The only match officially confirmed for the card is Tommy Billington vs. Jonathan Gresham.

Bilal Taha, QPW co-founder and board member, told The Peninsula: “Super Slam III is more than just an event; it is a milestone in the evolution of professional wrestling in the Middle East. Through our valued partnerships and strategic collaborations, we are ensuring that this spectacle reaches new heights, both in terms of entertainment value and global impact. We look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for wrestling fans worldwide.”

Malakai Black & Miro update following AEW releases

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Now that they’re no longer under contract with AEW, it’s looking like only a matter of time before Malakai Black and Miro end up back in WWE.

AEW made releases this week with Black, Miro, and Ricky Starks being let out of their deals. Starks debuted for WWE on NXT just one day later — and Dave Meltzer reports that there have been discussions about Black and Miro in WWE creative as well.

“Even before his release, WWE had plans for Starks to debut in NXT at a major event later this year, but sped up the process as soon as he was available,” Meltzer wrote in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

“The belief is that Black and Miro will also be in WWE very soon. It wouldn’t surprise me to see CJ Perry back involved with him but that’s less of a definite. Those in WWE had said creative had been talking about Black and Miro.”

Black and Miro went by the names Aleister Black and Rusev while they were with WWE. Miro was released by WWE in 2020 while Black was released in 2021.

When Miro wrestles next, it will be his first match since December 2023. The final match of Black’s AEW run took place this past November.

WWE star Sheamus shared a new photo of him and Miro together after Miro was released by AEW:

Wrestling Weekly: WWE roster cuts, AEW Grand Slam Australia preview

Posted on by Victor Sosa

Image: AEW

There is lots to discuss this week on a new Wrestling Weekly with myself and Les Thatcher.

That list includes WWE roster cuts, Ricky Starks (if that is in fact his name) arriving in NXT, and a preview of AEW Grand Slam Australia.

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

The Latest: Miro & Ricky Starks released from AEW

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

Welcome to another episode of The Latest with Denise Salcedo breaking down the biggest wrestling news headlines of the week so far.

TOPICS:

— Miro and Ricky Starks released from AEW

— Ari Emanuel says WWE ‘numbers are up’ on Netflix, ‘thrilled’ with relationship

— Vince & Shane McMahon, Undertaker attend Super Bowl 59

— Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Giovanni Vinci released from WWE

— Elektra Lopez has been released from WW

— Isla Dawn appears to be finished with WWE

— More WWE releases from over the weekend