Details Regarding Rusev Being Pulled From Casket Match With The Undertaker & Replaced By Chris Jericho

 

WWE announced today that they have pulled Rusev from the Casket Match at The Greatest Royal Rumble against The Undertaker, just one day after the match was officially announced. It was announced that Chris Jericho will now face The Undertaker in the casket match, instead of Rusev.

You can see WWE’s announcement of the change to the Casket Match at The Greatest Royal Rumble event embedded below:

 

BREAKING: The #Undertaker will now battle @IAmJericho in a #CasketMatch at @WWE Greatest Royal Rumble on Friday, April 27! #WWEGRR https://t.co/Qk4B4jxovh

— WWE (@WWE) April 12, 2018

It had just been announced yesterday that Rusev would be facing The Undertaker in a casket match at the upcoming Greatest Royal Rumble Event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Yesterday in response to the announcement of his Casket Match with The Undertaker, WWE Superstar Rusev commented about the match on Twitter.

Rusev tweeted:

Bury me softly, Brother https://t.co/IWnBvL20Ez

— . (@RusevBUL) April 11, 2018

Rusev also conducted an interview earlier today with TMZ. During the interview, Rusev says that he felt That The Undertaker was “kind of a little bit in the past”, and that he would crush him in the match.

You can see the interview with TMZ below:

Wife of The Undertaker, former WWE Diva Michelle McCool took to twitter to voice her thoughts on the interview after apparently catching wind that Rusev claimed that he would “crush his old ass.” Which if you listen to the interview Rusev never actually says that at all.

Had to listen to see if “crush his old a$$” was ACTUALLY said! Guess some people are smarter than others…😎🙄🖤 https://t.co/avOLWKORV8

— Michelle McCool (@McCoolMichelleL) April 12, 2018

It has been speculated that perhaps WWE Officials were unhappy with the tweet from Rusev yesterday in response to the match’s announcement, and then now it seems as though there may be some heat regarding the interview with TMZ as well.

Rusev commented today on twitter with his first comments since being pulled from the Casket Match at The Greatest Royal Rumble. Rusev said:

Life is life….. it will be #RusevDay somewhere

— . (@RusevBUL) April 12, 2018

The change to the match was also discussed on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live, and Bryan Alvarez shared some on the information that he had been hearing regarding Rusev being replaced by Chris Jericho in the casket match with The Undertaker. Alvarez said:

“According to this person, [WWE] didn’t like the tweet [Rusev] sent out yesterday. So it may not be so much that he’s being released as he’s being punished. So I guess.. listen, we got to wait and see.. it’s very, very early.”

WWE has posted an article on their website with a storyline explanation for the change. The storyline that WWE went with is that Lana, Rusev’s wife, is refusing to let him compete in the match. Which as you can see from the TMZ interview she was all on board with earlier in the day, even saying that after Rusev crushes The Undertaker that it could potentially be his last match.

You can see WWE’s announcement via their website below:

In a stunning turn of events, The Undertaker will battle Chris Jericho in a Casket Match at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia on Friday, April 27.

Originally, the Casket Match was to be between The Deadman and Rusev. However, Lana, who originally showed public support for her husband competing against The Undertaker, recently tweeted second thoughts over The Bulgarian Brute competing in the grisly bout.

All over the world, little boys and girls are celebrating #RusevDay, they smile for the greatest Superstar ever ! I’ve already spoke with @WWE officials to change that match because I REFUSE to let my husband @RusevBUL compete in a Casket Match at #WWEGRR! Happy #RusevDay

— CJ (Lana) Perry (@LanaWWE) April 12, 2018

The Casket Match undoubtedly belongs to The Undertaker, as The Demon of Death Valley has claimed victory in several of these harrowing contests, wherein a Superstar only wins when he gets his opponent into the casket and closes the lid. Although Jericho has never been a part of such an ominous showdown, WWE’s first Undisputed Champion has battled in virtually every other kind of match WWE has to offer, and if his extensive résumé says anything, it’s that he knows how to win when it counts.

The Deadman and Y2J are no strangers to one another. They have competed side-by-side, including the epic Team WWE vs. Team Alliance Match at Survivor Series 2001, as well as against each other, including the Elimination Chamber Match in 2010 where Jericho overcame The Phenom to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.

Which of the two iconic Superstars will walk out, and which will be carried out in a casket? Find out at the Greatest Royal Rumble event, Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m. AST. The event streams live on the award-winning WWE Network with a tune-in time of 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, and with a special, one-hour Greatest Royal Rumble Kickoff starting at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. It will be available on pay-per-view outside of the Middle East with regional broadcast information forthcoming, and tickets will be available Friday, April 13.

 

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