Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors on Rusev, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky, and More

Rusev exploded back onto the WWE scene Monday night on Raw, a surprise return on one of the most anticipated episodes of television the company produces all year.

How was The Bulgarian Brute's return greeted behind the scenes and what does it mean for his future in WWE?

Find out with this collection of backstage rumors, which also includes the latest on potential NXT call-ups and the reaction to Monday's stellar match between Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky.

Longtime fans of Rusev were not the only ones happy to see him back on WWE television Monday night on Raw. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported "many talents in WWE were happy to have Rusev back in the fold" (h/t Cageside Seats).

The report also noted WWE expects to have him "back in the mix in a major way," hinting at a significant push for the former United States champion.

Rusev was once considered one of the brightest young stars on the WWE roster. Arriving on the scene in 2014 and tearing through his opponents, he quickly won the U.S. title and became an Ivan Drago-like presence.

He scored a victory over John Cena at the February 2015 Fastlane pay-per-view but ultimately lost his first match and title to the franchise star at WrestleMania 31.

He went on to have a solid run as both a singles and tag team competitor before a feud with Bobby Lashley, also involving Lana, resulted in some of the worst WWE television of the last decade.

By 2020, he left the company and signed with All Elite Wrestling.

Creative differences with Tony Khan resulted in inconsistent appearances and long absences. Injuries did not help matters, and he was released from his contract.

Still an immensely talented performer, Rusev has a rare second chance to achieve the superstardom that eluded him during his first run with WWE.

If Monday’s return is any indication, the 39-year-old is poised to be the destructive machine he was upon his arrival from NXT and that bodes well for him and the company.

Rusev has the makings of an unstoppable force and a significant run at or near the top of WWE is not out of the question.

NXT women’s champion Stephanie Vaquer made a surprise appearance Monday night on Raw, squaring off with women’s world champion Iyo Sky in what could best be described a dream match.

The two internationally recognized stars tore down the house at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas with a grueling contest that ended only after Roxanne Perez and Giulia got involved, drawing a disqualification and resulting in Rhea Ripley making the save.

Hays reported that the contest received a positive reaction backstage (h/t Cageside Seats).

It is not particularly surprising, either. Sky was fresh off a Match of the Year candidate against Ripley and Bianca Belair at WrestleMania Sunday, while Vaquer has been garnering serious momentum on NXT and has become the breakout star of WWE over the last 12 months.

Her appearance on Raw felt very much like a test of sorts to see how she would be accepted and if she could deliver the same level of performance on the main roster that she has become synonymous with on the developmental brand.

She answered that with a resounding "Yes," and it would not be surprising if La Primera was a Raw or SmackDown Superstar by the time 2025 comes to an end.

Considering the screwy finish to her match with Sky, hopefully the two of them have the opportunity to run it back one more time.

Post-WrestleMania is traditionally a time of NXT call-ups, with several stars joining the main roster with the opportunity to enjoy long runs on Raw or SmackDown, Bodyslam.net’s Cory Hays reported that Trick Williams and Lola Vice are among those being considered to make the jump.

Williams is a former two-time NXT champion and has accomplished about all that there is to with the developmental brand.

From sidekick to Carmelo Hayes to breakout star, to two-time Stand & Deliver headliner to the brand's world champion, he spent one year building one of the most impressive resumes in NXT history and is ready to make the jump.

The 30-year-old has recently undergone an attitude change that has seen him exhibit heelish tendencies, though, and may need to blow that chapter of his story off before he arrives on the main roster.

Vice is a performer who has consistently improved every time she has been involved in a feud or competed for a championship.

Unfortunately for the 26-year-old, the NXT women’s division is so packed with talent, including Roxanne Perez, that a logjam prevented her from moving up the ranks. The arrivals of Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia and Zaria have not helped Vice's positioning on the card.

While the women's main roster is also brimming with talent, there is more room for her to debut and go on a run than to stay in NXT and continue the on-off pushes that ultimately do her no good.

Both Williams and Vice are future stars who can benefit the WWE roster and have earned the opportunity to showcase their abilities, so the reported call-ups are the right move at this point in their careers.