Let’s do a roleplay exercise. So, you’re a former WWE World Heavyweight and US Champion, a former Money in the Bank holder, and someone who has worked with legends like Edge, Drew McIntyre, and Cody Rhodes. I’m a WWE writer, and I’m telling you that a guy who has failed to win the Intercontinental Championship three times in the past three months should beat you in the opening match of John Cena’s final opponent tournament. Thoughts?

The opening round of John Cena’s “The Last Time is Now” tournament saw Damian Priest take on Rusev in his “WWE Raw” comeback, and I gotta say, having Rusev go over Priest is…a choice! It’s definitely a choice to have the guy whose character can be boiled down the “angry Bulgarian” go over a guy who once ran the red brand, either as its champion or as the leader of its top heel faction, The Judgement Day. It’s definitely a choice to have Rusev, a wrestler who couldn’t even beat Dominik Mysterio when a ring bell hammer and a steel chair were involved, go over a former world titleholder, just so you can run back Rusev and Sheamus. Rusev shirts must be making a lot of money.

If you’re one of the few who have Rusev in their Mount Rushmore list of wrestlers, I’m very happy for you. I, however, cannot condone the Priest disrespect. What do you mean Rusev went over Priest? Granted, I wouldn’t have either of these guys be Cena’s last opponent, so Priest was going to take a loss even if he overcame Rusev tonight. However, putting Rusev over Priest is crazy work, and is just another frustrating moment in the long list of Priest’s losing streak.

Where has the allure of Priest gone? Over on “WWE SmackDown,” he’s only been winning by disqualification — every other match, he’s left looking up at the lights. Priest is accomplished, yeah, but he still has so much life in his career. He’s not in a position to be taking losses. I know that the beauty of wrestling is in its community, and in its willingness to take a loss in order to put another guy over. If anything, though, Rusev should be the one putting Priest over. I know I just said that I don’t see either of these guys being the guy to retire Cena, but who would you rather see lock up with Cena?

WWE has been known (and criticized) for its “long-term storytelling.” However, this booking decision was made with extreme short-sightedness. Priest was eliminated from a tournament he could have thrived in, just so WWE could run back…Sheamus/Rusev. Rusev isn’t winning this tournament. Priest put him over for what?

Written by Angeline Phu