Jim Ross did an episode with AdFreeShows.com and stated WWE "missed" on the now released Rusev, and urges AEW to sign him to a contract.

"I think that Rusev is the kind of guy that you can bring in and he’d be a great contender for any title.

Would I like to see a Moxley vs Rusev match? Of course, I would. I’m a wrestling fan, why wouldn’t I? To me, he would be my priority"

JR said that he didn't actually push anyone in AEW to sign Rusev yet, and had suggested WWE missed the boat on Rusev.

"I haven’t asked that, I haven’t contributed that piece of information. Our fans are hearing it from me first out of my head. But he’s the kind of guy - they missed on him. WWE missed on Rusev and they gave him a great build, the invested... and they just all of a sudden boom. I don’t know what was the reason for the boom. He worked on his body, he’s lean and he looks great, he’s young.

There’s got to be some semblance of a reason that the massive push for him was cut short. I don’t know what that reason is. I’ve never heard any scandalous tales about the guy