Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Musi waApril 11, Rusev akaendeswa kuSmackDown brand sechikamu cheSuperstar Shake-up. Musi waApril 25 episode ye "SmackDown", Rusev akaita kuonekwa kwake kwekutanga paWWE programming kubvira Fastlane, achionekwa kuburikidza nesatellite, uye akazivisa kuti aisazoita kutanga kwake paSmackDown kunze kwekunge apihwa WWE Championship match paMari muBhangi
kubhadhara-ne-kutarisa musi waJune 18. Haana kupiwa chikumbiro chake, asi musi waChikunguru 4 episode ye "SmackDown", akaita kuoneka kwake kwekutanga kwechiratidzo uye akatarisana naJohn Cena anodzoka, achigadzira mutambo mureza weBattleground, uyo waakarasikirwa nawo.