Rusev On Sports Helping Him Overcome Illnesses As A Kid, Cultural Differences In Russia And The US

WWE Superstars Lana and Rusev were today’s guests on the Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia podcast. The duo talked about a number of topics including growing up in Russia and then learning to adjust to life in America. Lana opened up about body issues and eating disorders she developed while growing up in Russia, while Rusev talked about his current frustrations in WWE.

(Transcription Credit: Michael McClead, WrestleZone) 

Rusev On Growing Up Big & And How Sports Helped Him With Early Illnesses:

I was always big. Eating my brother’s food was probably not good for my weight. My brother would only eat half of it because he was so skinny and wouldn’t finish his food, of course. I was always a big eater. I was always getting sick often. I don’t know why. I remember going to a doctor and he said that my legs were crooked because I was fat or whatever. I was always sick and I heard the doctor say, ‘He’s soft. He’s a soft boy. You need to sign him up in sports. That will toughen him up.’ It’s true. Once I started doing all kinds of sports, I did not get sick anymore for some reason…..I started playing football, soccer, not American football. I tried wrestling a little bit because I was a big kid. I also, at this point, already saw Hulk Hogan on TV and as soon as I saw him, I said, ‘I want to be like this guy.’

I went to a wrestling academy thinking I’m gonna see Hulk Hogan wrestling, but it was just Olympic amateur style. I got thrown around by these big guys and was like, ‘This is not what I saw on TV. I’m out of here.’ I gave it two weeks and was like, ‘This is not for me.’ I did some karate, some judo, as well. All kinds of sports. I did muay thai, as well, until I got punched in the stomach. They were lining us all up and the coach comes, ‘Are you ready?’ Then he just punches you in the stomach. [laughter] I was like, ‘I’m not coming back here anymore,’ so I left that too.

I started playing basketball. Basketball was one thing I really liked to do. I loved playing basketball….I played that for quite a few years. I wanted to row. My mom and dad used to be rowers. My mom was three time second in the world in rowing. I was like, ‘Mom, I want to give it a go.’ She was like, ‘It’s OK son, rowing isn’t for you.’ AKA, ‘You’re too fat,’ but she didn’t want to say that because she’s my mom. She was so polite about it. Over this one summer, I don’t know if I was like 15 or 16, but I grew and I leaned up. I don’t know, maybe playing around or maybe puberty hit. I got – not skinny- because I’ve never been skinny, but then my godfather started this rowing school, so he invited me for that. I guess I wasn’t too fat anymore for rowing, so I was happy. I love rowing. I even quit my school….I went to a sports magnet school, just so I could row all the time.

Rusev On Not Being Picked For Sports Early On Due To His Physique:

They were picking – one was for basketball, one was for soccer – nobody picked me, but I wanted to, but they saw my physique, ‘No, it’s not for you.’ I couldn’t play any of it. It sucked definitely because I wanted to do it, but you were told, ‘No.’ It is what it is. It’s life. What are you gonna do?

Rusev On Cultural Differences In Russia And Bulgaria: 

It’s a real thing. It was very funny to me. Here on the street, you just walk, and you say, ‘Hi,’ to people you don’t know. In Bulgaria or Russia, it’s like, ‘What are you looking at?’

I think it’s everybody minding their own business. If you don’t know me, I don’t have to say hi to you and you don’t have to say hi to me. I just go about my own business. While here, to a degree, it is true. It is fake. ‘Hey. Hi!’ You’re never probably going to see me again. Why would you care? Why would you say hi to me?

Related: Rusev On Frustrations In WWE: ‘I Want To Be On Top. I Don’t Want To Be Forgotten’

Listen to “Lana & Rusev – Dealing with Frustrations & Past Traumas” on Spreaker.