Rusev (wrestler)
Barnyashev in 2021 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Miroslav Petrov Barnyashev 25 December 1985 |
Spouse | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Alexander Rusev Miro Miroslav Miroslav Makarov Rusev |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 304 lb (138 kg) |
| Billed from | Bulgaria Moscow, Russia |
| Trained by | FCW Gangrel Rikishi |
| Debut | November 22, 2008 |
Miroslav Petrov Barnyashev (Bulgarian: Мирослав Петров Барняшев, [miroˈslɑf pɛˈtrɔf bɑrˈnjɑʃɛf]; born 25 December 1985) is a Bulgarian professional wrestler and actor who holds both Bulgarian and American citizenship. As of April 2025, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Rusev. He is also known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) from 2020 to 2025, where he performed under the ring name Miro.
Barnyashev signed a contract with WWE in 2010 and was assigned to its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was rebranded as NXT in 2012. He performed on NXT until 2014, when he and his manager Lana were moved to WWE's main roster. During his initial tenure in WWE, he was a three-time WWE United States Champion. He was released by WWE in 2020, joined AEW later that year, and went on to become a one-time AEW TNT Champion before returning to WWE in 2025.