Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Mgbe esemokwu ya na Orton gasịrị, Rusev malitere otu na Bekee, ebe mmadụ abụọ ahụ na-esonye n'egwuregwu egwuregwu egwuregwu anọ maka egwuregwu SmackDown Tag Team Championship na
Clash of Champions na Disemba nke gụnyere The New Day, Chad Gable na Shelton Benjamin na ndị mmeri The Usos, nke The Usos meriri. Rusev banyere na 2018 Royal Rumble egwuregwu na Jenụwarị 28 dị ka onye mbido mbụ, na-adịgide karịa 30 nkeji tupu Bray Wyatt na Matt Hardy kpochapụ ya. Na March 27 nke "SmackDown", Rusev jikọrọ aka na Jinder Mahal iji merie Bobby Roode na Randy Orton, na-agbakwunye ya na United States Championship egwuregwu na WrestleMania 34. N'ihe omume ahụ, Mahal gbara Rusev, wee tufuo egwuregwu ahụ. N'egwuregwu Greatest Royal Rumble, o zutere The Undertaker n'egwuregwu Casket, mana ọ tụfuru. Na May 8 nke "SmackDown", Rusev meriri Daniel Bryan iji ruo eruo maka egwuregwu ndị nwoke na Money in the Bank, nke Braun Strowman meriri. N'ihe omume na-esote nke "SmackDown", ọ meriri asọmpi gauntlet iji bụrụ onye na-azọ ọkwa nke AJ Styles 'WWE Championship na Extreme Rules. N'asọmpi ahụ, Styles meriri ya.