In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that the reason why Rusev was added to the US title match was because of his massive merch sales.
Rusev was initially slotted to be in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale but was added to the US title match after pinning Bobby Roode in a tag-team match on SmackDown Live.
RELATED: Referee Superkicks Rusev And Pins Him After SmackDown Live (VIDEO)
Rusev
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Rusev #1
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #2
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #3
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #4
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #5
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Rusev during WWE Germany Live Bremen - Road To Wrestlemania at OVB-Arena on February 10, 2016 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Rusev #6
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Rusev and Lana during WWE Germany Live Bremen - Road To Wrestlemania at OVB-Arena on February 10, 2016 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Rusev #7
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Dolph Ziggler challenges Rusev during WWE Germany Live Bremen - Road To Wrestlemania at OVB-Arena on February 10, 2016 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Rusev #8
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Rusev during WWE Germany Live Bremen - Road To Wrestlemania at OVB-Arena on February 10, 2016 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Rusev #9
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Rusev during WWE Germany Live Bremen - Road To Wrestlemania at OVB-Arena on February 10, 2016 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Rusev #10
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #11
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #12
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #13
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev competes in the ring against Dean Ambrose at the Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
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Rusev #14
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Alexander Rusev gets ready for his fight against Dolph Ziggler at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)
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Rusev #15
COLOGNE, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 11: Rusev during WWE Road to WrestleMania at the Lanxess Arena on February 11, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)
