CJ Perry, better known to wrestling fans as Lana, is making it very clear which team she’s backing in the 2026 World Cup. And she’s doing it in a way that’s getting people talking.
Perry posted a video on Instagram this week showing her dancing in a small bikini featuring the Argentine flag. She captioned it with a simple question: “Who are you rooting for in the World Cup???” The post was also a promotional push for her Passes account, where subscribers can join her for live streams during the tournament’s matches.
It’s a pivot back into the spotlight for Perry, who’s been mostly out of the ring since returning to WWE in April 2025 under a legends contract. That same day, her husband — now going by Rusev again — also came back to WWE and started competing on Monday Night RAW. The couple first made waves in WWE over a decade ago, with Perry serving as Rusev’s social ambassador and on-screen manager from 2013 through 2016. She started wrestling more regularly after that and stayed active until her release in June 2021.
After a brief stint in AEW in late 2023 — where she tried to help her husband, then wrestling as Miro, but never actually competed in the ring — she stepped away from the business entirely. Her comeback in 2025 marked a full-circle moment for both of them.
World Cup fever meets wrestling nostalgia
Argentina is in the middle of a strong run at the 2026 World Cup. They beat Jordan 3-1 on June 27 and had previously handled Austria 2-0. Lionel Messi, as always, is the centerpiece of the team’s campaign. It’s been a historic tournament for him personally, and his presence continues to draw eyes from casual fans and celebrities alike.
Perry’s post taps into that crossover energy. She’s not the first former WWE star to use the World Cup as a platform, but the combination of a tiny bikini, a popular team’s colors, and a direct call to action for her subscribers is classic social media strategy. It also doesn’t hurt that Argentina has a passionate global fanbase.
During her in-ring career, Perry never won a championship. But she built a solid resume outside of wrestling. She appeared in both “Pitch Perfect” and its first sequel, plus the movie “Countdown.” She also became a main cast member on “Total Divas” from Season 6 through Season 8 after guest-starring earlier. And she popped up on “Total Bellas” too.
For now, Perry seems content enjoying the World Cup from the sidelines — and getting her fans to watch along with her. Whether she’ll wrestle again under that legends deal is still an open question. But she’s clearly not done finding ways to stay in the conversation.
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