CJ Perry and her husband, WWE’s Rusev, are expecting their first baby, a boy due April 28, 2027.
The couple shared the news with PEOPLE, calling it a “wild and emotional journey.” Perry said they began IVF in 2025.
“We started IVF in 2025, and on August 10, 2026, we had our embryo transfer,” Perry said. “We were so nervous. We had to wait nine days for our first pregnancy test on August 19, followed by another on August 21 to confirm the pregnancy.”
“Those days felt like the longest of our lives! There was a lot of surrendering, letting go and trusting God through the uncertainty,” she added.
Perry said IVF was an emotional experience at every stage.
“You start with so much hope. As you wait to see how many embryos continue developing through day three and then day five, the numbers can get smaller,” Perry said. “Then comes the wait for the genetic testing results. Every stage feels like another hurdle.”
“Our first embryo to come back with normal genetic testing results was a boy, and he was the one we transferred,” she continued.
“The first time we heard his heartbeat, I couldn’t stop giggling. I was so full of gratitude and joy. We’ve been blessed with such a miracle,” Perry said.
CJ Perry and Rusev’s son will be named Bear
The couple plans to name their son Bear Petrov Barnyashev.
“Ten years ago, I had a vision of naming our son Bear, and we chose his middle name to honor my father,” Rusev said. “Bear will be his first grandson.”
“I’m excited for his future at Real Madrid! We have plans to move to Spain to enroll him in the Real Madrid Football Academy!” he added.
“We’re so excited and incredibly thankful. Miro and I have both always wanted to be parents, so being given this blessing fills our hearts with so much gratitude,” Perry said. “After everything it took to get here, we can’t wait to meet our little boy.”
Perry wrestled as Lana in WWE and later worked for AEW. Her first novel, Bulletproof Angel, comes out November 10. Rusev returned to WWE in April 2025 after wrestling in AEW as Miro. The two married in 2016.
